With just one month remaining, the end of Major League Baseball’s 2022 Season is rapidly approaching.
Which of the current contenders will make it to the playoffs in October? Which teams narrowly missed making the cut? How will the division races play out? Who will make the Fall Classic? Who are the favourites to win the MVP or Cy Young award? His historic season as a player for the New York YankeesWill Aaron Judge Roger Maris’ American League record, which is the most home runs scored in a single season, was broken. You never know what might happen next.
We asked 17 ESPN baseball experts to answer some of the most important questions about September and beyond. We also asked several of them to give their answers, especially those that were not in line with the norm.
Below are our picks for major awards, the postseason and more.
110: 6 votes
111: 4
112: 2
109: 2
107: 2
106: 1
The number of wins selected was 112. We’ll show you how they got there. It is not easy to reach 112 wins. They’ll play at the exact same level, with just shy of a.700 winning rate. Why would they stop? They got it! Clayton Kershaw back. Next is Blake Treinen. It is the most deep team in baseball. Freddie Freeman Wants a batting title. Tony Gonsolin would like to be a Cy Young. If the Padres perform better, the schedule will be difficult. The final six games of the season are at home against the Rockies. The Dodgers show great drive. They are relentless. Man, 112 wins might seem conservative. Eric Karabell
You were one five winners of 110 wins. That’s the magic number. This is about the Dodgers’ current win pace. Although it’s a bit higher than that, I think my colleagues see the dynamic the same way I do. That is, the Dodgers will likely be the No. With less than a week remaining in the season, the National League’s No. 1 seed has been clinched. They might take a break from the accelerator to allow everyone to get up to speed in preparation for the postseason. Because they may be able to coast after the regular season, it seems like the Dodgers are “only” a 110 win team. It’s a good position to be in. — Bradford Doolittle
Who will be the No. Which team will be the No.
Houston Astros: 17
New York Yankees
Why are the Astros the overwhelming favourite here? Their pitching has a lot of merit. They keep the ball at the ballpark so it is difficult to quick-strike runners with them on. They have managed to control the “slug” in a small stadium (given up the fewest MLB HRs). Impressive. This is a powerful offense when they are together. And Alex Bregman And Kyle Tucker It was hot. They also have a two way catcher available at the trade deadline Christian Vazquez. Keep an eye out. — Doug Glanville
The Astros have secured the No. You have the Astros securing the No. We want to know why. The Yankees were not without their injuries. However, the problem with the team’s consistency has been the root of its second-half slump. Joey Gallo In the first half, he was the one who received most of the criticism, but now that he plays for the Dodgers the spotlight is on him. Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa And Aaron HicksThe Yankees have been disappointed with the performance of these three players at the plate. The Yankees have been left with no choice but to rely on their rookies, such as Oswald Peraza And Oswaldo Cabrera Heading into a critical run down the stretch. This lineup can’t be carried by Aaron Judge alone into October. — Joon Lee
The matchup for the 2022 World Series will be…
AL
Houston Astros: 11
New York Yankees 3
NL
Los Angeles Dodgers: 9
Astros-Dodgers was the most popular matchup. These two teams will meet in October. One of these is obvious: The Dodgers, far and away, are the best baseball team. As good and dangerous as the Mets, Braves, and as strong as the Cardinals, Padres, and as volatile as short series can be, picking against an AL team that is on pace for winning 113 games is just plain hot-taking. The AL is another beast. Yes, the Astros are the best team in the league. With their stellar lineup, bullpen, gloves and rotation, they don’t seem to have any weaknesses. The difference in their performance to a full-strength Yankees team, which may seem like a pipedream these days, isn’t enough to make Houston an infallible player. This is a simple chalk pick. As October approaches and teams heat up and cool down, it’s possible for things to change. — Jeff Passan
The Mets and the Yankees were runners-up for each league. Both were your choices. Why do you think they are the best? It is less that either team is the “team that should win” than that there is a certain amount of randomness in baseball’s postseason. There are only a few teams that make the most sense in any league as the champions. (Both qualify). Sometimes natural storylines can find a way. Subway Series have been so rare in baseball, and with the Mets being the bigger story in New York, it feels right for a rematch after 22 years. The Mets are the clear choice among potential league champions. Jacob deGrom And Max Scherzer Judge will be hard to beat in a brief series. And as for the Yankees — I feel Judge is the type of guy who could manage a series by himself and lead his team. You can be proud of your team. Gerrit Cole The Yankees’ October prospects will also be discussed by the ace if he shows up. — Tristan Cockroft
