Welcome to the dawn of a new baseball season where nine inning doubleheaders return, there’s an extra wild card team in each league where the preliminary round is now a best of 3 series instead of one game, and of course a universal DH. Let’s get those predictions in!

My AL East predictions:

Blue Jays 102-60

Rays 95-67

Red Sox 91-71

Yankees 87-75

Orioles 60-102

The Orioles are going to have another rough year following a 110-loss campaign. Top prospect Adley Rutschman will eventually join an offense that includes some youngsters that include Austin Hays as well as Cedric Mullins. Additionally, Baltimore’s pitching stats will improve with their new ballpark dimensions, but that won’t nearly be enough in baseball’s most formidable region.

Baltimore will have the honor of playing spoiler though.

The Yankees will soon learn that playing past the season’s final day isn’t a preprogrammed thing after all, and the front office won’t win just because of their previous mystique.

They acquired glove-first shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa and are now paying the final $50 million of injury-prone slugger Josh Donaldson to a club that disappointingly won 92 contests in 2021, advancing to the dance by a hair. The rotation also has serious durability concerns, including Gerrit Cole who must now endure hapless media sessions where he letdown in the Wildcard game in Boston will rear its ugly head no matter the regular season results. Expect Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres, and Anthony Rizzo to have good seasons but the lack of pitching depth will be the demise of the Bronx Bombers in the dog days of summer.

The lineup is a home-run party with Xander Bogaerts, Alex Verdugo, Kike Hernandez Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez, and Trevor Story. However, Chris Sale is already injured and the rest of the rotation after Nathan Eovaldi isn’t so appealing to me in Tanner Houck, Nick Pivetta, Rich Hill , and Micheal Wacha. However as he did last season by getting this scrappy bunch within two games of the fall classic, Alex Cora will anchor a team manufactured for October and a competitive regular season, that it’ll be prolific more than authentic should the Bosox wound up in the ALCS yet again.

Underestimating the Rays at this point just means you likely don’t know baseball as much as you think you do.

Tampa Bay won 100 games last season with a similar group and are decay to wreck havoc again.

Internal improvements are awry with full seasons from rookie phenom in Wander Franco, and young arms in Shane McClanahan, Shane Baz, and Luis Patino. Randy Arozerena can mash it and veteran Corey Kluber can twirl it, as manger Kevin Cash always cashes in when needed.

The Blue Jays played like a 100-win team last season based on expected run differential and are officially my second favorite team as of 2022.

I expect them to shatter the triple digit win total this season not only because of their offseason, but in addition to the heartbreak of missing the playoffs on the seasons final day a year ago.

Toronto replaced Robbie Ray and Marcus Semien with Kevin Gausman and Matt Chapman, the bullpen that finished 2021 strong is back, and those guys will become studs this year so you’ll begin to know their names like Adam Cimber, Jordan Romano, Yimi Garcia and Julien Merryweather.

Jose Berrios and Alek Manoah are in the rotation for a full campaign, which also features Hyun-Jin-Ryu and Yusei Kukuchi, and don’t even get be started about that ferocious lineup led by Vlad Guerro JR! The Jays will be great for days atop the AL East, and it starts now.

AL Central:

White Sox 90-72

Tigers 85-77

Twins 79-83

Gurdians 73-89

Royals 71-91

The Royals haven't won more than 81 games since capturing the World Series in 2015. The additions of Zack Greinke and Amir Garrett, as well as the arrival of No. 1 prospect Bobby Witt Jr. should aid their pursuit back to “Royalty” though.

It’s a new name but same results in Cleveland, as the Gurdians will likely fail miserably at their job this year.

The team made some minor tweaks to their club, but the lineup doesn't feature any game-changers names outside of Jose Ramirez, Shane Bieber, Franmil Reyes, and stud Emmanuel Clase. So what exactly are you guarding here?

The Twins meanwhile got Carlos Correa but this seems like a setup to where they dish him for assets come the trade deadline. The additions of Gary Sanchez, and Gio Urshela are solid , but they have no pitching. That’s probably why their bio is so “Minny” in this article.

The Tigers were a big surprise last season, winning 77 games under A.J. Hinch.

