5 Storylines to Watch in the 2022 MLB Season
A new Major League Baseball season brings with it excitement and hope in most cities. There might be a few teams that go into the season without reason for optimism but, for the most part, a new season brings a clean slate and an opportunity for players and teams to accomplish something special.
Here are five things to watch for in the 2022 MLB season:
New Contenders
Yes, the Dodgers, Yankees, Astros, and Braves are contenders (of varying quality) as usual. Teams that have won championships recently or, in the Yankees’ case, are at least making the playoffs consistently, are not going to offer the same kind of value in the marketplace.
Where the potential value does start to show up is with teams that have not yet (or not recently) reached the top of the mountain.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Jays have made the playoffs three times in the past seven seasons, but also three times in 28 seasons since winning the World Series in 1993. They have accumulated premier young talent and have the second shortest World Series odds (+850 at DraftKings) this season behind the Dodgers (+475 at DraftKings), which is significant acceptance for a team that did not make the playoffs last season.
New York Mets
Since winning the 1986 World Series, the Mets have reached the playoffs six times, most recently with a wildcard berth in 2016. However, new owner Steve Cohen is putting considerable sums of money into the Mets to return them to contender status, and he might be onto something if the Mets can keep veteran pitchers Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer healthy. Right now, they are not. deGrom will be out until at least late May with a shoulder issue while Scherzer’s status for Opening Day is in question due to hamstring tightness.
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Milwaukee Brewers
While they have reached the postseason in four consecutive seasons, the Brewers have never won the World Series, losing their only appearance in the Fall Classic to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982. The Brewers have a mediocre lineup but that is paired with a rotation of starting pitchers that is second to none and are priced at +1800 on DraftKings to win the World Series.
San Diego Padres
During the shortened 2020 season, the Padres won 37 of 60 games before getting swept in the National League Division Series. It was the Padres’ only winning season since 2010 and only playoff appearance since 2006. They have the unenviable task of trying to overcome the World Series favorite Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. As a result, expectations are quite high for the Padres as a team on the rise, and yet there is not a lot of track record to suggest that the Padres are worthy of such lofty ambitions. But if they are ready to make the jump, that might provide some value.
DraftKings Sportsbook has the odds for a first-time World Series winner priced at +400, a wager that would include the Brewers, Padres, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays, Colorado Rockies, and Texas Rangers. For the purposes of the 2022 season, the Rockies and Rangers would not be very helpful in this quest, but the Brewers, Padres, Mariners, and Rays have legitimate playoff hopes, which could give any one of them a shot at the title.
RELATED: Dodgers, Jays Top Preseason Power Rankings
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 20: Bobby Witt Jr. #7 of the Kansas City Royals poses during Photo Day at Surprise Stadium on March 20, 2022 in Surprise, Arizona. Kelsey Grant/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Kelsey Grant / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Rookie of the Year Races
As with every sporting season, one of the most exciting parts is seeing what new talent will arrive in the league and it is no different with Major League Baseball. Well, it is different for MLB because they have a collective bargaining agreement that incentivizes teams keeping their best young players in the minors even when they are major-league ready, but rookie of the year is always a storyline worth following, especially when playing futures markets.
In the American League, Kansas City third baseman Bobby Witt Jr. (+310), Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez (+450), Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (+450), Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (+1200), and Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Matt Brash (+5500) are all slated to begin the season in the major leagues. (odds via DraftKings)
Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (+700), Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane Baz (+1100), and Detroit Tigers center fielder Riley Greene (+1600) are injured but Rutschman and Baz are not expected to have long timelines for their return so they could get into the awards picture, too. After trading Austin Meadows to the Detroit Tigers, it appears that the Tampa Bay Rays will also have room in the lineup for outfield prospect Josh Lowe (+4000). (via DraftKings)
The National League Rookie of the Year race is not quite as promising at the outset. The early favorite is Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (+380), a 27-year-old who clubbed 38 home runs in Japan last season. Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop/outfielder Oneil Cruz (+400) was going to be the favorite, with an opportunity to play a big role on a rebuilding Pirates team, but Pittsburgh demoted him to the minors, surely an effort to slow the clock on Cruz’s MLB service time. (via DraftKings)
Fireballing Cincinnati Reds right hander Hunter Greene (+700), Philadelphia Phillies infielder Bryson Stott (+800), San Francisco Giants catcher Joey Bart (+900), Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Matt Vierling (+2500), and Arizona Diamondbacks DH Seth Beer (+3000) are among the National League rookies set to start the season in the major leagues. San Diego Padres shortstop C.J. Abrams (+900) might force his way into the lineup, too. (via DraftKings)
RELATED: MLB MVP Odds and Picks
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 13: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates with Teoscar Hernandez #37 as he scores his 45th home run of the season, in the sixth inning of their MLB game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Rogers Centre on September 13, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario. Cole Burston/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Cole Burston / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Can 2021 Breakthroughs Do It Again?