There were seven teams that were selected as World Series contenders and you were the sole Rays voter. What does this number tell you about this season? This means that only one of us will be correct! The AL is open despite the Yankees’ two month slide. Part of the reason I have confidence in the Rays is because I chose them to reach the World Series during the preseason. Although it was before the Rays’ endless list of injuries, that was still a good result. They have managed to hang in there and now have a legitimate shot at taking the AL East from their rivals the Yankees. This is after they were down by as much as 15.5 games. While Shane McClanahan’s injury is certainly a problem, the Rays still have an opportunity to win the AL East. Corey Kluber, Drew Rasmussen, Jeffrey Springs, a deep bullpen (check out Jason AdamStats (and Tyler GlasnowThe possibility of a return. Offense? The Rays are able to get enough runs. It’s not pretty, but it works. — David Schoenfield
The 2022 AL MVPs and NL MVPs will…
AL
Aaron Judge: 17
NL
Paul Goldschmidt: 15
Mookie Betts: 1
Judge was unanimously voted for by our voters. What makes Judge a standout candidate in the MVP race He is more than just a homerun hitter. He leads the league’s in walks, has an impressive batting average that is based upon a 61% hard hit rate — but he’s not even leading in strikeouts. He’s been a complete player and might have hit more than 60 home runs. — Jesse Rogers
Why should Goldschmidt be awarded this award? Goldschmidt should win the MVP, as he leads in almost every offensive category and is a Gold Glove defense first baseman. He is a real chance to become the first NL pitcher since Joe Medwick, who won the Triple Crown in 1937. He’s doing it for a division that is likely win. — Tim Kurkjian
Only two people voted for Goldschmidt. You chose Betts to win the election over him. Why? Although he has a steep climb ahead of him, I had a simple premise to follow: Betts can play at the top level of his game and nobody else in the NL can match that. Betts has been essentially himself since July’s rib injury, but he went one step further in August when he finished with an OPS score of 1.081. Goldschmidt, Arenado and Manny Machado Betts’ defense is comparable to his, but not his impact on bases. So it shouldn’t surprise that Betts will be leading fWAR at the end of the regular-season. Although it’s a sleeper pick I think it’s safe to say that Betts is the best player in this league, given his recent hitting, I don’t believe he would be surprised. — Alden Gonzalez
The Cy Youngs will travel to…
AL
Justin Verlander: 13
Dylan Cease: 2
NL
Sandy Alcantara: 16
Aaron Nola: 1
What is it that makes Alcantara and Verlander’s Cy Young campaigns so dominant in their respective markets? At the risk that I am labelled the oldest of the olds, the earned-run total will suffice to answer the question. Verlander’s 1.84 score is the highest in baseball. Alcantara’s 2.36 NL record is second. He has thrown 25% more innings that the guy before him. The expected ERAs of both the Fielding Independent Pitching and Verlander figures show that neither ERA is a defense-driven mirage. Because of Verlander’s calf injury, Verlander’s grasp on the award is much less secure. Dylan Cease, who has the 2.13 ERA over 156 innings, and Verlander having thrown 152, leaves a lane for Dylan Cease to steal it. Alcantara has a lead that is so large that it’s not even possible to have a series of starts like the one he gave six runs in five innings. Zac GallenThe 41.1-inning streak of scoreless games is a serious threat. Alcantara’s 190.2 innings is 20 more than anyone else’s. His four complete games are greater than any other team’s and he’s the unanimous choice — Passan
Alcantara received every vote, except yours. Do not forget to support Nola. I thought it was a tossup among Nola and Alcantara. However, I chose Nola because I believe he will close the game a little better. Although Nola’s ERA estimators and strikeout rate, as well as walk rate, are better than Alcantara’s, they are better at predicting future outcomes than reviewing who has been the best. Alcantara has a better ERA and the Cy is a mostly backward-looking award. Nola has also been thrown 20 innings more than Alcantara. Nola will start Tuesday to close the gap (and match the total games played), and he’ll be in a pennant run down the stretch. I believe he’ll outperform Alcantara sufficiently to win the final. — Kiley McDaniel
You voted Ohtani. Verlander deserves this award. Ohtani is actually having a better overall season than he did 2021. It’d be a shame for him to be denied awards just because Judge might pass Maris. Meanwhile, Verlander and Cease pitched more often than Ohtani. Is Ohtani really worthy of the Cy? His WAR is slightly lower than that of Verlander or Cease — Verlander is injured so Ohtani will have an opportunity to pitch the crucial innings. He also has a higher FIP than either. This award race is closer than most people think. Ohtani’s performance over the last three months has been exceptional (1.87 ERA and 110 Ks in his 13 previous starts), and he is finally getting to pitch on five days’ rest. Perhaps the writers will truly make this an all-pitching-stats game — and that’s arguably what they should do — but if the race is thin, could Ohtani’s two-way status give him a subconscious advantage? We’ll see. Cockroft
Judge is able to hit a record number of home runs.