Detroit’s front office signed powerful shortstop Javier Baez and rotation ace Eduardo Rodriguez while bringing in depth as well. Hotshot slugger Akil Babdoo should continue to “ bamboo” baseballs into orbit, and Robbie Grossman is in the middle of it all as a serviceable hitter. If anyone gets hurt, Jonathan Scoop should clean that mess right up, and 28 year-old Jeimer Candelario is perfect the hot corner.

With prospects Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene incoming; as well as Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, Spencer Turnbull, Matt Manning, Tyler Alexander and Michael Pineda behind E-Rod in the rotation, Detroit should roar past the AL basement and into at least the playoff hunt.

The White Sox won 93 games a season ago and only got better.

The bullpen remains elite even after trading Craig Kimbrel to the Dodgers for AJ Pollock and losing Garrett Crochet to Tommy John surgery. Lance Lynn's injury to start the season is a crushing blow but Lucas Giolito, Micheal Kopech, and Dallas Keuchel should back it up well atop the rotation.

As for the offense, Luis Robert, Tim Andreson, Jose Abreu Yoan Moncada, Eloy Jimenez, and Yasmani Grandal should all mash the ball out of Comesky park aplenty this season.

In the bullpen, Aaron Brummer, Kendall Gravemen and Liam Hendricks will vye for the best big three in the American League.

AL West:

Astros 97-65

Mariners 92-70

Angels 85-77

Rangers 75-87

A’s 65-97

The Athletics find themselves in another rebuild. Matt Chapman, Matt Olson Sean Menaea, and Mark Cahana are all gone.

Coming off a 60 win season, the team entered free agency looking for players to build around and were willing to do anything to make a splash for the fans at two years old spacious Globe Life Field. the revamped and lavish Texas infield Marcus Semien(7 years $175 million) and Corey Seager, the latter of who they gave a substantial ten-year $325 million too, are making headlines. The Rangers also have young swinging Isaiah Kiner-Falefa at first and hotshot prospect Josh Jung at third. Semien and set a. a record for second basemen HR in a season with 45, and now possess a contract that will likely take him up until the tail end of his career at age 38.

But considering the Rangers led the basement in 2021 in OBP with a dreadful .294 mark, as well as OPS with a pitiful.670, and were 29th in batting average at .232, these acquisitions are significant upgrades.

Elsewhere, Texas also signed ten-year veteran OF Kole Calhoun to a one-year $5.2 million and aided the pitching staff by luring in Jon Gray for four years and $56 million. In total, the team spent $561.2 million enforcing the “Everything’s bigger in Texas” mantra.

However, should teams now fear the Rangers as postseason contenders in 2021? Not at the slightest, as although these are eye-popping moves, the team is still looking to fill long-term holes elsewhere, which means the rebuilding process is ongoing. But Texas should be encouraged when manager Chris Woodward's team improves from 60-102 to 75-87 in 2022.

Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani are the two faces of baseball and on the same team, yet they don’t have pitching despite the fact they upgraded overall in the bullpen with the additions of Raisel Iglesias, Archie Bradley, and Ryan Tepera as well as Noah Syndegard to the rotation. However, the rotation depth may hurt them as we go down the stretch of summer and into the fall.

As for Seattle, the overachievers of last season will only get better, using their treasure trove of young stars to break Seattle’s 21 year playoff-less drought and sneak in as that third “Add in” Wild-Card team.

Carlos Correa's departure leaves the Astros with a hole in the clubhouse and on the field. Yet the Houston lineup should be fine as they’re high on Jermy Peña and still have the returnees from last seasons pennant run as well as Justin Verlander. They won’t lose this division so easily.

Playoffs:

Jays Vs Rays/Mariners

Astros vs White Sox/Red Sox

NL East:

Braves 100-62

Phillies 88-74

Mets 84-78

Marlins 78-84

Nationals 73-89

The defending World Series champions improved by acquiring from within. Ace Mike Saroka and sluggers Marcell Ozuna and Ronald Acuna Jr. return to the Braves, while replacing Freddie Freeman with Matt Olson isn’t too shabby either.

The Braves bullpen paces the majors after adding Kenley Jansen and Collin McHugh to the stable which means Braves county is going for a repeat.

