Last year, Casey Mize, Matt Manning and Tarik Skubal got a taste of the big leagues and showed promise, and will be expected to take it a step farther in 2022. Justin Verlander's return is hugefor the Astros, coming off their third World Series appearance in five years. There is going to be some competition in Texas soon enough for the AL West crown. Thats enough to push them ahead of New York in our MLB predictions. Spring Training is in full swing, free agency is off the rails, and baseball is officially back. The NL Central has not had a team repeat as division winner since the Cubs repeated in first place in 2016 and 2017. MORE: The Sporting News' 2022 MLB Opening Day Power Rankings Here are predictions for the 2022 MLB season from TSN's panel of baseball experts. Having also crammed these past few weeks, USA TODAY Sports presents its 2022 record predictions, an annual exercise in prognostication attempting to make sense of what went down this offseason and how it fits into team trajectory. Opening Day is set for Thursday (for 14 teams, at least), and thankfully for baseball fans, we'll still have a full, 162-game season in 2022. I think Randal Grichuk will post huge power numbers there, too. Find the best projected stats of the 2023 MLB season and build the best Fantasy Baseball team. Key player: Luis Robert. Considering the Cincinnati Reds are shopping their starting pitchers and trimming payroll, they belong in the ignore tier for the 2022 season. If I believe the Dodgers end the regular season with the most wins, I like my chances for hitting the over here. Losing Carlos Correa hurts, its why were not projecting the Astros to win the AL pennant, but theres a real gap between Houston and its competition in the division. Tampa Bay Rays With considerable improvement expected from Ronald Acua Jr. and Ozzie Albies, ZiPS thinks Atlanta is in good shape, projecting the club for another tie with the Mets at 94 wins apiece. The Guardiansfeel like the biggest surprise in the division. Arizona is avoiding a total rebuild and the Ketel Marte extensions signals he wont be moved. Corbin Burnes won the Cy Young with a sterling 2.43 ERA, and he was joined in the sub-3.00 ERA club by Brandon Woodruff (2.56) and Freddy Peralta (2.81). All major league baseball data including pitch type, velocity, batted ball location, PECOTA is much less bullish on the Giants, giving them a winning percentage below .500 and less than a 1% chance of winning the division. Matt Chapman is one of the best defensive players in the game and his bat should look better with the talent around it. 2023 Playoff Odds, . The return of spring weather brings hope for every team. Wander Franco, Shane Baz and Shane McClanahan are expected to take up major roles on the team in their second seasons with the club, and Randy Arozarena and Brandon Lowe will again be dangerous at the plate. Play-by-play data prior to 2002 was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted And during the postseason, that anything-can-happen dynamic only grows stronger, with MLB's new, expanded format only increasing the number of potential outcomes. The rotation could be in tatters behind Zack Wheeler. I was going to be choosing between the Red Sox and Rays and the Rays' number is four higher, so here we are. Justin Verlander is back and were expecting healthy seasons out of Kyle Tucker, Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman. 2023 Season; 2022 Season; 2021 Season; 2020 Season; 2019 Season; 2018 Season; CFB FBS. Let's start things off with a prediction about one of my favorite players to target in fantasy baseball drafts. With Sean Manaea also gone, its even easier to predict fewer wins. There is potential in this team to over-perform its projections. Perhaps it would be a bit closer if two-time NL MVP Bryce Harper were healthy, but he underwent Tommy John surgery in November and might be out until July. and that rotation is littered with question marks after Joe Musgrove. Atlanta can erase some of our concerns by acquiring Matt Olson. The White Sox and Astros were picked to reach the top two spots in the American League more than any other team, while the top four AL East teams were the most likely in the simulations to also reach the playoffs. They also signed Jon Gray, who could be due for a breakout season now that he's no longer pitching in Coors Field. They're expected to have the league's highest payroll in 2023, but it won't be enough. Scorched. But as you might expect, they don't agree on everything. Toronto's lineup starring Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and Teoscar Hernandez is the best in the American League, and its offense will carry it through the season to one of the league's best records. The St. Louis Cardinals strengthened their rotation depth this offseason, signing Steven Matz. TeamRankings.com is not affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) or March Madness Athletic Association, neither of which has supplied, reviewed, approved or endorsed the material on this site. MLB Playoff Predictor (MLB Season Picker) lets you pick every game of the MLB Season via a season Schedule . Minnesota traded Josh Donaldson and others to free up room to sign prized free-agent shortstop Carlos Correa. The Minnesota Twins are an interesting case. PECOTA projects both the Twins and Guardians for 88 wins, with the White Sox at 78. There wasn't a better trio of starting pitchers in baseball last year than those onthe Brewers. With the money saved by choosing Olson over Freddie Freeman, Atlanta signed Kenley Jansen and Collin McHugh. But ZiPS doesnt see it that way, and neither does PECOTA. It makes them the team to beat in the NL Central, especially if Christian Yelich rebounds and Kolten Wong stays healthy. Read on for predictions for every game involving a Top 25 team on the schedule over the next seven days. Losing Robbie Ray and Steven Matz will hurt the rotation, but the addition of Kevin Gausman and Yusei Kikuchi, along with a full season of Jose Berrios and Alek Manoah will help bolster the pitching staff. This section is showing information that is up to date as of the end of the 2022 MLB season. The Sporting News' model sees the Blue Jays as a slim favorite to win the division over the Yankees, Rays and Red Sox, but it expects all four teams to reach the playoffs. Because of a below-average lineup, on its best days, the Marlins exciting rotation will be wasted. Joey Votto has never hit 40 homers in a season. Washington Nationals (88-74) The NL East is loaded, but any team anchored by Max Scherzer and Juan Soto can't be overlooked. ET (ESPN). 