MLB 2022 Weekly Preview - September 19-25
Summary
MLB teams and fans across the world are clenching their fists for the final few weeks of the regular season.
These last three weeks of play are going to come down to the wire with massive proportions for those competing for playoff spots.
The best of the best has already clinched their respective divisions and they will be heading into the break with a clear, but focused mindset.
Fringe teams from both the American and National League will be interesting to watch out for, as their matches mean a lot more in the grand scheme of things.
Stars will be playing their hearts out to get their teams over the finish lines, and those who have been winning will get a deserved rest.
Once October fifth hits, the season will end for most of the teams in the MLB.
Trying to put the last ten percent in and emptying the tank will be imperative even for those without playoff aspirations.
Impressing other teams and making your value known, there is something to play for, for all players in the MLB during these final closing stages of the season.
Analysis
Seattle Mariners @ Los Angeles Angels - Monday, September 19th, 2022
The Seattle Mariners is as close to the fire as you could be in the MLB wild card race.
In 2021, the Mariners were just short of pulling off one of the best regular season comebacks in the history of the sport.
They found their stride later in the season and that entailed a whole new belief within the team and system that Seattle ran through.
The baseball town of the Northwest, Seattle now finds themselves in the second wild card position, a game up on the Toronto Blue Jays.
Mariner nation is pushing hard for their team to finally break the curse and create a playoff berth, but it will not be easy closing out the season on winning terms.
A series against the LA Angels should be a welcome sight and bring in some much-needed confidence.
Shohei Ohtani’s Angels are once again in the dumps after a great start to the 2022 season.
The Anaheim backed squad were playoff hopefuls after such a hot start, winning several series in a row.
However, since April, this team has cooled down significantly and it looks to be another tanking year for a franchise that is barren dry of anything spectacular.
Ohtani looks to be leaving and Trout is getting older year by year, which is something many Angels fans would not want to admit at this point.
The Angels will be creating a different vibe for themselves in the clubhouse as this season ends, mostly with grave uncertainty.
Prediction - Seattle Mariners -1.5 spread and the money line against an Angels team that does not look to be threatening anyone anytime soon.
Houston Astros @ Baltimore Orioles - Thursday, September 22nd, 2022
The Houston Astros are in pole position to make another World Series run in 2022.
The south Texas ball club is surely one of the contenders to go ahead and win it all this year, with such a deep talent pool both on offense and in the pitching pen.
Astros fans want some sweet revenge on most of the MLB fans after what many would say was an asterisk World Series win after the allegations of cheating came through three years back.
They will be taking this series against the Baltimore Orioles in their stride and make some great strides towards the playoffs.
On the other hand, Baltimore needs to win out and make sure their mistakes are cut down in order to make the playoffs.
A surprise run during the mid-season will all be for nothing if they do not pick up the pace soon enough.
Prediction - Houston Astros on the money line versus the Orioles!