Steve Cohen is going to take another crack at buying a title in 2022. The richest owner in the sport “ Metsmetized” Max Scherzer, Starling Marte, Eduardo Escobar, Mark Canha, Adam Ottavino, and Chris Bassitt. The Mets can be elite if they can all stay on the field which has been a problem in the past, and it’s already began with Jacob Degrom being sidelined for at least the first two months of the season due to a shoulder injury.

Reigning MVP Bryce Harper has company.

The front office brought in sluggers Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos, who combined to mash 66 homers last season to join him, as the revamped lineup and a potent bullpen should slightly push Philly past the 86-win mark. But in a loaded NL, no playoffs for the fourth straight year in the Harper era.

Miami's rotation could be very good with Sandy Alcantara, Pablo Lopez, and Trevor Rogers leading the way. But despite the acquisitions of Jorge Soler and Avisal Garcia, the offense looks a bit fried and so does management for firing Derek Jeter.

The Nationals meanwhile, are destined for a tough season as they go through their rebuild but all eyes are on Juan Soto, who’s my personal pick for MVP this year.

NL Central:

Brewers 91-71

Cardinals 86-76

Cubs 80-82

Reds 72-90

Pirates 61-101

The Brewers were the class of the NL Central in 2021 with 95 wins and they look bound to improve. Their pitching staff led by Corbin Burnes(CY Young pick), Brandon Woodruff, Freddy Peralta, Adrian Houser, Eric Lauer, and Aaron Ashby will outpace the division once again.

The Brewers also added former MVP OF Andrew McCutchen. Turnaround campaigns from ex-stars Christian Yelich and Keston Hiura would be huge for the Brewers’ as well.

A Cardinals team seeking improvement on a 90-win campaign will feature Albert Pujols for one final ride, Yadier Molina, and Adam Wainwright on the roster. St. Louis needs big campaigns from Paul”Goldy” Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, and Tyler O'Neill if it plans to contend in the top-heavy NL which I see them doing.

Cincinnati shed payroll by trading Sonny Gray, Jesse Winker, Eugenio Suarez, and Amir Garrett. This team is basically not trying to win this year, and aren’t fun to write about.

A new-look Cubs team featuring Marcus Stroman, Seiya Suzuki, and a slew of others are ready to excite Cubs nation as they embrace their rebuild.

The rotation led by Kyle Hendricks, Wade Miley, Drew Smyly, Stroman and Alec Mills will contain some powerhouse offenses this year.

The Pirates are still reloading the farm and did fans solid by locking up Kebryan Hayes for eight more years. Pittsburgh has a few more years of rebuilding to do.

NL West:

Dodgers 105-57

Padres 100-62

Giants 98-64

Rockies 75-87

Diamondbacks 70-92

Although the Dodgers lost Corey Seager, Max Scherzer, and Kenley Jansen, they added Freddie Freeman and boast the most potent lineup in the game. They’re World Series favorites, period.

The Padres will be without Fernando Tatis Jr. to start the season, which is a big blow. The rotation again looks strong on led by Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, Joe Musgrove, Sean Manena, Mike Clevinger, and Nick Martinez and might need to be the backbone if the Padres hope to contend for a playoff spot which I expect them to do.

The Giants' franchise-record 107-win campaign last year was astounding but there are injury concerns with several pitchers in the rotation looming as we approach opening day this year. But even though they’ll regress, this team is still bound for a playoff run.

After tying baseball's worst record at 52-110 last season, Arizona can only go up from here.

The additions of Kris Bryant and Randal Grichuk will help the Rockies rake at Coors Field , but they will likely have trouble preventing them with an average pitching staff and a woeful bullpen.

Playoffs:

Dodgers Vs Padres/Giants

Braves Vs Brewers/Cardinals

Welcome to the dawn of a new baseball season where nine inning doubleheaders return, there’s an extra wild card team in each league where the preliminary round is now a best of 3 series instead of one game, and of course a universal DH. Let’s get those predictions in!