3. NHL 2022-23 Stanley Cup playoff chances and projected standings. Derek Jeter left the Miami Marlins for a reason, he doesnt believe this team is all-in on winnings. The biggest question mark for Los Angeles is undoubtedly in its rotation, where Walker Buehler will be the unquestioned ace after Scherzer left. Were seeing the Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics head in opposite directions. The AL East is the best division in baseball, and it doesn't take a model to know that. MLB is back, but will fans be after ugly offseason? Fernando Tatis Jr. is one of the brightest stars when he's healthy and Manny Machado gives him powerful protection in the lineup. Sidelined until June, in a best-case scenario, that wipes out multiple wins in our MLB predictions. As far as my place in all this, feel free to jump over to my SportsLine page to see my picking acumen from last season. But there they are with an 88-74 projection from ZiPS, just three games behind the mighty Dodgers and Padres. The reason for the model's lack of trust in them in 2022? And I'll mention again that the Blue Jays were a wrecking crew in Rogers Centre after they went 22-22 in "home" games in Buffalo and Dunedin last year. However, the starting rotation just doesnt seem good enough in a long season. The versatile Max Muncy will hit anywhere he's playing, and Justin Turner has shown no signs of aging as he heads into his age 36 season. The increase in the number of teams losing on purpose has left a lot more wins for the good teams to grab. All Rights Reserved. Everyone wants to see his light-tower power in the thin air of Coors Field, just as CJ Cron in his first year in Colorado. All posts tagged "MLB" Feb. 22, 2023. . Eric Lauer and Adrian Houser help round out a rotation that has a case for the MLB's best, in front of a bullpen that has some star power with Josh Hader and Devin Williams. Not many expected the Braves to win their fourth World Series title at the beginning of the 2021 season. And yet, they won 90 games last season and I'm going under 84.5 this year. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. 1. Toronto Blue Jays. The model expects some regression, but the pitching will keep this as one of the best teams in baseball. Follow the American League and National League races here from USA TODAY. Luis Robert is a darkhorse MVP candidate, Jose Abreu is consistent and there is even more All-Star talent (Eloy Jimenez, Yasmani Grandal, Tim Anderson). The bullpen lost Jansen, but added Craig Kimbrel to go along with Blake Treinen and Brusdar Graterol. For now, well keep the Yankees in the No. It will all come down to how many IL stints the Angels stars have in 2022. However, concerns at catcher and in the outfield put SF a tier below the Dodgers. Major League and Minor League Baseball data provided by Major League Baseball. What is surprising, however, is that ZiPS also puts the Giants squarely in this race at 88-74. The Tigers also signed a pair of top free agents in Javier Baez and Eduardo Rodriguez to provide some more established threats to the team. LAA Los Angeles Angels. Chicago White Sox. Both of these teams will be in the playoffs, everyones preference between the two is understandable. Tampa Bay Rays 98-64 2. Marcus Semien might have left in free agency, but Toronto acquired Matt Chapman to man third and give the team a star defender to the left of Bichette. Team: Wins: Losses: Chicago White Sox: 85: 77: Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports. . One of the more remarkable tidbits about last season was the Dodgers' total being 103.5, them hitting the over with room to spare and still not winning the NL West. The fourth and final 2022-23 regular-season meeting in the Battle of Florida is set for Tuesday as the Florida Panthers head to Tampa to take on the Lightning and their No.1 home offense. Although Jos Abreu left as a free agent to sign with the Astros in the offseason, the core of the roster that won the division title two years ago is still largely intact, making Chicago an obvious rebound candidate in 2023. Here are predictions for the 2022 MLB season, including complete standings, playoff teams and the World Series winner. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. The problem is so often health, and that is the concern the model has for the Angels. Bellinger is coming off of a dreadful 2021 campaign that saw . With the last few days of build up comes all kinds of predictions, picks, best bets and the like. Let's analyze Tipico Sportsbook's lines around the UFC 285: Shevchenko vs. Grasso odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.. They also made big splashes by signing Rodon, Alex Cobb and Matthew Boyd, who will only make this rotation stronger. Support FanGraphs. This forecast is based on 100,000 simulations of the season and . MLB insider Bob Nightengale examines if the fans will forgive league for ugly offseason. Meanwhile, ZiPS not only projects the Cards to win a second straight NL Central title but also gives St. Louis the largest margin of victory (seven games) of any of the projected division champions. For anyone