2022 MLB standings predictions: Where will the Cubs finish?

National League Central: The Cubs face a tough task even in a weak division

1: Milwaukee Brewers (94-68)

This starting pitching staff is absolutely loaded. The rotation was the main factor in the Brewers bringing a division title back to Milwaukee in 2021. Starters Brandon Woodruff, Corbin Burnes, Adrian Houser and Freddy Peralta will all be back. Kolten Wong will man second base with Willy Adames at short, making a nice middle infield.

They brought in outfielder Hunter Renfroe, who hit 31 homers last season, via trade with the Red Sox, in exchange for Jackie Bradley Jr. They also added veteran outfielder and former MVP Andrew McCutchen on a one-year deal, who can still produce decently. If Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain return to form, they will be really tough to beat.

2: St. Louis Cardinals (88-74)

St. Louis made a heck of a run in September to the postseason last year, and much of the team will be returning. Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado and Tyler O’Neill will be the biggest pieces of that lineup, with Gold Glover Harrison Bader in the outfield. Veteran Corey Dickerson was one of their notable position player moves of the offseason, and he can DH. This is a very strong defensive team overall, especially with Arenado at third.

In terms of arms, they added Steven Matz to the rotation, but the biggest factor will be the return of ace Jack Flaherty. Though, his health is already a bit of a concern as he is experiencing shoulder issues. Among all of this is the return of Albert Pujols, who will be retiring after 2022 alongside Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina. Pujols will DH mostly and it will be interesting to see how many games he plays in his final season. It will be an emotional farewell tour for the longtime Cardinals heroes.

3: Chicago Cubs (73-89)

Let’s be real right off the bat, 2022 is a transition year for the Cubs. 73 wins seem optimistic? Maybe, but let’s go best case scenario.

Stroman is a really good addition to the rotation, as is Wade Miley. If Kyle Hendricks rebounds from last year’s struggles, the top three are solid. Not elite, but solid. The rest of the rotation will be a mix of Alec Mills, Drew Smyly, Keegan Thompson and Justin Steele to start. Adbert Alzolay’s injury is tough to swallow, but hopefully when he comes back and Caleb Kilian arrives, more starting options will emerge. Also, keep an eye on Jordan Wicks and D.J. Herz in the minors.

Suzuki was the club’s big offensive addition. This guy was an absolute star in Japan and he will slide into the outfield right away. It might take some time for him to adjust, but the talent is there. The rest of the regulars to start the year will include Willson Contreras, Frank Schwindel, Nico Hoerner, Nick Madrigal and Ian Happ. The bench/platoon options include the likes of  Yan Gomes, Jonathan Villar, Jason Heyward, Rafael Ortega, Clint Frazier, Andrelton Simmons, Patrick Wisdom, Michael Hermosillo, Greg Deichmann and Alfonso Rivas. Not exactly Murderer’s Row, but there’s some young potential mixed in there. It would be wise for the Cubs to give the younger guys as many at bats as possible to evaluate what they have moving forward.

One area of the Cubs that could be potentially strong is the bullpen. They have added a collection of arms including veteran closer David Robertson, Jesse Chavez, Mychal Givens, Chris Martin and Daniel Norris. Pair them with Rowan Wick, Manny Rodriguez, Ethan Roberts, Adrian Sampson and the swing starter/reliever pitchers previously mentioned and the bullpen could look solid. Losing Codi Heuer for the year was a tough break, though.

It feels like a matter of time before top prospect Brennen Davis makes his way to the Cubs. Expect it sometime this year if all goes as planned. Most other top position prospects are a ways away from the MLB level, but they will be worth following in the minors this year. Overall, this is not going to be a big year in terms of wins, but a HUGE year for the long-term future of the franchise.

