2022 MLB Playoff Teams: Predicting All 12 Playoff Teams With One Week to Go

2022 MLB Playoff Teams: Predicting All 12 Playoff Teams With One Week to Go

We've got seven days left of the MLB regular season. Then we'll be on to the playoffs.

The Los Angeles Dodgers locked up the NL West and will be the top team in the National League. On the other hand, the Houston Astros have won the AL West and will be the top seed in the American League.

Still, the Yankees won the AL East and will likely be the two seed, while the Guardians ended up winning the AL Central to three-seed.

Over the weekend, the St. Louis Cardinals will earn the NL Central. Therefore, the only division still up for grabs is the NL East between the Mets and Braves.

The Braves and Mets will play a three-game series over the weekend, which should help decide things. Meanwhile, the AL and NL Wild Cards still have spots for grabs. Let's break predict the final playoff picture.

National League Playoff Picture

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers have 107 wins heading into the final week of the regular season. They're getting that first-place spot in the playoffs in the National League.

2. New York Mets

Last week, the Mets led the NL East by one game. The Mets are still ahead of the Braves this week by one game.

Most scenarios have the Mets winning the division. They'll have Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer on Friday and Saturday, and if the Mets win both of those games, they will have a chance to clinch the division on Sunday.

Even if the Mets just win two of three, they'd just need one win over Washington to get the division and two seed.

3. St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals still lead the NL Central by 6.5 games against the Brewers. The Brewers will be eliminated from NL Central contention with one more win from the Cardinals.

The Cardinals have this locked up and will be a three-seed.

4. Atlanta Braves

The Braves are one game out of the NL East. They'll need a big weekend against the New York pitching staff if they want a chance at the division. It's up for grabs, though.

Still, as I said earlier, the Mets now have a much better chance of winning the division.

5. San Diego Padres

The Padres have a 2.5-game lead as the second Wild Card. As long as they continue playing the way they've been, all will be good.

San Diego has gone 7-3 in their last ten games, while the two teams looking to catch them have gone a combined 8-12. Those two teams are the Phillies and Brewers.

6. Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers are just .5 games away from the NL Wild Card. The Phillies are currently in that final spot, but they've lost four straight games and have lost seven of their last 10.

Milwaukee hasn't been much better, but I like the Brewers to sneak by and earn the final spot over the Phillies.

American League Playoff Picture

1. Houston Astros

The Astros clinched AL West a long time ago. They've got 102 wins on the year and were the best team in the American League. They'll have the top slot in the American League.

2. New York Yankees

The Yankees have been very hot and cold this year. But to win the AL East, the Yankees got hot, winning nine of their last ten games. The Yankees now have 96 wins on the season and will be the second seed in the AL.

3. Cleveland Guardians

Nobody thought it was possible, but the Guardians won the AL Central. Cleveland has gone 8-2 in their last ten games and pulled away from the White Sox and Twins to get the division. The Guardians only have 87 wins on the year. They'll be a three-seed heading into the playoffs.

4. Toronto Blue Jays

The AL Wild Card is a disaster. The Blue Jays have gone 4-6 in their last ten games but are still the top team in the Wild Card.

Why?

Tampa Bay, Seattle, and Baltimore have also gone 4-6 in their last ten games. Any one of those teams could've taken control of their destiny. None of those four teams have.

Toronto benefits the most from it, I guess.

5. Tampa Bay Rays

Tampa Bay has a five-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles, the lone team outside looking in.

The Rays are still fighting the Mariners for the fifth spot but have a .5-game lead over the Mariners for the fifth spot. The Rays and Mariners will likely get into the playoffs, but I like the Rays to finish strong and earn the fifth seed in the MLB Playoffs.

6. Seattle Mariners

The Orioles had their chance. The Mariners have struggled down the stretch, but so did the Orioles.

That's why it's never safe to bet on teams that "must" win. Because that's just not the case. Anyway, Seattle will eventually earn a playoff berth and that's exciting for baseball. Good for them. They're my sixth seed in the AL.

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