2022 MLB playoff predictions: Picks for each spherical of the postseason bracket

Main League Baseball’s postseason will start on Friday with the primary version of the best-of-three Wild Card Collection. This yr’s event options extra groups (12) than in years passed by in accordance with the playoff growth baked into the brand new collective bargaining settlement. The highest two seeds in every league (Dodgers, Braves, Astros and Yankees) earned a first-round bye, whereas the opposite eight groups will sq. off in best-of-three collection over the weekend (Guardians-Rays, Blue Jays-Mariners, Cardinals-Phillies and Mets-Padres are the 4 matchups). 

From there, the postseason will take its regular form: a best-of-five League Division Collection; a best-of-seven League Championship Collection; after which the best-of-seven World Collection.

We right here at CBS Sports activities are legally obligated to make a idiot of ourselves each October by making an attempt to forecast how the following few weeks will play out. Beneath, you may discover our workers’s predictions, together with a brief rationalization for his or her decisions. (The workers is introduced in alphabetical order.)

R.J. Anderson’s bracket

World Collection choose: Dodgers over Astros

Anderson: I believe the Dodgers are, by far, the most effective staff in baseball. That does not assure them something within the playoffs; it is fairly attainable they’re upended within the divisional collection as a result of that is how five-game collection work typically. The Astros have a robust case because the second- or third-best staff within the majors, relying on the way you decide such issues. From that perspective, my bracket performs it pretty secure. I did throw in a wrinkle or two to make it much less boring. It’s going to nonetheless look unhealthy in a month’s time.

Mike Axisa’s bracket

World Collection choose: Yankees over Braves

Axisa: Exterior the weird pandemic season in 2020, we have now extra postseason groups than ever, and I nonetheless arrived at Astros vs. Yankees (could be the third time in six years) and Braves vs. Dodgers (could be third straight yr) within the LCS. Baseball finds a manner. The Dodgers have been fairly clearly the most effective staff in baseball this yr, although I believe the Astros are finest constructed for a brief postseason collection, if that is smart. Their lineup is deep with low-strikeout hitters who additionally hit for energy, and so they can run energy arm after energy arm after energy arm at you. I am additionally kinda sick of choosing Houston to go to the World Collection yearly, so I will say that is the yr the Yankees slay the dragon, and Aaron Choose carries New York to a championship to place a pleasant little bow on his superhuman season.

Kate Feldman’s bracket

World Collection choose: Dodgers over Astros

Feldman: Look, I do know the Braves have been unbeatable for like two months at this level, however I do not suppose anybody is besting the Dodgers. Alex Verdugo can say no matter he needs about faux 60-game championships; 2022 is actual and it’s right here and it’s Los Angeles’ buddy. The Astros are actually actually good. Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez and Lance McCullers is a heck of a 1-2-3 punch and Jose Altuve remains to be Jose Altuve. However Freddie Freeman is pulling his title out of the muddy offseason and Clayton Kershaw simply retains including to a Corridor of Fame resume and oh hey, keep in mind Tony Gonsolin and Dustin Could? They have sufficient pitching to permit for a blown Craig Kimbrel save or two. And anyway, the Dodgers successful could be good for baseball. We must always need groups to run $300 million payrolls. We must always need them handy out nine-figure contracts to the most effective gamers, as a result of that is who makes your staff good.

Dayn Perry’s bracket

World Collection choose: Astros over Dodgers

Perry: I believe predicting postseason outcomes, significantly now that we have added one other best-of-three layer to it, is usually a idiot’s errand. So my guiding philosophy is to simply choose the most effective staff, assuming relative well being. So that is what I’ve accomplished. Given the best way the Braves have leveled up over the ultimate months of the season, I do not really feel fully assured choosing the Dodgers over them, however I believe L.A.’s roster depth might be extra of an element than it in any other case could be. I do not know, man.

Stephen Pianovich’s bracket

World Collection choose: Phillies over Yankees

Pianovich: Sure, these Phillies are weird sufficient to both win the World Collection or get no-hit twice in two Wild Card Collection losses. However listed here are the one two issues you want to find out about my picks:

1. I stay in Philadelphia.
2. We’re talking about the Phightins.  

Matt Snyder’s bracket

World Collection choose: Dodgers over Blue Jays

Snyder: There’s received to be some type of funkiness, so I will go along with the Blue Jays breaking apart the group of energy groups we have seen by the season and being the one with a relative shock run. I really had them because the World Collection champion within the preseason, so it really works out high-quality there. I could not, nonetheless, choose towards the Dodgers this time. I normally by no means choose them as a result of it appears boring to go along with the most effective staff, however this time I could not resist as a result of they’re simply so good and so they have not even actually been wholesome or technically firing on all cylinders many occasions all through the season. That is the Dodgers group that lastly breaks by in a full season.