4: Cincinatti Reds (66-96)

Fire sale in Cincinnati. To the frustration of the Cincy faithful, the Reds are tearing it down. Sonny Gray, Nick Castellanos (opted out), Eugenio Suarez, Tucker Barnhart, Jesse Winker and Wade Miley are all gone. It would not be surprising if Luis Castillo is eventually dealt too. Joey Votto had a really nice comeback year last year, and for now, will still be a Red. Have they gotten some intriguing prospects back? Yes, but it will be a while before they are good.

They added former Cubs outfielder Albert Almora and former Pirates infielder Colin Moran to fill some gaps for the time being and the debut of fireballing right-hander Hunter Greene will be a big story, too. It’s safe to say Bob Castellini is not a very popular name among Reds Nation, as there’s a deep drive into left field by Castellanos – it will be a home run.

5: Pittsburgh Pirates (61-101)

Another rebuilding year for the Buccos. The good news for them is that their farm continues to get stronger and there is reason for hope for the future in Pittsburgh. For the fans watching the MLB club, it will be another year of experience for Ke’Bryan Hayes who is an important piece for that franchise. Bryan Reynolds is coming off a nice year with 24 home runs and .912 OPS, though he will probably be trade bait at some point or another. Former Cub Jose Quintana signed a one-year deal with them, and he could be their Opening Day starter, if not J.T. Brubaker. Look to the future, Pirates fans.

National League West: The road to a ring runs through the West Coast

1: Los Angeles Dodgers (106-56)

I think at this point the main question regarding the Dodgers is if their win total will eclipse the century mark again. This team is once again loaded and it would take something catastrophic to derail them. Clayton Kershaw returns and will once again be pitching alongside Walker Buehler and Julio Urias.

The lineup sees the return of former MVP Mookie Betts, Trea Turner, Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy and Will Smith. Oh, and Freddie Freeman. Let’s not forget that little addition to their lineup. Unreal. Chances they add another elite name at the deadline like they always do? I would take that bet. They enter 2022 as the favorites to win it all.

2: San Diego Padres (88-74)

2021 ended up being a failure. Expectations were so high going into the season as some even had them overtaking Los Angeles. Things started well, and then it all fell apart in the second half. A mix of injuries, ill-timed cold streaks and dugout turmoil all resulted in the team’s downfall.

Slam Diego will be looking at center pieces Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Jake Cronenworth to help get this team back to the postseason. If Joe Musgrove can have a season like the one he had last year along with Blake Snell, Yu Darvish and Mike Clevinger returning to prime form, then that rotation looks great.  Unfortunately, Tatis Jr. suffered a wrist injury and will miss a sizeable chunk of the season. No doubt a tough blow.

They were able to acquire Luke Voit in a trade with the Yankees to add another power bat. Will the Padres deal Eric Hosmer’s big contract away? Time will tell.

3: San Francisco Giants (87-75)

Last year’s surprise team did so many things well. They pitched well, got timely hits and executed in the field…all while not being overly flashy. They put up the fifth-best wRC+ (108)  offensively and second-lowest staff ERA (3.25) in baseball. That said, it would not be surprising to see some regression this year. Buster Posey retired and they lost Kevin Gausman and Kris Bryant to free agency.

They did make a risky but potentially huge move in former White Sox fire baller Carlos Rodon, though. Former Dodgers slugger Joc Pederson also gives the Giants a nice lefty power bat. While they still should be competitive, it is hard to see them winning 100+ games again in 2022. But hey, the Giants find ways, and one cannot fully rule them out. It will also be interesting to see how top prospect Joey Bart does this year.

4: Colorado Rockies (68-94)

Kris Bryant will not save this team on his own. Sure, he can put up some monster numbers at Coors Field, but the team is just not built to contend yet. Hard to make sense of the Rockies selling fan-favorite Nolan Arenado and letting Trevor Story walk before acquiring the 2016 NL MVP. The lineup will feature Bryant, C.J Cron, Charlie Blackmon and the recently traded for Randal Grichuk as the team’s primary run producers.

Infielder Ryan McMahon got himself a nice extension…also to the surprise of many. The rotation will likely feature German Márquez as their number one guy, who has some really solid stuff. Overall it looks like another long summer in the Rocky Mountains.

