Baseball 2022 preview, part 4: NL Central & West, AL Central & West

 Time to wrap this up, with four days left until Opening Day.

This time, we'll just do some quick thumbnails for the four remaining divisions.

NL Central projected order of finish:

1. Milwaukee. Hunter Renfroe returns to the NL (Boston), and could provide more firepower for the Brewer outfield.

2. St. Louis. The Albert Pujols retirement tour culminates with a playoff berth.

3. Cincinnati. Trading emerging star Jesse Winker (Seattle) may be a mistake that costs the Reds a playoff spot.

4. Pittsburgh.

5. Chicago.

NL West projected order of finish:

1. Los Angeles. Corey Seager is gone (Texas). The Dodgers are committed to Cody Bellinger as an outfielder, hence acquiring Freddie Freeman (Atlanta) to play 1st base.

2. Colorado. Kris Bryant may feel at home with the Rockies after finishing last season in San Francisco, and they'll nudge out the Giants for place money.

3. San Francisco. No Bryant. No Buster Posey. No playoffs.

4. San Diego. No Fernando Tatis, Jr. to start the season. Bad news.

5. Arizona.

AL Central projected order of finish:

1. Minnesota. The Twins welcomed Gary Sanchez & Gio Urshela (Yankees), and getting them out of the New York pressure cooker will work wonders.

2. Cleveland. Don't sleep on the Guardians.

3. Kansas City.

4. Detroit.

5. Chicago.

AL West projected order of finish:

1. Houston. Carlos Correa is gone (Minnesota), but the Astro dynasty survives another year.

2. Los Angeles. Watch. Not only will Shohei Ohtani hit & pitch in the same game, but they could let Michael Lorenzen (Cincinnati) and Noah Syndergaard (Mets), when healthy, do the same. I wouldn't put it past Joe Maddon.

3. Seattle.

4. Texas.

5. Oakland. Moneyball has gone cheap. Their next playoff game might not be until 2026.

Of course, I could be wrong.