followingthe Reds, this has been a puzzling offseason. The Padres are absolutely a fringe playoff contender in the NL, but I'm not seeing them on the cusp of 90 wins. Factoring in that advantage along with an electrifying Cardinals bullpen, elite defense and a sufficient lineup, we expect St. Louis in a Wild Card Game. Zac Gallen and Luke Weaver look like they could front Arizona's rotation at some point, but for now, those two spots belong to the more experienced Merrill Kelly and Madison Bumgarner. Andrew Benintendi showed some bounceback potential in 2021, and Adalberto Mondesi still looks explosive when healthy. They've lost key names over the past several years from George Springer to Justin Verlander (for a season due to injury) and now, most recently, Correa. All Rights Reserved. Tip from Dean E. Smith Center is at 6:30 p.m. MLB Spring Training Standings 2023. The NL Central is mediocre, at best, and the Cardinals are a part of the mediocrity. Comprehensive Major League Baseball news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors, and more The Chicago White Sox can start looking at designs for their 2022 AL Central champions shirts and hats. section: | slug: mlb-win-totals-each-teams-2022-projection-plus-best-bets-on-over-unders-for-dodgers-cardinals-more | sport: baseball | route: article_single.us | Patrick Wisdom and Frank Schwindel each had solid debut seasons in 2021, and return as established starters with Ian Happ and Willson Contreras. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Lugan Knight has two wins, one second and . The key tothe Giants'success in 2021 was a standout rotation. Nov. 4, 2022. Fastest MLB pitches in 2022, fastest pitch in college, Best batting average of all time: Top MLB hitters by career average, best BA in 2021. Instead, the model likes the chances ofthe Cardinalsto win the NL Central. If the 2021 Mariners were a 76-win true talent team and their true talent this season is, say, eight games better, they'd go 84-78, right? There was a point in the 2021 season when it felt the Mets were going to run away with the division. There's certainly a void in the lineup without Tatis (and once his wrist is fully recovered, do we trust his shoulder to stay put the rest of the way?) There just isnt enough talent around Reyes and Ramirez to make this a playoff-caliber lineup and that will prove costly over a full season. The Line: Man City -240 / Newcastle United +550 // Total: 2.5. Ultimately, this is a total rebuild and the organization isnt thinking about the final MLB standings in 2022. . A young Tigers team will take another step forward . Major League Baseball's arduous 2021-22 offseason featured a 99-day lockout that . The team will also get another look at breakout star Jazz Chisholm in his second year of action. FIVE BIG QUESTIONS:AL East | AL Central | AL WestNL East | NL Central | NL West. With just days to go until Opening Day, hope is high among all teams that this will be their year to win a World Series or at least have an enjoyable 162-game season. Major League Baseball's arduous 2021-22 offseason featured a 99-day lockout that ultimately resulted in an abbreviated spring training and a delayed Opening . Bo Bichette is talented enough to take another step forward and join Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. as an MVP contender. Last Year's Record: 91-71 Over/Under: 92.5 The Blue Jays were just one game shy of making the postseason last year in a division that featured four teams winning more than 90 games. MLB.com. Rather astounding. The introduction of the DH to the NL should help Dominic Smith and Robinson Cano produce at a higher rate as well. USA TODAY. Most of all, the Rockies will continue to flex their muscles in Coors Field, where they were 48-33 last season. Updated: Saturday, March 4, 2023 4:51 PM ET, Park Factors 2 spot. From there, the model simulates the postseason based on the outcomes of the regular season to decide who will win the World Series. Today's MLB slate is very busy, and the first game is at 3:10 pm ET. Sure enough, thats exactly what they did. Were using an Elo-based system that also accounts for starting pitchers, travel distance and rest, with an average team rating of about 1500. Find the Pistons vs Cavaliers odds below. See how your team stacks up against the rest of Major League Baseball with league, division, and playoff standings. If Jack Flaherty is unavailable for a majority of the season, though, that significantly changes the Cardinals outcome. The Mariners, as currently constructed, are going to be a better, more well-rounded baseball team in 2022 than they were in 2021. The reason the model likes the Cardinals over Milwaukee comes from the lack of trust in the Brewers' lineup, but if Willy Adames can repeat and Christian Yelich can bounce back somewhere closer to his 2019 levels, it could have just enough to support Milwaukee's tremendous pitching staff. All Win Expectancy, Leverage Index, Run Expectancy, and Fans Scouting Report data licenced from TangoTiger.com. It's always possible Aaron Nola gets back to ace level and Ranger Surez has all kinds of talent, possibly giving the Phillies a Big Three. The Rays have won the division two years in a rowbut didn't do much to upgrade,and have a lot riding on Wander Franco (and his new 11-year, $182 million contract)taking a significant step forward Yankees fans may have hated the offseason, but the team didn't get significantly worse over the winter. The moves made this offseason ensure this team will be competitive, maybe even enough to play in October under a 14-team playoff format. Below are the picks and predictions made by The Sporting News' model for how the 2022 MLB season is . The NL Central hasnt had a repeat champion since the Cubs in 2016-17, and PECOTA expects that trend to continue in 2023, giving the Brewers a two-game edge over the Cardinals.