One of the most exciting things about being a baseball fan is seeing a player develop into a star. Sometimes that progression happens quickly and as expected. Other times, it can be an arduous process before a player reaches peak performance. The big question for any of them, following a breakthrough season, is whether they can do it again.
Shohei Ohtani
It is hard to imagine that the Angels got an MVP season out of someone not named Mike Trout and they still finished 15 games out of a playoff spot. Not only did Ohtani mash 46 home runs and steal 26 bases, but he was also an ace-quality starting pitcher for 23 games. It was unlike anything we’ve ever seen, and it was so great that it might be hard to duplicate. The Angels are +140 on DraftKings to make the playoffs and Ohtani is the favorite (+350) for AL MVP on DraftKings.
Robbie Ray
After a career of racking up big strikeout numbers to go along with an inflated walk rate, Robbie Ray fixed his control issues in Toronto and made a late charge to win the American League Cy Young Award, leading the American League in ERA (2.84), WHIP (1.05) and strikeouts (248). He moved on to Seattle as a free agent but, after 2021, Ray will not be sneaking up on anyone in his effort to win another Cy Young Award. Ray is priced at +900, third shortest odds for the AL Cy Young behind Gerrit Cole (+425) and Shane Bieber (+700). (via DraftKings)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
If not for Ohtani’s historic season, Guerrero Jr. would have been an entirely worthy American League MVP, leading the American League in runs (123), home runs (48), on-base percentage (.401), slugging (.601), and OPS (1.002). All that and the Blue Jays first baseman is still just 23-years-old. Guerrero’s pedigree and minor-league production brought him to the major leagues with superstar expectations and that might be who is now, but to produce more than he did in 2021 would take a spectacular performance. At +500 for AL MVP, Guerrero Jr. has third shortest odds behind Ohtani and Mike Trout (+450). (via DraftKings)
Carlos Rodon
After missing most of the 2019 and 2020 seasons while he recovered from Tommy John surgery, it was not fair to place significant expectations on a pitcher who had appeared to be a mid-rotation starter for the White Sox. Then he went through 24 starts last season looking like he was a dominant staff ace, recording a 2.37 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 12.6 K/9. He has signed in pitcher-friendly San Francisco, so that might give Rodon a chance to approach his incredible 2021 campaign and Rodon is +1800 to win the National League Cy Young. (via DraftKings)
Tyler O’Neill
The Cardinals outfielder won a Gold Glove in 2020, all while hitting .173 in a shortened season. That did not make a lot of sense for a player who had a track record as a quality hitter, so O’Neill’s breakout performance in 2021 should not have been a surprise. He crushed 34 home runs, stole 15 bases and had a .912 OPS while winning another Gold Glove. The 26-year-old could inject himself into the National League MVP discussion, where he is currently priced at +3000 on DraftKings.
Nathan Eovaldi
As a 31-year-old last season, Eovaldi had the best FanGraphs WAR (5.6) of any pitcher in the American League, leading the league with 2.79 Fielding Independent Pitching thanks to low walk (1.7 BB/9) and home run (0.7 HR/9) rates. Is this the new normal for Nathan Eovaldi, or was it a career year that can not be duplicated? Even though Eovaldi finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting last season, he is priced at +2500 on DraftKings to start the 2022 season.
