2022 Set -- CHAMPION Houston Astros

 After winning 106 games, Houston entered the playoffs as the #1 seed and the unquestioned favorite in the AL... and they lived up to the hype, cruising to their second title in six seasons. As I mentioned in the classics post, we switched to the 00 style for this set, so please enjoy some Houston studs! 

Another classic Astro that I made recently to enjoy before we get into our first 2022 cards!

Lineup: Houston's lineup was powered by two absolute beasts -- 540 pt Jose Altuve and 540 pt Yordan Alvarez, a part of OB 10 machines! Altuve is in the leadoff, with extra bases starting at 15 and an 18-20 HR range. I'd definitely take him and the 20 pts in savings over 00 Alomar or Shumpert. Meanwhile, Alvarez is everything you want in an impactful corner OF bat -- on base at 5, multiple doubles, 17-20 HR range... I love drafting a guy like him in the first round and, frankly, he's a unique card in this set, where high OB and high power is scarce! In fact, I'm fairly certain Houston is the ONLY team with two hitters over 500 pts (unless you count the Matt Carpenter pennant run card for the Yankees with minimal PA) in the entire league, giving them a major advantage. In a 12 (or even 10) team draft, I expect both Altuve and Alvarez off the board in round 1. 

However, it's not like there are scrubs around them -- Pena may only be an OB 6, but his chart is lethal and he's got speed/defense for days at SS. Bregman put together another VERY draftable card as a 290 pt OB 8, particularly with that +3 defense, while Kyle Tucker's OB 7 card is loaded with xbh results. He should clean up emphatically in some fun "ducks on the pond" situations. Michael Brantley just keeps on keeping on with another CHEAP card with good on base and tons of singles. Trade additions Vazquez and Mancini added some much needed depth with powerful OB 7 cards, love that for this lineup, because with OB 7 Chas at the bottom, there's really no "take a breather" hitter in the lineup, especially for all the Control 3 or 4 pitchers in this set, although it could certainly go quiet for a stretch if the pitcher's rolling even medium, but this is a team designed to take MAX advantage of 2-3 bad rolls and turn them into runs in a hurry!

Bench: Honestly, I think someone falls in love with +7 Maldonado for only 70 points. Yuli shows why they signed Abreu this offseason, but I also see Diaz getting drafted if you're doing 1/5 bench points for his ability to bolster the infield in late inning situations.

Rotation: What more can be said about Verlander's greatness? He's already a champion, Cy Young winner, MVP and unquestionably cool guy off the field. To bounce back like he did after tommy john was special and, frankly, unprecedented -- 1.75 ERA and 0.829 WHIP in 175 innings, compiling a 18-4 record and a 9.5 k/9 rate. Sensational!!! As a result, Verlander is the team's obvious ace as a Tier 1 starter with no doubles! He's got a full 6 IP and can easily be stretched 7 innings. He's expensive at 720 points, but well worth it for the dominance against low OB hitters in this set.

The rotation doesn't fall off too hard after its ace though, and is truly Houston's strength. First team all MLB Framber Valdez brings a no doubles Tier 3 that can eat innings and will be VERY popular among managers that love building around double plays with his 8-14 GB result. Houston then has a PAIR of Tier 2 starters in its 3 and 4 slots!!! Amazing depth to this rotation, with each of the first four starters costing 530 pts or more!! A Tier 3 starter rounds it out, and each of these SP is a likely target in a 12 team draft.

Bullpen: The Astros' elite rotation is supported by a strong bullpen. Pressly is a lockdown closer, giving you a Tier 1, no doubles card with fantastic control. Houston has the luxury of leading into him with Control 5, Tier 2 Neris and Control 4, Tier 2 Stanek. With the 7-8-9 innings locked down, Houston can turn to their fourth reliever when needed elsewhere, and although he's a Tier 4, Maton's no doubles chart is sure to get him drafted in most 12 team leagues.

Overall, your 2022 champions come in at 6400 points for their 21 players. While it's possible the Dodgers will catch them, obviously this is one of the stronger teams of the set. They have no discernible weakness outside of lineup depth, but the potent Alvarez/Altuve combination gives them more than enough bang for their elite pitching staff's buck!