Predicting the World Series champ, award winners for 2022 MLB season

NL MVP

Juan Soto, Nationals

Soto has the best eye in baseball, drawing an MLB-best 145 walks against 93 strikeouts last season. He didn’t put up eye-popping power numbers, slashing .313/.465/.534 with 29 home runs and 95 RBIs, and finished second in MVP voting. Soto could see more strikes with veteran DH Nelson Cruz batting behind him this season.

NL Cy Young

Walker Buehler, Dodgers

Buehler (16-4, 2.47 ERA/0.97 WHIP) led the NL with 33 starts, logged 200 innings for the first time (207 2/3) and recorded 200 strikeouts (212) for the second time. He got off to a great start, going 9-1 with a 2.36 ERA in the first half before playing second fiddle down the stretch to teammate Max Scherzer. Buehler is ready to become the Dodgers’ ace.

NL Rookie of the Year

Seiya Suzuki, Cubs

The 27-year-old Japanese right fielder isn’t your typical rookie. The Cubs signed the five-time NPB All-Star, who has 122 career home runs, to a five-year, $85 million contract. Suzuki slashed .317/.433/.639 with 26 doubles, 38 homers and 88 RBIs last year but has to prove that his numbers can translate to the majors. After starting spring training 0 for 8, he finished with a .350 OBP, two homers and five RBIs.

AL MVP

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays

In almost any other year, Guerrero would have won MVP last season. He led the majors in OBP (.401), slugging percentage (.601), OPS+ (169) and total bases (363) and the AL in runs (123) and homers (48). Instead, he finished second to Shohei Ohtani. This time, the 23-year-old slugger will get his due.

AL Cy Young

Gerrit Cole, Yankees

Cole was the runner-up last year, when he was 16-8 with a 3.23 ERA/1.06 WHIP and 243 strikeouts in 30 starts, and has finished in the top five in voting five times. A 5.13 ERA over the final month cost him the award, but his second full season (he made only 12 starts in 2020) in the Bronx could be his breakthrough year.

AL Rookie of the Year

Bobby Witt Jr., Royals

The 21-year-old, a natural shortstop, will start at third base for the Royals. The No. 2 pick in the 2019 draft and No. 2 prospect in baseball, Witt slashed .290/.361/.576 with 35 doubles, 33 homers and 97 RBIs and had 29 stolen bases last year, split between Double-A and Triple-A.

Playoff predictions

NL East winner: Braves

NL Central winner: Brewers

NL West winner: Dodgers

Wild-card teams: Giants, Cardinals, Mets

NLCS: Brewers over Dodgers

AL East winner: Yankees

AL Central winner: White Sox

AL West winner: Mariners

Wild-card teams: Rays, Astros, Blue Jays

ALCS: White Sox over Blue Jays

World Series: Brewers over White Sox