My 2022 MLB Predictions: Standings, Playoffs and Awards

Let's start with American League predictions, including a quick blurb for each team as we go through the standings in each division. From there, you will see complete AL records and playoffs broken down. Then we'll do the same with the National League and the Milwaukee Brewers.

AL EAST
New York Yankees: Tons of talent, but need to stay healthy. Stars will step up and pull it out in 2022.
Toronto Blue Jays: Maybe the most exciting team in the AL. They'll battle for the division, but still a year away.
Tampa Bay Rays: Forever underestimated, they will remain in contention. Hard to see enough for a title.
Boston Red Sox: Surprised last year; the pitching lacks postseason talent this season.
Baltimore Orioles:  Nothing to see here.

AL CENTRAL
Chicago White Sox: If starting pitching holds up, they could be the best team in AL; lineup and bullpen loaded.
Minnesota Twins: Surprisingly bad last year, but made some significant additions. Starting pitching the primary question.
Detroit Tigers: A team to watch that could sneak up on some. Young talent could make it a fun ride.
Cleveland Guardians: Not enough offense to compete the whole season, despite some high-level pitching.
Kansas City Royals: The club has a unique way of building their MLB roster but lacks a lot.

AL WEST
Houston Astros: They could take a step back this year after AL Pennant in 2021, but talent is there.
Los Angeles Angels: They will jump up the standings if they get a healthy Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon.
Seattle Mariners: They were a fun story last season; they feel a bit light to take another step, but could surprise.
Texas Rangers: Big-time additions will help the offense while the club plans for the next few years.
Oakland A's: It's hard to see this team doing much on the field with all the talent they dealt away.

Below you'll see the entire layout for the AL:

Next up is the Senior Circuit to find out who will play the hated Yankees in the 2022 World Series.

NL EAST
Atlanta Braves: Defending World Series Champs have an even better roster to start the new season.
New York Mets: The club spent a ton of money building a competitor. Starting pitching is critical, good or bad (or hurt).
Philadelphia Phillies: They're going to score but could have a historically bad defense.
Miami Marlins: The team added bats to complement good, young pitching. Still a couple of years away from a push.
Washington Nationals: They might have the best hitter in baseball with Juan Soto, but not much else.

NL CENTRAL
Milwaukee Brewers: Best pitching in MLB from start to finish. They should only need some improvement in the lineup to flourish.
St. Louis Cardinals: Pitching has significant question marks, while the defense and lineup are strong.
Chicago Cubs: Made sneaky acquisitions to remain relevant. Probably not enough for a playoff run.
Cincinnati Reds: Blew up much of the roster they had built to win with two seasons ago.
Pittsburgh Pirates: It feels like they are still a long way away. Not sure how they will score much this season.

NL WEST
Los Angeles Dodgers: They continue to reload with young talent and veteran stars to create an elite lineup.
San Diego Padres: Big blow losing Fernando Tatis, Jr. for some time, but still a talented roster with upside.
San Francisco Giants: Surprised everyone with 107 wins last season. Tough to see a division title repeat.
Arizona Diamondbacks: A disaster 110-loss season in 2021, they are better than they performed.
Colorado Rockies: They always have some offensive firepower, but the club seems rudderless.

There you have the NL side of things. Details are below:

I know what you're thinking:  "What a homer pick, Tim!" In all the years I've made predictions like this, I have NEVER had the Brewers winning the World Series before because I know how it looks. Sort of like if you're coaching your son on a team. He has to be better than someone on the bench if he is starting. Same idea - I have to be sure this is a realistic possibility.

Their pitching is that good this season, and their offense should be more consistent. The playoffs are a bit of a crapshoot, but there are factors this season that will help them succeed. Manager Craig Counsell learned from last season and will ride Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, Freddy Peralta, Devin Williams, and Josh Hader hard to the finish - and he won't have to worry about removing a pitcher for a pinch-hitter.

So that leaves the matchup in the World Series with the big, bad New York Yankees taking on lowly Milwaukee. It's "sort of" a rematch of 1957 when the (then) Milwaukee Braves took on the Yanks, and a player from New York reportedly dismissed the small-market city as "Bushville."

2022 World Series: Milwaukee Brewers defeat the New York Yankees

Call me biased or any other name you can think of, but I'm staking my claim right now that the Milwaukee Brewers will defeat the New York Yankees in 2022 to earn the Brewers'  first championship. The odds are certainly not in my favor, but I don't care. It will be just like the last 40 years of my life if it doesn't happen anyway.

Your turn! Share your 2022 MLB Predictions below. It will be fun to look back at the end of the season to see how we did!