62: 9
59: 2
61: 2
60: 2
64: 1
63: 1
A majority of us voted that Judge would reach 62, surpassing Maris’ record by 61. What makes you believe he’ll do this? Judge will be 62 years old because Judge had a fantastic season. He is a better hitter and stronger man than ever before. And Judge is not being pitched around. There is magic to No. 60. Ruth. Maris. Judge. Judge was blessed with a wonderful season. — Kurkjian
Judge will be 64 years old, which was our highest number. Tell us how he will reach that goal. Judge has been consistent in home run production throughout his career. This consistency has been the backbone for the Yankees’ lineup this season. Judge currently has a pace of hitting 63 home runs. This is not influenced by any outlier months. Judge’s home run pace will not be slowed by the Yankees, although they need to make things right. — Lee
Which wild-card teams will the AL have?
Seattle Mariners: 17
Toronto Blue Jays: 15
Tampa Bay Rays: 13
New York Yankees 3
The Blue Jays, Rays, and Mariners were our most-picked team, and we had them all. They are the favorite team. The trio have held these spots for so long, it’s difficult to remember that they are still available. There is a gap in the run differential between Seattle and Tampa Bay and next-tier contenders like Baltimore, Minnesota/Cleveland or (I suppose) Chicago. While the standings are close enough to me that I wouldn’t bet my money on the race remaining unchanged, it seems likely that that will happen. These are strong teams that have built up the potential to win. — Doolittle
What scenario could lead to the Yankees being in this position? It seemed crazy a month ago. But, with each passing series, it becomes more likely that the Yankees’ lateseason collapse will lead to them opening the wild card round. They had a lead of five games over the Rays by Labor Day. This is more than 10 more games than it was on July 8th. They fell to the Rays in the first round and lost two more. They will travel to Toronto to face the rejuvenated Blue Jays, winners of seven out of eight and now sitting just 5.5 games behind them. Everything is trending down. Andrew Benintendi It’s possible that they are out of season. Matt CarpenterAroldischapman’s tattoo infection clogged up the bullpen gears, making him the person to thank for the team’s pre-August surge. Nineteen games between the Jays’ and Rays are possible. The Yankees will face more pressure if one team dominates the other. Although a complete collapse would require a series of wild events, it has taken some wild turns to get here. It is possible to imagine what seemed impossible. — Keown
You were among three Orioles voters. Which do you think they will do? It’s the same as they have been doing it since July: enough offense, enough starting pitching, great defense and a shut-down bullpen. And now, let’s not forget about rookie call-up Gunnar Henderson To add some spark to the lineup, he has already played at three infield positions and landed in fifth place in the lineup. They can bring down Toronto with a series of head-tohead games against the Blue Jays. The Orioles are as good as any team within the AL over the past two-months. Schoenfield
Will the NL East be won by the Mets or the Braves?
New York Mets 15
What makes the Mets so dominant? The experience and depth of the roster. Both Francisco Lindor And Edwin Diaz They admitted that at times they had difficulty adjusting to New York. But things have settled for them both and Scherzer continues to look like a future Hall of Famer. While deGrom’s health has been an issue this season, the team has managed to make up the difference with the depth of the rotation. Chris Bassitt To Taijuan WalkerWhile there have been a few changes to the lineup, they still received contributions. Brandon Nimmo To Starling Marte To Jeff McNeil To Mark Canha. — Lee
But, the Braves are stealing the division. Why? Yes, TimmyTrutt did sound fantastic at Citifield, where there’s such a great energy these days. Steve Cohen, owner, has his club doing all the things the old Mets did — and it’s been a pleasure for the team’s longstanding fans. Let’s hope they can shed the “same old Mets”, by being healthy and beating the Braves, which is something they didn’t achieve last year. Maybe then it will be possible to believe. — Matt Marrone
Who will win the AL Central title?