Kevin Gausman
After showing potential early in his career with Baltimore, Gausman had stops in Atlanta and Cincinnati before landing in San Francisco. He pitched well enough in 2020 and then finished sixth in National League Cy Young voting last season. Gausman signed in Toronto as a free agent and will have big expectations as a frontline starter on a World Series contender. As a result, Gausman is +1600 to win the AL Cy Young. (via DraftKings)
RELATED: 2022 MLB Win Totals; 5 Favorable Futures
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 16: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros poses for a photo during Photo Day at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on March 16, 2022 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Michael Reaves/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Michael Reaves / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Comeback Players
Injuries take a toll on major league players and, as a result, there are some stars looking to bounce back from their 2021 season.
Justin Verlander
The 39-year-old missed all of last season after pitching one game in 2020 and requiring Tommy John surgery. Verlander has won two AL Cy Young Awards and is priced at +1600 to win it this season. His performance will also play a big role in any success that might come to the Astros, who are priced at +1000 to win the World Series. (via DraftKings)
Mike Trout
For the first time in almost a decade, Mike Trout is not the preseason favorite to win the American League MVP, even though the 30-year-old has been the best hitter of this generation. He played just 36 games last season and his teammate, Ohtani, stepped into the spotlight. Still, Trout is not entirely forgotten, priced at +450 to win AL MVP. (via DraftKings)
Ronald Acuna Jr.
The Braves slugger missed almost half of last season and will be ready for game action later this month. That delayed start might be the reason that Acuna Jr. is still +700 to win NL MVP and +3500 to lead MLB in home runs even after he hit 24 home runs in 82 games last season. (via DraftKings)
Noah Syndergaard
Arm troubles have hit Thor, and he has pitched just two innings over the past two seasons. He gets a fresh start with the Angels and, based on the potential he showed early in his career, is still considered for the American League Cy Young, priced at +4500 on DraftKings.
Cody Bellinger
The 2019 National League MVP had a disastrous 2021 season, with a shoulder injury sending him spiraling towards a .165 batting average. He has struggled this spring, too, but it’s worth noting that Bellinger is priced at +6000 for NL MVP on DraftKings because the talent was there at one point.
In addition to those stars, there are more that will not be ready to start the season but could have a major impact on their respective teams when they get into the lineup. That list includes pitchers like White Sox starter Lance Lynn, Mets ace Jacob deGrom, Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg, Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale, Cardinals starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, and Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr.
Check out the latest comprehensive and most trusted Sportsbook Reviews by SBR here.
Effect of New Managers
In an era of analytics-dominated decision-making, it may be difficult for baseball managers to have a dramatic impact on their teams. Nevertheless, there are four new managers entering the 2022 season and it is possible that those organizational changes can make a difference.
Buck Showalter, N.Y. Mets
The Mets (+1100 to win the World Series, +195 to win the National League East) have had a busy offseason, with all indications that this team is aiming for a championship. Showalter is a three-time AL Manager of the Year and has won more than 90 games three times in a 20-year managerial career, with the 1999 Arizona Diamondbacks reaching a career-high 100 wins. He last managed Baltimore to a 47-115 record in 2018 and given the Mets’ expectations, Showalter will face a lot of scrutiny in his return to Major League Baseball. (via DraftKings)
Bob Melvin, San Diego
As noted above, expectations are higher for the Padres (+1800 to win the World Series, +325 to win the National League West) coming into the 2022 season, and Melvin has guided six teams to more than 90 wins in his 18-season managerial career. The Padres may not fall under the same kind of spotlight as the Mets, but if the Padres can’t close the gap on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West, the manager will not be immune from criticism. (via DraftKings)
Oliver Marmol, St. Louis
The Cardinals have hired 35-year-old Marmol to give them a fresh outlook. He had managed in the minor leagues before he was the Cardinals’ first base coach and then bench coach. Marmol might be a fantastic manager, but he is very much an unknown quantity as a rookie major league manager. Can he make a difference for a team that is a relative longshot to win the World Series (+3000 on DraftKings) but has second shortest odds (+210) to win the National League Central?
Mark Kotsay, Oakland
Following a 17-year major league career in which he was a quality starting outfielder for more than a decade, Kotsay moved into baseball operations, first as a special assistant and then hitting coach for the San Diego Padres, then he was bench coach and quality control coach for the Athletics before getting the nod as manager for the rebuilding A’s. Considering how Oakland has gutted its roster, it is hard to imagine Kotsay having a big impact on wins and losses in his first season. DraftKings has the A’s total wins at 68.5 entering the 2022 season.
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