MLB The Show 22: Best Teams

After an offseason that saw a bevy of high-level players sign with new teams, some teams improved, others worsened, and others maintained. These signings – as well as trades – are also reflected with the live rosters in MLB The Show 22.

Below, you will find the list of best teams in MLB The Show 22. Importantly, the in-game rankings reflected below are from the live rosters at game launch (March 31). As with any sports game, the rankings are bound to change throughout the season based on individual player performances, injuries, trades, and more.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

Division: National League West
2021 Record: 106-56 (2nd in N.L. West; lost in Championship Series)
Best Pitcher: Clayton Kershaw (93 OVR)
Best Hitter: Trea Turner (96 OVR)

The Dodgers have basically made each version of the real and virtual versions of pre-season power rankings list over the last decade or so. The 2020 World Series champions, still a formidable team after losing in the Championship Series to eventual 2021 World Series winner Atlanta, only added to their firepower with one of the more shocking moves of the offseason.

Freddie Freeman (93 OVR), longtime stalwart at first base and face of Atlanta’s franchise, met an impasse with the team and instead chose to sign with the Dodgers, returning to the state he grew up. With the universal DH, Freeman and Max Muncy (91 OVR) can share duties at both first and DH. A lineup featuring those two plus Mookie Betts (92 OVR), Trea Turner, and an emerging yet still great Will Smith (90 OVR), among others, is already thought of by many as the best in Major League history.

The Dodgers and San Francisco Giants engaged in one of the most memorable division races of the past 20 years in 2021. The Giants won 107 games to win the division in a battle that came down to the last day of the season. The Dodgers bested the Giants in the five-game Division Series before falling to Atlanta in the Championship Series.

2. Toronto Blue Jays

Division: American League East
2021 Record: 91-71 (4th in A.L. East; missed playoffs)
Best Pitcher: Kevin Gausman (89 OVR)
Best Hitter: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. (96 OVR)

Don’t let the division placement fool you. Last year’s A.L. East saw four teams win 90+ games, making it the most competitive division in 2021 (sorry, Baltimore!). Powered by the progeny of former Major Leaguers, Toronto has a solid young core and is arguably the most entertaining team to watch in all of baseball.

Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. leads a host of baseball sons which includes Bo Bichette (88), Cavan Biggio (73 OVR), and Lourdes Gurriel, Jr. (87 OVR) They had a solid rotation last year led by Hyun-Jin Ryu (84 OVR) and Alek Manoah (87 OVR), but bolstered their rotation by signing away Kevin Gausman from the Giants after a career year. They also made a shrewd move by acquiring Matt Chapman (87 OVR) from the suddenly rebuilding Oakland Athletics. Chapman, one of the best defensive third basemen in the game, now forms a solid left side with Bichette at short.

In an A.L. East that features heavy lineups and hitter-friendly parks, this team is bound to score many runs.

3. Houston Astros

Division: American League West
2021 Record: 95-67 (1st in A.L. West; lost in World Series)
Best Pitcher: Ryan Pressley (89 OVR)
Best Hitter: José Altuve (92 OVR)

A team that many still view as villains because of the cheating scandal during their World Series winning 2017 season, Houston is here mostly because of their consistent and stable production and roster. For example, all of the names in the above roster picture were on the World Series losing team from 2021.

Led by future Hall of Famer and former Most Valuable Player José Altuve, the Astros might not have a player reach the high 90s, but are a well-balanced team with a host of players between 80 and 92. These players include slugger Yordan Alvarez (90 OVR), Alex Bregman (86 OVR), and outfielder Kyle Tucker (85) for hitters and fielders. For pitchers, future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander (88 OVR) helms the rotation that features Lance McCullers, Jr. (86 OVR), Framber Valdez (83 OVR), and Luis Garcia (82 OVR), all at least a decade Verlander’s junior.

After winning another A.L. West title and making another World Series in 2021, they fell in six games to Atlanta.

4. New York Mets

Division: National League East
2021 Record: 77-85 (3rd in N.L. East; missed playoffs)
Best Pitcher: Jacob deGrom (99 OVR)
Best Hitter: Starling Marte (87 OVR)

A team with high expectations last year only to finish below .500, this year’s Metropolitans have even more hype and expectations surrounding them after making some splashy signings during the offseason.