How did the Guardians get to this point? Cleveland has a nice balance, can push for the limits on the bases and hasn’t made as many self-destructive errors as other young teams. It is just a solid team with a young roster in a weak league. It’s a good idea to have Jose Ramirez Leading the way for talents in Minnesota — such a Byron Buxton Chicago or Chicago — such as Luis Robert — Are in and out the lineup. Rogers
What makes you believe the Twins will win the title? Geez. It’s not a pick I make with a lot of conviction. And I hate to defend them. I think Minnesota is a team that has underachieved, despite being at the top of the division for the entire season. Cleveland may be playing a little too much. The Guardians are the youngest team in baseball, and there are many key players at the Twins who have had a successful career. Flip a coin, and I could defend it in either direction. The White Sox are hard to talk about. They win a few games every time it seems they are going to be written off. Then again, the Twins or Guardians both have skids. It’s been too many times that the White Sox have failed in the face of greatness for me not to pick them. — Doolittle
You were one of few to pick the White Sox. Why Chicago? Like many others, I waited all year for the White Sox’s to start and was disappointed every time. I don’t like this pick. They are a sub-average team at this point as evidenced by their run differential. They have the greatest talent and depth in this division, and they tend to win over long seasons. They deserve a hot month, maybe more than any other team. It could be September. — Gonzalez
How many career home runs are there? Albert Pujols Finish with?
700: 5
699: 4
698: 4
697: 3
701: 1
Pujols has been on an emotional high lately and you’re sure he’ll hit that legendary 700 number. What will it take to get him there? Pujols will be hitting 700 homers, as he has been, in many ways, the best individual story of this season. Although I was skeptical that he would be able to hit 700 homers, he just wrapped up a 34-game stretch at.387. The last time he did that was in 2008. Here is the work of destiny. It seems fitting that he would have seven hundred by the end of his regular-season career. — Kurkjian
One of many people said he would finish below the 700 club. Why? Before I begin, let me say that betting against Pujols is foolish. August’s rate stats were among the highest in baseball, and he also hit eight home runs. Who’s to say that he won’t be able to hit six more? He did hit six home runs in his last month before August 2016, which was his sixth consecutive month with at least six. In six years, he hit five homers per month eight times. It is clear that Oli Marmol has found the right times to deploy Pujols. Pujols is currently hitting.370/.412/.790 against lefties this year. But this is more a wager than the man. This is a bet that I hope I lose. — Passan
Let’s make a bold prediction about the final stretch.
The American League…
The final day of the season will see the Orioles and Blue Jays tied for the last wild-card spot. Cavan Biggio Baltimore Jays lead with homers in ninth inning Jordan Romano He saves it for the win. The Jays won the game against the Yankees and Guardians. Houston lost the American League Championship Series. Karabell
With 15 of the 27 remaining games at home, the Orioles have a 39-27 record at Camden Yards and the most straightforward schedule in the AL East. They are on the road to the unlikelyst (non-COVID-19) playoff appearance in more than a decade. — Passan
The White Sox will win the AL Central. — Gonzalez
The National League is…
The Brewers defeat the Phillies to secure the last wild-card spot. San Diego, however, is sweating it out and barely manages to sneak in. McDaniel
For the second consecutive season, the Padres collapse and lose to the Phillies in the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Phillies won 4 of 7 meetings. This led to chaos for many fans as they learned of the elimination “Game 163” tiebreaker. This causes enough outrage that MLB has rightly reinstated the traditional tiebreaker in 2023. Cockroft
For individual players,…
Judge hit two home runs on the last day to record a season record of 62. Schoenfield
Judge’s pursuit of 60 will be the focus of discussion for the last month. However, there will be five other players who will reach at least 40 home runs in this season. What is the lesson? The lesson? — Dan Mullen
Lefty Nationals Patrick CorbinHe is currently at an MLB-leading 17 losses for the season and won’t reach 20. — Kurkjian
Mets right-hander Edwin Diaz’s walk-up song, “Narco,” has been a hit. gone viral Over 1 billion streams have been made in the last weeks. — Glanville