My AL East predictions:

Blue Jays 102-60

Rays 95-67

Red Sox 91-71

Yankees 87-75

Orioles 60-102

The Orioles are going to have another rough year following a 110-loss campaign. Top prospect Adley Rutschman will eventually join an offense that includes some youngsters that include Austin Hays as well as Cedric Mullins. Additionally, Baltimore’s pitching stats will improve with their new ballpark dimensions, but that won’t nearly be enough in baseball’s most formidable region.

Baltimore will have the honor of playing spoiler though.

The Yankees will soon learn that playing past the season’s final day isn’t a preprogrammed thing after all, and the front office won’t win just because of their previous mystique.

They acquired glove-first shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa and are now paying the final $50 million of injury-prone slugger Josh Donaldson to a club that disappointingly won 92 contests in 2021, advancing to the dance by a hair. The rotation also has serious durability concerns, including Gerrit Cole who must now endure hapless media sessions where he letdown in the Wildcard game in Boston will rear its ugly head no matter the regular season results. Expect Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres, and Anthony Rizzo to have good seasons but the lack of pitching depth will be the demise of the Bronx Bombers in the dog days of summer.

The lineup is a home-run party with Xander Bogaerts, Alex Verdugo, Kike Hernandez Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez, and Trevor Story. However, Chris Sale is already injured and the rest of the rotation after Nathan Eovaldi isn’t so appealing to me in Tanner Houck, Nick Pivetta, Rich Hill , and Micheal Wacha. However as he did last season by getting this scrappy bunch within two games of the fall classic, Alex Cora will anchor a team manufactured for October and a competitive regular season, that it’ll be prolific more than authentic should the Bosox wound up in the ALCS yet again.

Underestimating the Rays at this point just means you likely don’t know baseball as much as you think you do.

Tampa Bay won 100 games last season with a similar group and are decay to wreck havoc again.

Internal improvements are awry with full seasons from rookie phenom in Wander Franco, and young arms in Shane McClanahan, Shane Baz, and Luis Patino. Randy Arozerena can mash it and veteran Corey Kluber can twirl it, as manger Kevin Cash always cashes in when needed.

The Blue Jays played like a 100-win team last season based on expected run differential and are officially my second favorite team as of 2022.

I expect them to shatter the triple digit win total this season not only because of their offseason, but in addition to the heartbreak of missing the playoffs on the seasons final day a year ago.

Toronto replaced Robbie Ray and Marcus Semien with Kevin Gausman and Matt Chapman, the bullpen that finished 2021 strong is back, and those guys will become studs this year so you’ll begin to know their names like Adam Cimber, Jordan Romano, Yimi Garcia and Julien Merryweather.

Jose Berrios and Alek Manoah are in the rotation for a full campaign, which also features Hyun-Jin-Ryu and Yusei Kukuchi, and don’t even get be started about that ferocious lineup led by Vlad Guerro JR! The Jays will be great for days atop the AL East, and it starts now.

AL Central:

White Sox 90-72

Tigers 85-77

Twins 79-83

Gurdians 73-89

Royals 71-91

The Royals haven't won more than 81 games since capturing the World Series in 2015. The additions of Zack Greinke and Amir Garrett, as well as the arrival of No. 1 prospect Bobby Witt Jr. should aid their pursuit back to “Royalty” though.

It’s a new name but same results in Cleveland, as the Gurdians will likely fail miserably at their job this year.

The team made some minor tweaks to their club, but the lineup doesn't feature any game-changers names outside of Jose Ramirez, Shane Bieber, Franmil Reyes, and stud Emmanuel Clase. So what exactly are you guarding here?

The Twins meanwhile got Carlos Correa but this seems like a setup to where they dish him for assets come the trade deadline. The additions of Gary Sanchez, and Gio Urshela are solid , but they have no pitching. That’s probably why their bio is so “Minny” in this article.

The Tigers were a big surprise last season, winning 77 games under A.J. Hinch.

Detroit’s front office signed powerful shortstop Javier Baez and rotation ace Eduardo Rodriguez while bringing in depth as well. Hotshot slugger Akil Babdoo should continue to “ bamboo” baseballs into orbit, and Robbie Grossman is in the middle of it all as a serviceable hitter. If anyone gets hurt, Jonathan Scoop should clean that mess right up, and 28 year-old Jeimer Candelario is perfect the hot corner.