5: Arizona Diamondbacks (61-101)

Last year’s Diamondbacks team set the record for consecutive games lost on the road (24) and finished tied with the most losses in franchise history (110). They traded away their biggest power source in Eduardo Escobar last year, and they again boast a lineup with little firepower. Their main offensive pieces look to be Ketel Marte and Carson Kelly.

The starting pitching staff will feature Madison Bumgarner, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly and Luke Weaver. MadBum is a shell of his former self and the others are OK, at best. They did add veteran closer Mark Melancon, which can help, but he will probably be traded at the deadline when the DBacks are well out of contention. The jump in wins from last year might seem like a lot, but until they show otherwise, it is hard to see them having such losing streaks again like last year.

American League East: An absolute powerhouse will be fun to watch

1: Tampa Bay Rays (96-66)

Wander Franco will enjoy his first full season in the majors as the Rays look to repeat as AL East champions. The team with an uncanny ability to consistently develop talent as good as anyone in the league. Brandon Lowe is coming off a career-high 39 homers with Austin Meadows, Randy Arozarena and Mike Zunino providing a mix of power and speed as a collective group. Kevin Kiermaier will provide the Gold Glove defense in center field.

Shane McClanahan and Shane Baz look to be two important cogs in the rotation, along with former Cy Young winner Corey Kluber. Baz will miss the start of the season after elbow surgery, but hopefully not too much time. They have overcome pitching injuries before. Even with the Jays, Sox and Yankees having the “shinier” teams on paper, it’s hard to bet against the Rays these days. Oh, and they still have one of the top farm systems in baseball.

2: Toronto Blue Jays (93-69)

They just missed out last year, but Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Jays have a good chance to make a run at the postseason in 2022. While losing infielder Marcus Semien to free agency, they landed former Giants pitcher Kevin Gausman to take over the top spot in the rotation. Gausman will join a rotation that also features Jose Berrios and Hyun-Jin Ryu. The Jays also made a big splash in acquiring Platinum Glove third baseman Matt Chapman via trade with the A’s.

Vladdy will build off his AL MVP runner-up season as he has become one of the most exciting players in baseball. He hit 48 home runs while slashing .311/.401/.601 in 161 games in 2021. If slugging outfielder George Springer is healthy, an everyday lineup with Guerrero Jr., Springer, Chapman, Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio and Teoscar Hernandez will be really tough to beat.

3: New York Yankees (89-73)

Let’s ask this question first, can the Bronx Bombers stay healthy throughout the season? If they can, then they will boast one of the better lineups in the American League. Center pieces Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge combined for 74 homers last year. They added slugging third baseman Josh Donaldson and shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa in exchange for Gio Urshela and Gary Sanchez.

Former Cub Anthony Rizzo will return to the Bronx, giving them a nice productive lefty bat and a good glove at first. For now, they are holding on to infielder Gleyber Torres, who has struggled the past two years after such a good start to his career. While the rotation boasts one of the best in righty Gerrit Cole, the rest of the staff has some question marks. Will Luis Severino stay healthy this year? One also could wonder if closer Aroldis Chapman’s struggles in 2021 were just the results of a down year or a sign of decline.

4: Boston Red Sox (88-74)

Another surprise in 2021, the BoSox made it to the ALCS before bowing out to the Astros. While Kyle Schwarber, Adam Ottavino and Hunter Renfroe are no longer in Boston., it’s not to say they won’t still be in the mix. They made a splash last week, adding former Rockies All-Star infielder Trevor Story on a six-year deal. He will play up the middle with Xander Bogaerts. The lineup will also feature slugging DH J.D. Martinez, left fielder Kike Hernandez and third baseman Rafael Devers.

