The 2022 MLB regular season is in the books, and now it’s time for literally the league’s biggest postseason yet. For the first time ever, there will be 12 teams – six from each league – that will partake in the playoffs’ festivities. This playoff format expansion opens up more possibilities to create new heroics, and we’re here to cover a handful of the more compelling ballclubs worth placing stakes on as the eventual winner of the 2022 World Series title.

Updated Odds to Win the 2022 World Series

How are you ranking these #postseason lineups? pic.twitter.com/HE5595vo3f

— MLB (@MLB) October 6, 2022

• Los Angeles Dodgers +500
• Houston Astros +750
• Atlanta Braves +1000
• New York Yankees +1000
• Toronto Blue Jays +1000
• Tampa Bay Rays +1100
• San Diego Padres +1600
• St. Louis Cardinals +2000
• New York Mets +2400
• Philadelphia Phillies +2600
• Seattle Mariners +3600
• Cleveland Guardians +7000

2021 World Series Recap

The Atlanta Braves faced the Houston Astros in a series to remember. The Braves won the first game but couldn’t take a 2 games to 0 lead after Houston grabbed the second contest.

Back home at Truist Park, the Braves won the next 2 games to take a commanding 3 games to 1 lead. Houston pushed the series to a sixth game after winning Game 5 on Halloween night. The ATL closed the book on the Stros in a 7-0 Game 6 victory.

2022 World Series Top Picks

Los Angeles Dodgers

For the fourth time in six years, the Dodgers finish the regular season with over 100 wins and have also captured their fifth NL West title during this stretch. The big-spending SoCal franchise had a ton of depth across all positions that helped the team weather the arduous regular season with relative ease, even as far as ending the campaign with a staggering plus-334 run differential; almost 100 runs more than the next team behind LA.

Former Braves standout Freddie Freeman is having an MVP-worthy campaign and could very well face his old team later down in the postseason in a possible rematch of last year’s NLCS. With three trips to the World Series and having won one as recently as 2020, the Dodgers are deservedly the odds-on favorite to reclaim the MLB throne as we speak.

Houston Astros

The Stros finished the season winning 106 games. That alone makes Houston a contender. The real reason to love the Astros’ chances is because Justin Verlander is on fire. JV didn’t play last season.

This season, the future hall of fame pitcher is 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA and a .83 WHIP. Verlander struck out 185 batters during the regular season. Houston always performs at the plate. Now, the Stros will dominate on the mound because the pressure is off ace Framber Valdez with Verlander at the top of the rotation.

2022 World Series Second Top Picks

Atlanta Braves

The defending champs lost Freddie Freeman before the season, which is why it took Atlanta some time to get it going. Get it going the ATL did, winning 45 and losing 23 in the second half of the season. Atlanta finished the regular season tied atop the NL East with the rival Mets.

Even though ace Max Fried is listed as day-to-day, Mr. Postseason Charlie Morton is just fine. Morton will hold down the fort while Fried gets ready for an expected deep playoff run. The Braves rank eighth in team batting average and the starting lineup is healthy.

New York Yankees

Kudos to Aaron Judge. The Yankee hitter blasted 62 home runs this season and unlike when hitting 60 or more happened before, every one of Aaron’s dingers were legit, no peds required. In addition to the 62 homers, Judge batted .311 and knocked in 131 runs. Judge is the best hitter in a loaded lineup.

But the Yankees could struggle on the mound. Gerrit Cole had a fine season. But he’s susceptible to having bad days as evidenced by his 3.50 ERA. Nestor Cortes has a 2.44 ERA. That was during the regular season. The Yankees can win the World Series if they get there. But taking the AL over Houston won’t be easy.

2022 World Series Third Top Picks

St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals clinched the NL Central for the second time in four years and kept their postseason appearance streak to four consecutive seasons thanks to a pair of relative newcomers leading the charge in The Lou. Both Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado are playing out of their minds both at the plate and on defense.

St. Louis missed out on a first-round bye, but winning a division title means the team has a more favorable wild-card-round matchup against the sixth-seeded Phillies. The Cards also boast plenty of nostalgia to cheer for with future Hall-of-Famers Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina playing in their final MLB seasons, making them one of the more appealing sleeper candidates to win the World Series amongst all postseason hopefuls.

Seattle Mariners

At long last, the 21-year playoff drought of the Mariners has been lifted. Thanks to a loaded bullpen that refuses to break, Seattle’s upstart roster could very well be the best Cinderella story in the majors for quite some time. However, the team has slowed down quite a bit heading into the postseason, with top arms Robbie Ray, Luis Castillo, and George Kirby having mediocre performances of late.

Outside of that concern, the M’s are also hoping for AL Rookie of the Year contender Julio Rodriguez returns to his stellar form after a back injury shelved him leading up to his team’s final playoff push in the regular season. Still, the Mariners have the majority of the MLB fan base rooting for them as the feisty underdogs and they feel like a team of destiny after what the long-struggling franchise had to endure prior to this point. Seattle even won each of their last five meetings against their wild-card opponent the Blue Jays, further reinforcing that the team is a trendy sleeper pick as well beyond just another feel-good story.

2022 World Series Underdog Picks

Tampa Bay Rays

The stacked AL East has three postseason participants representing the group, with the Rays barely making the cut as the No. 6 seed. Much like Seattle, Tampa Bay will need its pitching corps to be at its postseason prime. Ace starter Shane McClanahan was a Cy Young candidate for the better part of the entire regular season and is backed up with dependable names such as Jeffrey Springs, Tyler Glasnow, and even a resurgent Corey Kluber.

However, a big issue for the Rays is run production, as they had the second-fewest home runs during the regular season amongst all 12 playoff teams. Randy Arozarena and Yandy Diaz have been reliable hitters in the order, but their bigger names like Wander Franco and Brandon Lowe have regressed in 2021. As such, Tampa Bay is no more than a long shot at winning the World Series, let alone returning to the Fall Classic since the team’s magical run in 2019.

New York Mets

The Mets have a better shot of winning the World Series than their +2400 odds suggest. NYM has a fantastic starting rotation. Jacob deGrom is listed as day-to-day. deGrom’s health is the biggest question and might be the reason for the overlay odds. Max Scherzer was great the last time he threw in a postseason.

Chris Bassitt, Taijuan Walker, and Carlos Carrasco are difficult to hit off of when they’ve got their best stuff working. Right now, the Mets are the best play on the board if you’re looking for value.

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*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.