With prospects Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene incoming; as well as Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, Spencer Turnbull, Matt Manning, Tyler Alexander and Michael Pineda behind E-Rod in the rotation, Detroit should roar past the AL basement and into at least the playoff hunt.

The White Sox won 93 games a season ago and only got better.

The bullpen remains elite even after trading Craig Kimbrel to the Dodgers for AJ Pollock and losing Garrett Crochet to Tommy John surgery. Lance Lynn's injury to start the season is a crushing blow but Lucas Giolito, Micheal Kopech, and Dallas Keuchel should back it up well atop the rotation.

As for the offense, Luis Robert, Tim Andreson, Jose Abreu Yoan Moncada, Eloy Jimenez, and Yasmani Grandal should all mash the ball out of Comesky park aplenty this season.

In the bullpen, Aaron Brummer, Kendall Gravemen and Liam Hendricks will vye for the best big three in the American League.

AL West:

Astros 97-65

Mariners 92-70

Angels 85-77

Rangers 75-87

A’s 65-97

The Athletics find themselves in another rebuild. Matt Chapman, Matt Olson Sean Menaea, and Mark Cahana are all gone.

Coming off a 60 win season, the team entered free agency looking for players to build around and were willing to do anything to make a splash for the fans at two years old spacious Globe Life Field. the revamped and lavish Texas infield Marcus Semien(7 years $175 million) and Corey Seager, the latter of who they gave a substantial ten-year $325 million too, are making headlines. The Rangers also have young swinging Isaiah Kiner-Falefa at first and hotshot prospect Josh Jung at third. Semien and set a. a record for second basemen HR in a season with 45, and now possess a contract that will likely take him up until the tail end of his career at age 38.

But considering the Rangers led the basement in 2021 in OBP with a dreadful .294 mark, as well as OPS with a pitiful.670, and were 29th in batting average at .232, these acquisitions are significant upgrades.

Elsewhere, Texas also signed ten-year veteran OF Kole Calhoun to a one-year $5.2 million and aided the pitching staff by luring in Jon Gray for four years and $56 million. In total, the team spent $561.2 million enforcing the “Everything’s bigger in Texas” mantra.

However, should teams now fear the Rangers as postseason contenders in 2021? Not at the slightest, as although these are eye-popping moves, the team is still looking to fill long-term holes elsewhere, which means the rebuilding process is ongoing. But Texas should be encouraged when manager Chris Woodward's team improves from 60-102 to 75-87 in 2022.

Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani are the two faces of baseball and on the same team, yet they don’t have pitching despite the fact they upgraded overall in the bullpen with the additions of Raisel Iglesias, Archie Bradley, and Ryan Tepera as well as Noah Syndegard to the rotation. However, the rotation depth may hurt them as we go down the stretch of summer and into the fall.

As for Seattle, the overachievers of last season will only get better, using their treasure trove of young stars to break Seattle’s 21 year playoff-less drought and sneak in as that third “Add in” Wild-Card team.

Carlos Correa's departure leaves the Astros with a hole in the clubhouse and on the field. Yet the Houston lineup should be fine as they’re high on Jermy Peña and still have the returnees from last seasons pennant run as well as Justin Verlander. They won’t lose this division so easily.

Playoffs:

Jays Vs Rays/Mariners

Astros vs White Sox/Red Sox

NL East:

Braves 100-62

Phillies 88-74

Mets 84-78

Marlins 78-84

Nationals 73-89

The defending World Series champions improved by acquiring from within. Ace Mike Saroka and sluggers Marcell Ozuna and Ronald Acuna Jr. return to the Braves, while replacing Freddie Freeman with Matt Olson isn’t too shabby either.

The Braves bullpen paces the majors after adding Kenley Jansen and Collin McHugh to the stable which means Braves county is going for a repeat.

Steve Cohen is going to take another crack at buying a title in 2022. The richest owner in the sport “ Metsmetized” Max Scherzer, Starling Marte, Eduardo Escobar, Mark Canha, Adam Ottavino, and Chris Bassitt. The Mets can be elite if they can all stay on the field which has been a problem in the past, and it’s already began with Jacob Degrom being sidelined for at least the first two months of the season due to a shoulder injury.

