After a 99-day lockout, a free-agency frenzy and a shortened spring training, Opening Day is finally upon us. But before the Yankees and Red Sox kick off the season on Thursday afternoon, we thought it’d be a good idea to gauge how everyone’s feeling about the 2022 season.
Can the Braves repeat as World Series champions? Or will the Dodgers, after making a splash by signing Freddie Freeman, dominate the NL West and the rest of the sport? And after just missing the playoffs last season, can the Blue Jays make a serious run?
We asked The Athletic’s staff of writers and editors (more than 30 voters total) to make their selections for World Series winner, division winners, MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year awards, plus choose the most underrated and overrated teams.
(Note: Voting ended Friday, after the Mets announced Jacob deGrom would miss his Opening Day start. Additionally, the majority of these votes were submitted before news of the Craig Kimbrel trade and Garrett Crochet’s elbow injury.)
Who will win the World Series?
Jayson Stark (Pick: Blue Jays): I’ve seen this team a lot this spring.