Predicting what would happen if the MLB playoff picture remained the same because the season ended today.
The MLB playoff picture continues to take shape. Magic numbers are shrinking daily. What if the season ended today?
If it did, we might just speed up the inevitable. There is less than a month of regular season action left. Only a few teams have a logical shot to sneak into the postseason. A few others can move up a spot.
How might things go if the postseason began right now? Let’s make some predictions.
MLB playoff picture: Seattle Mariners defeat Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 in ALWC
The Seattle Mariners would have to go to Florida to play the Tampa Bay Rays in a best of three series to help open things up. The Rays have hung around all year but it’s the Mariners who seem to have the greatest momentum. This would make for an interesting series. It’s hard to believe the Mariners would fall to the Rays but let’s give Tampa Bay at least one win in the best of three contest. They would, after all, have home-field advantage.
MLB playoff picture: Cleveland Guardians defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1 in ALWC
The Cleveland Guardians would host the Toronto Blue Jays to begin their postseason trip. Despite having more regular season wins than the Guardians, their strong push late in 2022 would be enough to give them the edge over Toronto. Plus, with some walk-off magic available, let’s say they win at least one in style with an extra inning win to take the series 2-1. We can give the winning hit to Steve Kwan.
MLB playoff picture: St. Louis Cardinals defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-0 in NLWC
The St. Louis Cardinals are a much different team than the last time they faced the Philadelphia Phillies. Minus Zack Wheeler at the moment, it’s hard to picture Philadelphia taking down the much mightier Cardinals team that is a bigger threat than most may believe. It’s a sweep with one close game and one blowout.
MLB playoff picture: Atlanta Braves defeat the San Diego Padres 2-1 in NLWC
Juan Soto goes hitless in the first game but helps the San Diego Padres beat the Atlanta Braves in the second. However, it’s hardly enough. Atlanta still wins the series with a bloodbath in the finale which is capped off by a grand slam in the first inning. There is no way the Braves are settling for an early bounce in the postseason. They are going onto the NLDS.
MLB playoff picture: New York Yankees defeat the Cleveland Guardians 3-2 in ALDS
The New York Yankees bats go silent in one of their losses to the Cleveland Guardians in this best of five series but they are able to overcome their tough underdog opponent and advance. We get all five games in this series with the Yankees advancing and the Guardians going home wishing they had a little help from the front office.
MLB playoff picture: Houston Astros defeat the Seattle Mariners 3-1 in ALDS
The bye in the first round gives the Houston Astros enough time to let Justin Verlander get fully healthy. The Seattle Mariners are only able to muster up a single win, a treat for the home crowd in Game 3. Unfortunately, it’s not enough. Houston steamrolls them in Game 4 and that’s it for Seattle.
MLB playoff picture: New York Mets defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 in NLDS
The New York Mets exorcise some demons by beating the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 in their NLDS matchup. The last time these two teams faced off against each other in the postseason, Adam Wainwright was on the mound to end. They get some revenge on him in this series and advance to the NLCS.
MLB playoff picture: Atlanta Braves defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 in NLDS
Another series that goes all five, this one includes an underdog winner. The defending champion Atlanta Braves take down the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers. The narrative is that the bye helped the Dodgers pitched go a little too cold. Others know better. It was a questionable decision by Dave Roberts that doomed Los Angeles.
MLB playoff picture: Houston Astros defeat the New York Yankees 4-2 in the ALCS
It’s the matchup everyone has been expecting until the New York Yankees showed signs of weakness late in the year. They take on the Houston Astros yet again in the ALCS where anything can happen. And by anything, they lose yet again.
This becomes another one of those series where the home team comes away on top. Fans listen in closely for any sounds of trash cans but none are heard. Aaron Judge does power the Yankees to victory and a bases clearing brawl does take place at one point.
Ultimately, the biggest woe for the Yankees is that they didn’t get enough guys healthy in time to face off against the Astros. Too many players rushed back because remember; the season ended today!
MLB playoff picture: New York Mets defeat the Atlanta Braves 4-3 in the NLCS
A rubber-match between two rivals, the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves do battle for the third time in postseason history. The Mets between the Braves in 1969. Thirty years later in 1999, it was the Braves who came out on top.
This time, with Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer going back-to-back, it’s enough for the Mets to beat Atlanta. It takes all seven games and a heartbreaking loss at home for each club to get through.
In the end, it’s the Mets who take down goliath and make it to the World Series.
MLB playoff picture: Houston Astros defeat the New York Mets 4-1 in the World Series
Just getting invited to participate in the World Series isn’t enough for the 2022 New York Mets. Sadly, it’s all they’ll get.
In the best of seven series to finish the MLB season off, the Houston Astros prove to be too mighty for them. New York is taken down by a superior bullpen and in one of the losses they suffer it’s a result of an atypical performance by one of their aces. The offense goes too cold and the Astros have just enough from their own bats to make some wonder if the Mets really had the pitching to compete.
Kyle Tucker wins the World Series MVP because the Mets don’t have the lefty reliever in the bullpen to stop him. The Astros celebrate a “clean” World Series title except there are enough controversial calls throughout the five games to have people coming up with brand new conspiracy theories.
The fatal defeat at the arms and bats of the Astros has the Mets questioning what they do next. What does the future hold for Jacob deGrom and so many of their other free agents?
As for the Astros, it’s the last days of Justin Verlander until Steve Cohen offers him $45 million to come back and pitch for his team in 2023.