Reigning MVP Bryce Harper has company.

The front office brought in sluggers Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos, who combined to mash 66 homers last season to join him, as the revamped lineup and a potent bullpen should slightly push Philly past the 86-win mark. But in a loaded NL, no playoffs for the fourth straight year in the Harper era.

Miami's rotation could be very good with Sandy Alcantara, Pablo Lopez, and Trevor Rogers leading the way. But despite the acquisitions of Jorge Soler and Avisal Garcia, the offense looks a bit fried and so does management for firing Derek Jeter.

The Nationals meanwhile, are destined for a tough season as they go through their rebuild but all eyes are on Juan Soto, who’s my personal pick for MVP this year.

NL Central:

Brewers 91-71

Cardinals 86-76

Cubs 80-82

Reds 72-90

Pirates 61-101

The Brewers were the class of the NL Central in 2021 with 95 wins and they look bound to improve. Their pitching staff led by Corbin Burnes(CY Young pick), Brandon Woodruff, Freddy Peralta, Adrian Houser, Eric Lauer, and Aaron Ashby will outpace the division once again.

The Brewers also added former MVP OF Andrew McCutchen. Turnaround campaigns from ex-stars Christian Yelich and Keston Hiura would be huge for the Brewers’ as well.

A Cardinals team seeking improvement on a 90-win campaign will feature Albert Pujols for one final ride, Yadier Molina, and Adam Wainwright on the roster. St. Louis needs big campaigns from Paul”Goldy” Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, and Tyler O'Neill if it plans to contend in the top-heavy NL which I see them doing.

Cincinnati shed payroll by trading Sonny Gray, Jesse Winker, Eugenio Suarez, and Amir Garrett. This team is basically not trying to win this year, and aren’t fun to write about.

A new-look Cubs team featuring Marcus Stroman, Seiya Suzuki, and a slew of others are ready to excite Cubs nation as they embrace their rebuild.

The rotation led by Kyle Hendricks, Wade Miley, Drew Smyly, Stroman and Alec Mills will contain some powerhouse offenses this year.

The Pirates are still reloading the farm and did fans solid by locking up Kebryan Hayes for eight more years. Pittsburgh has a few more years of rebuilding to do.

NL West:

Dodgers 105-57

Padres 100-62

Giants 98-64

Rockies 75-87

Diamondbacks 70-92

Although the Dodgers lost Corey Seager, Max Scherzer, and Kenley Jansen, they added Freddie Freeman and boast the most potent lineup in the game. They’re World Series favorites, period.

The Padres will be without Fernando Tatis Jr. to start the season, which is a big blow. The rotation again looks strong on led by Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, Joe Musgrove, Sean Manena, Mike Clevinger, and Nick Martinez and might need to be the backbone if the Padres hope to contend for a playoff spot which I expect them to do.

The Giants' franchise-record 107-win campaign last year was astounding but there are injury concerns with several pitchers in the rotation looming as we approach opening day this year. But even though they’ll regress, this team is still bound for a playoff run.

After tying baseball's worst record at 52-110 last season, Arizona can only go up from here.

The additions of Kris Bryant and Randal Grichuk will help the Rockies rake at Coors Field , but they will likely have trouble preventing them with an average pitching staff and a woeful bullpen.

Playoffs:

Dodgers Vs Padres/Giants

Braves Vs Brewers/Cardinals

Playoff predictions

WC:

AL: Chisox over Bosox, Rays over Mariners

NL:

Giants over Padres

Brewers over Cardinals

LDS:

AL: Astros over White Sox, Jays over Rays

NL: Dodgers over Giants

Braves over Brewers

LCS:

Blue Jays over Astros

Dodgers over Braves

World Series:

Dodgers over Blue Jays in 6

MVP: Freddie freeman

Awards:

MVP:

AL: Rafael Devers(Red Sox)

NL: Juan Soto(Nationals)

CY Young:

AL: Gerrit Cole(Yankees)

NL: Corbin Burnes(Brewers)

ROY:

AL: Bobby Witt JR(Royals)