With the start of the 2022 MLB season just around the corner, it’s a great time to make some predictions today. It felt as if the 2022 MLB season wasn’t going to happen at one point, but the year is actually getting started just one week later than it was supposed to.
In case you haven’t been following the news, the players and owners in baseball aren’t exactly getting along, and it was not easy to sign a new labor agreement. A deal was eventually reached and a normal baseball season is expected to take place.
How normal though is the biggest question and this could be a year that has some strange things occurring. Here are seven bold predictions for the 2022 MLB season.
Fans Return….At Some Point
It doesn’t matter what side of the argument you were on during the contract negotiations, everyone could agree that it was an absolute mess. Fans throughout the country have claimed that they won’t be following the MLB season this year, and that might be the case at first.
There are plenty of good reasons to be upset at both the owners and the players, but that’s not the game itself. Fans are going to get sucked back in at some point during the 2022 season and it will feel like nothing ever changed by the time the playoffs roll around.
A Major Pitcher Gets Caught Using Foreign Substance
Major League Baseball attempted to cut down on the use of foreign substances a year ago, but there were frequent warnings given. Pitchers had time to adjust to the new rules, but it because pretty obvious what players had been cheating.
Now pitchers and teams have had almost a year to come up with a new way to doctor the baseball, and you are going to see plenty of pitchers using something this year. A top pitcher is going to get busted at some point, and it will lead to a whole new discussion about the use of a foreign substance
Plenty of PED Suspensions Coming
MLB recently announced that three players have been suspended for the use of performance enhancing drugs, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. You are going to see some big names get popped throughout the year, and it’s going to affect a handful of teams.
There was no PED testing done during the lockout, and there are some players that obviously tried to sneak a cycle or two in. Suspensions are coming and it will shake up baseball.
Yankees Are Sellers At Trade Deadline
It’s hard to figure out what the New York Yankees are doing as some of their moves simply make no sense. The Yankees haven’t been shy about spending money at times, but they were eerily quiet in the free agent market this offseason.
New York is a franchise at the crossroads and don’t be surprised to see them as “sellers” at the Trade Deadline. The AL East is simply too good and the Yankees are going to have to get creative to get things straightened back out.
Houston Astros Miss the Playoffs
A dynasty is about to end this season as the Houston Astros are going to be watching the playoffs from home. Not only will the Astros lose their stranglehold on the AL West Division, but they won’t even sneak in as a Wild Card.
This is a pretty bold prediction considering that the Astros are still one of the most talented teams in baseball. The loss of Carlos Correa will sting all year long, and another one or two veterans will miss time with injury.
Blue Jays Win the AL Pennant
This might not be as bold of a prediction as you might expect, but the Toronto Blue Jays are winning the American League pennant in 2022. Toronto has been acquiring a ton of young talent over the last few years, and that talent is finally going to be on display.
The Blue Jays are going to have to deal with a loaded AL East Division, but they are at least going to be a Wild Card team this season. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and company will have what it takes in October to win a crowded and loaded American League.
Braves Repeat As Champions
Winning one World Series is extremely difficult, but winning back-to-back titles is not something that happens often in baseball. It’s going to happen this year as the Atlanta Braves are going to do the unthinkable yet again.
Atlanta won the World Series a season ago without Ronald Acuna Jr, who is one of the best players in baseball. They let Freddie Freeman walk in free agency, but this Braves team is still absolutely loaded.
The Braves beat the Blue Jays in the 2022 World Series.