2022 Audacy MLB Awards and World Series predictions

American League East

1. Toronto Blue Jays: 98-64 (X)
2. New York Yankees: 93-69 (Y)
3. Tampa Bay Rays: 91-71 (Y)
4. Boston Red Sox: 88-74 (Y)
5. Baltimore Orioles: 61-101

In a division with four teams that have World Series aspirations, we're picking the Blue Jays to win their first division title since 2015. While they lost Marcus Semien and Robbie Ray this offseason, they still arguably improved with the additions of Kevin Gausman, Matt Chapman and Yusei Kikuchi. Even with Toronto projected to win an American League-best 98 games, we believe that the Yankees, Rays and Red Sox will all reach the postseason as Wild Card winners as well.

American League Central

1. Chicago White Sox: 90-72 (X)
2. Minnesota Twins: 85-77
3. Cleveland Guardians: 80-82
4. Detroit Tigers: 74-88
5. Kansas City Royals: 71-91

Both the Twins and Tigers improved their rosters this offseason, but the White Sox are clearly the class of the American League Central. The Spring Training acquisition of AJ Pollock from the Los Angeles Dodgers gives the White Sox a complete lineup, which Tony La Russa will pair with a strong one-two punch in the rotation once Lance Lynn returns from a knee injury. While the teams in the AL East beat each other up, the White Sox could win their division with relative ease, setting them up for a deep run in October.

MLB is back! Grab new merchandise from our friends at Fanatics and game tickets at Ticketmaster.

American League West

1. Houston Astros: 91-71 (X)
2. Los Angeles Angels: 83-79
3. Seattle Mariners: 81-81
4. Texas Rangers: 76-86
5. Oakland Athletics: 66-96

Despite the loss of Carlos Correa in free agency, the Astros look like the clear-cut favorites in the American League West. Even with Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, the Angels are still too top-heavy. The Mariners are trending in a positive direction, but still feel a big bat and another front-line starter away from becoming the favorites in this division. The Rangers are drastically improved with the offseason additions of Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Jon Gray and Brad Miller, but that's coming after they lost 102 games a season ago. And the A's, well, their No. 1 priority appears to be saving money, which led to a mass exodus this offseason. Our bet is that the Astros win their fifth AL West title in six years.

National League East

1. Atlanta Braves: 95-67 (X)
2. New York Mets: 91-71 (Y)
3. Philadelphia Phillies: 88-74 (Y)
4. Miami Marlins: 81-81
5. Washington Nationals: 69-93

The defending World Series Champion Braves allowed franchise icon Freddie Freeman to walk in free agency, but they traded for Matt Olson, signed Kenley Jansen, will get Marcell Ozuna back from a suspension and have the return of superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. to look forward to at some point early this summer. The Mets and Phillies both had excellent offseasons, which we're projecting will propel them to the postseason. But the Braves are the favorites to win the National League East for the fifth year in a row.

National League Central

1. Milwaukee Brewers: 97-64 (X)
2. St. Louis Cardinals: 85-77
3. Chicago Cubs: 73-89
4. Cincinnati Reds: 68-94
5. Pittsburgh Pirates: 62-100

The Brewers have the best on-two starting rotation punch in the league with Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff, both of whom appeared on our countdown of the 15 best starting pitchers for the 2022 season. The reigning National League Central Champions arguably have the best bullpen duo in the sport as well, with Josh Hader and Devin Williams. If Christian Yelich returns to anything like the form that he showed in 2018 and 2019, the Brewers will run away with the NL Central and be legitimate World Series contenders.

National League West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers: 105-57 (X)
2. San Diego Padres: 92-70 (Y)
3. San Francisco Giants: 87-75
4. Colorado Rockies: 69-93
5. Arizona Diamondbacks: 66-96

The Dodgers won 105 games a season ago -- which, amazingly, wasn't good enough to win the division -- and still managed to improve this offseason. Andrew Friedman added two potential future Hall of Famers in Freddie Freeman and Craig Kimbrel, setting up the Dodgers to have one of the greatest rosters in MLB history. We believe the Giants will regress to the mean a bit in 2022, while the Padres are likely to return to the postseason after a second-half collapse in 2021. But even with two other legitimate contenders in their own division, the Dodgers are absolutely the favorites to win not only their own division, but the World Series.

American League MVP: José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians

Ramírez has finished in the top three in American League MVP voting on three occasions, topping out as runner-up in 2020. While the chance that the Guardians fall out of contention and trade Ramírez away scares us a bit, the top third basemen in baseball is our pick to win the 2022 AL MVP. Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Carlos Correa and Corey Seager are among the other serious candidates for the award.

National League MVP: Trea Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers

A year ago, Turner led all position players with a 6.9 fWAR, finishing fifth in National League MVP in a season that he split between the Washington Nationals and the Dodgers. In a contract year, Turner is our NL MVP pick. Two of his former teammates -- Bryce Harper and Juan Soto -- are also candidates, as are his current teammate Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.

American League Cy Young: Kevin Gausman, Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays allowed reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray to depart in free agency, but may have upgraded in signing Gausman to a five-year/$110 million deal. It took Gausman a while to reach his potential, but over the past two seasons as a member of the San Francisco Giants, he posted a 3.00 ERA and 3.02 FIP across 251 2/3 innings. After finishing sixth in National League Cy Young Award voting in 2022, Gausman is our bet to win AL Cy Young in 2022. Ray, Gerrit Cole, Shane Bieber, Lance Lynn and Nathan Eovaldi are other candidates for the award.

National League Cy Young: Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers

After finishing fourth in National League Cy Young Award voting in 2021, Buehler will get his first Opening Day start in 2022. In his age-27 season, we think Buehler will also win the top pitching honor in the senior circuit for the first time in his career, and perhaps not the last. While Jacob deGrom will be injured to start the season, Max Scherzer, Zack Wheeler, Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Julio Urías are other names that could contend for NL Cy Young.

American League Rookie of the Year: Spencer Torkelson, Detroit Tigers

Miguel Cabrera helped to pass the first base torch to Torkelson 19 years after he was a star rookie, and our bet is that the new first baseman for the Tigers will win the American League Rookie of the Year in 2022. Torkelson -- the No. 1 overall pick in 2020 -- homered 30 times and drove in 91 runs across three levels of the minors a season ago. Bobby Witt Jr. and Adley Rutschman are also candidates for AL Rookie of the Year.

National League Rookie of the Year: Seiya Suzuki

The Cubs inked Suzuki to a five-year/$85 million deal in March, one that we think will ultimately look like a very team-friendly pact. Suzuki, 27, homered 38 times, drove in 88 runs and posted a 1.073 OPS in 132 games for the Hiroshima Carp in Japan a season ago. As the Cubs look for a next fan favorite after the departures of Kris Bryant, Javier Báez and Anthony Rizzo, Suzuki could be a worthy candidate. Bryson Stott, Oneil Cruz and Keibert Ruiz are also candidates for National League Rookie of the Year.

Playoffs

American League
1. Toronto Blue Jays
2. Houston Astros
3. Chicago White Sox
4. New York Yankees
5. Tampa Bay Rays
6. Boston Red Sox

National League
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Milwaukee Brewers
3. Atlanta Braves
4. San Diego Padres
5. New York Mets
6. Philadelphia Phillies

ALCS
Blue Jays over Rays

NLCS
Brewers over Dodgers

World Series
Blue Jays over Brewers