Editor’s Note: This was originally written on Thursday, October 6th, 2022, but posted on the 11th.

After 162 long games 12 of 30 teams have advanced to the Playoffs as they continue their chase for the World Series. There are teams who have been here before and there are teams here for the first time. Fans are at their rowdiest and they know that every pitch matters in October. It’s time for playoff baseball and here is what will happen in every series from now to the end of October.

Wild Card Series:

Tampa Bay Rays @ Cleveland Guardians:

Two very similar small market organizations who have bottom 5 payrolls and have proved people wrong throughout the year. The one big difference between these two teams in my opinion is the Rays seem much more stale. This is the Rays 4th straight playoff appearance and it seems like this team is worse than the 3 others. Same coach, same lineup, same bullpen, same ace. On the other hand the Guardians are the youngest team in baseball and seem like they’re a sneaky team that could make some noise in the AL. I’ve got the Guardians taking this series in 3 games and moving on to play the Yankees.

Seattle Mariners @ Toronto Blue Jays:

This may be the most entertaining of any of the wild card series. Two teams so evenly matched and stocked with stars in the lineup, rotation, and bullpen. The Mariners are back in the playoffs for the first time in over 20 years and if their young lineup led by Julio Rodriguez can silence the rowdy Toronto crowd they can be moving on. But silencing that crowd is a tall task. In October, the Rogers Centre in Toronto is by far one of the most hostile places to play just ask Texas Rangers fans. BHS’ own junior and avid baseball fan believes The Blue Jays lack the pitching to stop the hot bats of the Mariners and has the Mariners taking this series 2-1. Personally I think the home field advantage will be the difference maker as the Blue Jays take it in 3 games.

Philadelphia Phillies @ St. Louis Cardinals:

These two teams faced off 11 years ago in the playoffs after that series the Cardinals made the playoffs 8 times and won a World Series while the Phillies didn’t make the playoffs again until this year. The Phillies are all but limping into the playoffs as they were losing the lead they had on the Brewers but were still able to clinch. The Cardinals were dominant in the second half wrapping up the NL Central by 7 games. The postseason isn’t a novel concept for St. Louis. They are the oldest team in baseball and have playoff experience in every aspect of their team. Even when you think they’re not the best team in the field they end up running the table. Now, Philly has the aces in Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler to keep this close but I’ve got St. Louis moving on in a 2 game sweep.

San Diego Padres @ New York Mets:

As a journalist I want my predictions to have integrity and credibility but I’m a Mets fan first so this will be the most biased prediction you’ve ever seen. Citi Field will be in a frenzy as the Mets make quick work of the Padres in 2 games. Max Scherzer, Chris Bassitt will prove that the Padres lineup is filled with a bunch of frauds. The trumpets will be blaring as Edwin Diaz shuts the door on the sorry San DIego Padres and the Mets set a date with the Dodgers in Los Angeles. (I may sound very confident but I am scared for my life that they lose and this season was all for nothing).

Division Series:

Cleveland Guardians vs. New York Yankees

This is a playoff matchup that has happened frequently over the last 10 years and it has the same result every time. The Yankees dominate. It’s like boys vs. men when these two teams play. I don’t see the Guardians rotation being able to put a cap on the Yankees explosive offense. And the Yankees rotation seems to be built for a 5 game series. I’ll say Cleveland is able to take one game at home but that’s all. Yankees are ALCS bound in 4 games.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Houston Astros

This is a series where experience will be the key and the Astros dominate that category. They have the same category that has made three World Series and won one. They have been the kings of the AL for 5 years now and they aren’t showing signs of stopping. The Blue Jays will definitely make this a series, maybe even force a winner take all game 5 but the Astros experienced veterans will prevail in I’ll say 5 games.

St Louis Cardinals vs. Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves earned the bye into the divisional series after coming back and winning the NL East (by the skin of their teeth). This series will show whether the week off for the Braves means they’re fresh or they’re rusty. Obviously as the defending champs this team is battle tested and can beat anyone but we saw these two cores face off in the divisional series in 2019 and it was the Cardinals who came out on top. I think the Cardinals will take the momentum of the wild card into the divisional series to upset the defending champs in 6 games.

New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Some of you may be asking “He gave the Mets an easy wild card victory no way he continues his bias any further right?” Well guess what? He is. I’ve got my Metsies taking down the best team in baseball. Not because I’m a lunatic Mets fan but because I think they match up well with the Dodgers. In the 7 game season series between the Mets came out on top 4-3 with Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom combining to start just one of those games. I know the Dodgers had a historic record this year but I got the Mets taking them down in 5.

Championship Series:

New York Yankees vs. Houston Astros

Round 3. The third time in 5 years these two will face off in the ALCS and there is no love lost between them. Yankees fans feel they were cheated out of a trip to the World Series in both 2017 and 2019 and they’ll get a third shot to finally get over the hump. Guess what? They’re not. The Astros simply own these Yankees. Every aspect of this team has been built to win in the playoffs and I can’t see anyone stopping them. For the 2nd year in a row the Houston Astros will represent the American League in the World Series after defeating the Yankees in 6 games.

New York Mets vs. St. Louis Cardinals

As a Mets fan born in 2006, this matchup gives all fans bad flashbacks of the year I was born when St. Louis knocked off my Mets to advance to the World Series. And sadly, in my unbiased opinion the Mets will lose this series. Although they owned the Cardinals in the regular season that gets thrown out the window this deep into a playoff run. I hate to say it but the Cardinals will be in the World Series for the first time since 2013 defeating the Mets in 7 games.

World Series: Houston Astros vs St. Louis Cardinals

Here it is, the Fall Classic. Two teams who have fought for the last 6 months to play in a seven game series for all the glory. The Astros feel like they are due to win one again as this is their 3rd appearance in the last 4 years. They have been the gold standard in the American League and they will be going up against what feels like a “team of destiny”. With 3 future Hall Of Famers playing together for the last time in Albert Pujols, Adam Wainwright, and Yadier Molina it almost feels like the Cardinals are meant to win the World Series this year. But they won’t. It’s the Astros who will win their second world title in franchise history and the first one without cheating (as far as we know). The Astros starting pitching is significantly better than the Cardinals and it will show. I’ve got the Astros in 5 games with Justin Verlander earning World Series MVP honors.