The biggest move arguably of the offseason was the Mets signing Max Scherzer (97 OVR) to a deal. The former Cy Young and World Series winner – and future Hall of Famer – forms (when healthy) the best one-two punch of any starting rotation as he slots in behind the otherworldly Jacob deGrom (99 OVR), the first player thus far named to reach 99. In fact, as this was being written, it was reported that deGrom will miss Opening Day with a stress reaction in his right scapula and his return timetable is unclear – though this can be bypassed in The Show 22. They also acquired Chris Bassitt (83 OVR) to shore up the rotation.

On the other side, they signed Starling Marte (87 OVR) to play center field as well as acquiring Mark Canha (80 OVR). Add them to a lineup featuring Pete Alonso (84 OVR), Francisco Lindor (84 OVR) and Eduardo Escobar (83 OVR) and you have a lineup that can hit for power and has some speed on the bases.

5. Chicago White Sox

Division: American League Central
2021 Record: 93-69 (1st in A.L. Central; lost in Division Series)
Best Pitcher: Liam Hendricks (93 OVR)
Best Hitter: Yasmani Grandal (94 OVR)

A popular pick to make last year’s World Series, the 2022 Chicago White Sox are once again a popular pick to make this year’s edition. Like with Houston, this is a team whose continuity, stability, and development of players account for their ranking as all of the featured players were on the team during the 2021 season.

With Buster Posey’s retirement and Yadier Molina believed to be playing his last season in 2022, Yasmani Grandal (93 OVR) has a real argument as the best catcher in baseball (someone on a team below has an argument as well). He anchors a lineup that features 2020 M.V.P. José Abreu (87 OVR), Luis Robert (88 OVR), and Tim Anderson (83 OVR). Grandal also catches for a host of good pitchers such as Liam Hendricks, Lance Lynn (87 OVR), Lucas Giolito (84 OVR), and Michael Kopech (81 OVR).

After running through a weak division in 2021, they lost in four games to Houston in the Division Series.

6. New York Yankees

Division: A.L. East
2021 Record: 92-70 (3rd in A.L. East; lost Wild Card game)
Best Pitcher: Gerrit Cole (92 OVR)
Best Hitter: Aaron Judge (97 OVR)

New York was one of three teams from the A.L. East to make the playoffs thanks to the expanded playoffs. The Yankees made a big splash of their own, jettisoning a player many viewed as a disappointment after early success for an established veteran.

The Yankees acquired Josh Donaldson (85 OVR) from Minnesota, sending Gary Sanchez to them as part of the deal. Donaldson, still formidable even if he’s far removed from his 2015 M.V.P. season, now adds more protection to the trio of Aaron Judge, Joey Gallo (90 OVR), and Giancarlo Stanton (87 OVR). The rotation is led by ace Gerrit Cole and Luis Severino (81 OVR), with the bullpen anchored by a still solid Aroldis Chapman (85 OVR) and Chad Green (82 OVR).

New York lost to hated rival Boston in the Wild Card game to finish their 2021 season.

7. Atlanta

Division: N.L. East
2021 Record: 88-73 (1st in N.L. East; won World Series)
Best Pitcher: Charlie Morton (87 OVR)
Best Hitter: Ronald Acuña, Jr. (99 OVR)

The World Series winners from 2021 rode that high into the offseason only to see Freeman and the Atlanta front office fail to come to terms on an agreement and for him to join arguably the best team in baseball.

Still, Atlanta moved quickly and acquired first basemen – and Atlanta kid – Matt Olson (90 OVR) from Oakland, quickly signing him to a long-term deal. The all-around player known for hitting long home runs and playing Gold Glove defense at first slides into Freeman’s place in the lineup. He now joins a recovering Ronald Acuña, Jr. (99 OVR) and Ozzie Albies (92 OVR) to form a wicked middle of the lineup for Atlanta.