They reunited with veteran pitcher Rich Hill and outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. as well. Ace Chris Sale is very important to this season but unfortunately, he is already having injury issues again. Nathan Eovaldi and Hill will play big roles in the rotation, but the pitching overall is going to be suspect. No doubt the Red Sox are a competitive team, and them and the Yankees can go neck and neck, but it would not be surprising if they drop off a bit from what they did in 2021.

5: Baltimore Orioles (59-103)

Hard to imagine what being a fan of the Orioles has been like the past five years. The good news is their farm system is very strong now and there is a possible light at the end of the tunnel. Top prospects Adley Rutschman and Grayson Rodriguez are worth following. That said, it is going to be another rough year at Camden Yards. They added former Rangers slugger Rougned Odor who should add some pop offensively. It was great seeing Trey Mancini return from his battle with colon cancer last year, hitting 21 homers while slashing .255/.326/.432.

American League Central: The White Sox look like the team to beat here

1: White Sox (95-67)

This should be a slam-dunk. The White Sox still are far and away the best team in the AL Central, and one of the best in the American League. Last year the Sox won the division by 13 games in a season in which young stars Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez missed a lot of time due to injury. The rotation of Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Dylan Cease and Michael Kopech will be one of the toughest for an offense to handle. Not to mention their fireball bullpen of Liam Hendriks, Garrett Crochet, Kendall Graveman and Joe Kelly. It will be interesting to see what happens with Craig Kimbrel, who for the time being is still on the roster.

The lineup featuring Robert, Jimenez, Tim Anderson, Jose Abreu, Yoan Moncada and Yasmani Grandal will put up plenty of runs on the board. Do not forget about sophomore Andrew Vaughn, who could take a massive step forward in 2022 if he recovers well from the hip injury he suffered in spring. Will this team have enough depth? I guess we’ll see as the season progresses.

2: Minnesota Twins (82-80)

Who could have predicted star shortstop Carlos Correa heading to Minnesota? On top of that, they added starter Sonny Gray, shortstop Gio Urshela and catcher Gary Sanchez via trades with the Reds and Yankees. They had acquired Isiah Kiner-Falefa for Mitch Garver, before immediately sending him with aging slugger Josh Donaldson and Ben Rortvedt to the Yankees to get Urshela and Sanchez. A very odd but intriguing offseason for the Twinkies.

On paper, they have a very productive lineup, especially if Byron Buxton is healthy (which is a BIG if). They got guys capable of 20+ home run power in Correa, Sanchez, Jorge Polanco, Miguel Sano with Max Kepler. The biggest concern is pitching. Even with Gray added to the mix they do not have a deep pitching staff. They are coming off having the second-highest staff ERA in the American League in 2021. Not sure Chris Archer, who they signed as a free agent, has much left in the tank. An intriguing team that could do better than anticipated, but with some noticeable chinks in the armor.

3: Detroit Tigers (79-83)

A team on the rise, the Tigers enter year two of the A.J. Hinch era. Last year they saw Akil Baddoo and Robbie Grossman surprise at the plate, while veteran Jonathan Schoop slugged 22 home runs. All three will be back. Their big move was signing former Cubs fan-favorite Javier Baez to a six-year deal, who will add some pop, speed, defense and swagger to Detroit.

They also added former Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez and veteran Micheal Pineda to the rotation. Their veteran presence can benefit the young arms in Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize. Tigers fans will also be keeping a close eye on the development of top prospects Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene. Fans around baseball will be waiting for Miguel Cabrera’s 3,000th hit, that’s for sure.

4: Cleveland Guardians (77-85)

New name, not so different team. The Guardians feature a nice pitching staff headed up by 2020 Cy Young winner Shane Bieber. They also have an intriguing bullpen piece in Emmanuel Clase, who recorded 24 saves and pitched to a 1.29 ERA last year. Like recent years, the lineup lacks firepower. Jose Ramirez and Franmil Reyes can provide plenty of run production and power, but that’s about it. Amed Rosario is a solid hitting shortstop but will not provide much pop. There will be plenty of games in which they keep close but cannot score enough runs.

