2022 MLB Playoff Picture: Predicting All 12 Playoff Teams at the End of August

2022 MLB Playoff Picture: Predicting All 12 Playoff Teams at the End of August

We've got a little bit more than a month of baseball left. With that said, the MLB Playoff picture is finally starting to come together. More teams have dropped out of contention while others are making one final push to get into the playoffs. We've predicted all 12 playoff teams for this year's MLB Playoffs.

National League Playoff Picture

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers have won 89 games and lead the NL West by 19.5 games. The Dodgers are easily the best team in baseball and will be the number one seed in the National League when all is said and done.

2. New York Mets

A lot of analysts continue to call for a Mets collapse, but the Mets haven't lost their NL East lead throughout the entire year. Yes, the Atlanta Braves are closing in, but the Mets have one of the easiest schedules after they face the Dodgers this week.

3. St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals finally got what they expected from Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado. St. Louis wanted to pair two of the best hitters in the game together, and it's now paying dividends. The Cardinals are leading the NL Central by six games over the Milwaukee Brewers and will likely hold on to the division by next month.

4. Atlanta Braves

If the Braves can't win the NL East, they'll settle for the top spot in the NL Wild Card. At 79-50, the Braves have been tremendous. Just not as tremendous as the Mets.

5. Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies just brought back Bryce Harper but lost Zack Wheeler to the injured list. That's how this year has gone for the Phillies. But they'll need to beat the Padres or Brewers to earn a Wild Card spot. I think they will.

6. San Diego Padres

I couldn't imagine this Padres team out of the playoffs. That would be an insane collapse after adding Juan Soto. Fernando Tatis Jr. won't be around, but the Padres need to do whatever they can to beat the Brewers for the final Wild Card spot. And they will.

American League Playoff Picture

1. Houston Astros

The Houston Astros have seen better days. However, at 82-47, the Astros will ultimately win the AL West over the Seattle Mariners, who have just 70 wins. The Astros will regroup, rest up and be a force in the playoffs on the American League side.

2. New York Yankees

The Yankees had a ridiculous start to the season in the first half. Since then, the Yankees have fallen off a bit. However, the Yankees still have a seven-game lead over the Rays in the AL East. With a month of baseball remaining, the Yankees will still win the AL East.

3. Cleveland Guardians

The AL Central is becoming a two-team race. The White Sox are five games out of first place in the AL Central, leaving the Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins fighting for the division. At this very moment, the Guardians seem like the more consistent team.

4. Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays are currently leading the American League Wild Card with 70 wins. The Rays brought back Manuel Margot from the injured list and should have Wander Franco soon. On top of that, Tyler Glasnow could make his return in a couple of weeks. That would be big-time for Tampa Bay.

5. Seattle Mariners

Seattle went all-in at the MLB Trade Deadline. They're going to earn a spot in the American League Wild Card as well. They're getting healthier as the season progresses, which will only benefit them as the playoffs approach.

6. Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays would have to beat the Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins, and Chicago White Sox. But if we just look at rosters, the Blue Jays are the best team compared to the others. It would be cool to see the Orioles make the postseason, but the Blue Jays would make things much more competitive. I've got the Blue Jays earning the final spot in the American League.

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