They’re led in the pitching department by veteran Charlie Morton (87 OVR) and Max Fried (86 OVR), who took a big step forward last season. Their bullpen is stout with Kirby Yates (86 OVR) and Collin McHugh (84 OVR), made even more so with the signing of Kenley Jansen (86 OVR) from the Dodgers.

Atlanta, though winning the fewest games of any postseason participant in 2021, won their first World Series since 1995.

8. Philadelphia Phillies

Division: N.L. East
2021 Record: 82-80 (2nd in N.L. East; missed playoffs)
Best Pitcher: Zack Wheeler (92 OVR)
Best Hitter: Bryce Harper (96 OVR)

Another team that fell below expectations in 2021, Philadelphia comes into 2022 with confidence after making a few new acquisitions.

The Phillies signed two of the best available hitters (non-shortstop department) in free agency with Nick Castellanos (87 OVR) and slugger Kyle Schwarber (85 OVR) to add to a lineup that features Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto (90 OVR and Grandal’s main competition as best catcher), and Jean Segura (88 OVR). The pitching side features Zack Wheeler as ace with Aaron Nola (88 OVR), Ranger Suarez (87 OVR), and Kyle Gibson (80 OVR) behind him.

However, the biggest issue (on paper) for the Phillies is that outside of Harper and Realmuto, the defense is going to be an adventure.

9. Milwaukee Brewers

Division: National League Central
2021 Record: 95-67 (1st in N.L. Central; lost in Division Series)
Best Pitcher: Corbin Burnes (94 OVR)
Best Hitter: Christian Yellich (85 OVR)

A team that has – for some reason – built itself up quietly away from the auspices of baseball fans as a stalwart in the N.L. Central not named the Cardinals, Milwaukee hopes to continue riding great pitching and defense to another division title and more.

While the Mets may have the best duo at the top of the rotation, Milwaukee may have the best trio. Led by 2021 Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes, the rotation is topped with Brandon Woodruff (92 OVR) and Freddy Peralta (89 OVR). At points throughout 2021, all three were in consideration for the Cy Young award; they were just that good. That doesn’t even take into account their bullpen, led by hard-throwing lefty Josh Hader (91 OVR) and dominant relief pitcher Devin Williams (87 OVR). In fact, the top five players on the Brewers in The Show 22 are pitchers.

Christian Yellich, after a down season, leads the lineup that features defensive ace Kolten Wong (83 OVR), power-hitting right fielder Hunter Renfroe (84 OVR and himself a great defender), and the return of veteran Andrew McCutchen (80 OVR) to the N.L. Central, where he made his name as a former M.V.P. for Pittsburgh. However, it’s clear that Milwaukee’s strength lies in its pitching and defense.

After winning the division in 2021, they lost to the eventual World Series winner Atlanta in four games in the Division Series.

10. St. Louis Cardinals

Division: N.L. Central
2021 Record: 90-72 (2nd in N.L. Central; lost in Wild Card game)
Best Pitcher: Giovanny Gallegos (89 OVR)
Best Hitter: Nolan Arenado (95 OVR)

The real story is the return of Albert Pujols to the franchise he began his career and had arguably the best ten-season run of any player, not just the best ten-season run to begin a career.

That aside, St. Louis is another team that, unsurprisingly, is highly ranked because of their continuity and development of players. Nolan Arenado, arguably the best defensive third basemen since Brooks Robinson and best overall since Adrian Beltre’s heyday, leads a lineup that features a nice mix of young, emerging talent and veteran anchors.

Tyler O’Neill (90 OVR), Tommy Edman (89 OVR), and Harrison Bader (84 OVR) bring speed in all three cases, contact in the last two, power in the first, and solid to spectacular defense for all three. Add them to first basemen Paul Goldschmidt (89 OVR) and future Hall of Fame backstop Yadier Molina (85 OVR) and you have a lineup that can hurt you in all facets of the game. Their rotation is helmed by Giovanny Gallegos with the young Jack Flaherty (87 OVR) and longtime Cardinals ace and future Hall of Famer himself in Adam Wainwright (86 OVR).

After finishing second in the division to Milwaukee in 2021, St. Louis lost the Wild Card game to Los Angeles.

There you have it, your list of best teams at the launch of MLB The Show 22. Which team will you use to establish your dominance?