Michael Conforto would seem like a solid addition for them if they wanted another hitter with power….just saying. This team would be a contender again if they decided to invest in more offense, but they do not seem overly interested in doing that. Do not be surprised to see Ramirez discussed in more potential trades this season.

5: Kansas City Royals (76-86)

Even if not yet a contending team, the Royals will continue to be pesky. Salvador Perez, who is coming off a 48 home run campaign, is one of the best hitting catchers in baseball. Veteran slugger Carlos Santana will also provide some solid pop in the lineup. Whit Merrifield will solidify the leadoff spot with Michael A. Taylor and Andrew Benintendi helping fill out the batting order.

They reunited with pitcher Zack Greinke, who will likely be their ace as he winds down his career. There is a ton of excitement around their number one prospect Bobby Witt Jr. along with several other top prospects. This team has a potentially bright future, and this year could see what that future could potentially look like start to take shape.

American League West: Can the Astros stay on top without Carlos Correa?

1: Houston Astros (91-71)

Losing Carlos Correa is very significant. One could wonder how much that will end up impacting the Astros. The thing is, the team is still very good. Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Michael Brantley, Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker and Yuli Gurriel will all return. Bregman has had some wrist issues but if he is healthy he is one of the best hitting infielders in baseball.

Tucker had a huge breakout season last year with 30 homers and a 5.0 fWAR season. The rotation will hopefully see the return of a healthy Justin Verlander, along with Framber Valdez, Luis Garcia, Jake Odorizzi and eventually Lance McCullers Jr, who is recovering from injury. Right now it makes sense to pick them winning the division again, even without Correa.

2: Seattle Mariners (90-72)

Is this FINALLY the year the Mariners play baseball in October? Hopes are high in Seattle after they just missed out on the postseason last year. The team built around 22-year-old Jarred Kelenic has made some notable additions including signing pitcher Robbie Ray, trading for outfielders Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker from the Reds, and acquiring second baseman Adam Frazier from the Padres.

Mitch Haniger is coming off a 30-homer season with first baseman Ty France coming off a 3.5 fWAR campaign. The rest of the pitching rotation under Ray was not out of this world last year, but decent. Marco Gonzales when at his best is a very solid starter. This team can finally take that step forward, especially in a “meh” division.

3: Los Angeles Angels (79-83)

It is incredibly frustrating to see the talents of Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani go to waste. These two electrify baseball but never have a good enough team around them. Trout is your centerfielder with Ohtani as both your ace and slugging DH. You will get a ton of strikeouts and home runs from Ohtani…in a good way.

Manager Joe Maddon will be praying for Anthony Rendon to be healthy this year, who only appeared in 58 games in 2021. They’re taking a flyer on former Mets fireballer Noah Syndergaard, and who knows how that will work out. At best, this is probably a team that finishes just under or at .500 yet again.

4: Texas Rangers (77-85)

The Rangers made some massive moves this offseason, getting former Dodgers star Corey Seager and 2021 All-Star Marcus Semien via free agency. Another solid addition was former Rockies starter Jon Gray. While these moves obviously make them better, they are coming off a 100+ loss season and the roster just is not very strong around those three guys.

Luckily their future looks promising as they have five of baseball’s top 100 prospects, including pitcher Jack Leiter. Seager and Semien will be around for a while as they are the building blocks of the next era of Rangers baseball. 2022 is going to be a big step forward for this franchise.

5: Oakland A’s (60-102)

It’s a teardown in Oakland. Billy Beane is going in rebuild mode and stocking up on prospects as he has sold off most of the A’s core. A few veteran role players remain in Elvis Andrus, Stephen Piscotty and Tony Kemp. Beane can find a way to build them back into contention soon, but this year will be very rough in Oakland. Queue the Moneyball memes.

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There will certainly be some teams that surprise in both good and bad ways. It was a wild offseason with everything that happened, but we got 162 games to go before we see how accurate people’s predictions are. Let’s play ball.