So if the world was operating normally, today would be the start of the 2020 MLB season. Sadly we are still and are going to still deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Commissioner Rob Manfred says best case scenario the season could start in May and worst case the entire season is cancelled. No one knows for sure. But when and if the season starts, I want to give my predictions as to how the 2020 season shakes down. We have no idea how many games will be played this season so I won’t be putting down how many wins each team gets. So with that let’s start off in the American League!

AL East

1. New York Yankees
2. Tampa Bay Rays
3. Boston Red Sox
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Baltimore Orioles

AL Central

1. Minnesota Twins
2. Chicago White Sox
3. Cleveland Indians
4. Detroit Tigers
5. Kansas City Royals

AL West

1. Houston Astros
2. Los Angeles Angels
3. Oakland A’s
4. Seattle Mariners
5. Texas Rangers

A couple of thoughts here. In the AL East it’s pretty much the Yankees division to lose. Despite having Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, Luis Severino among others on the injured list, the Yankees proved in 2019 that they can win despite all the injuries. The Rays I think will make a push for the division with their strong pitching core and the number one prospect in baseball (Wander Franco) and the best farm system in baseball. But for now the Yankees still rule the AL East

Same goes for the AL Central. The Twins got over the 100 win mark in 2019 and won the division, but got swept by the Yankees in the ALDS. They were able to retain their core and add Josh Donaldson to their lineup which makes them the threat in that division. Keep an eye out for the White Sox’s. Adding pitcher Dallas Keuchel, catcher Yasmani Grandal paired with a strong farm system, they could be the surprise of the season.

Finally in the AL West, despite how much I (along with the rest of the world) hates the Houston “Cheating” Astros, they will still win the AL West. Yes losing Gerrit Cole was a huge loss, but Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke can carry the pitching staff. Jose Altuve, George Spinger and Carlos Correa still make up the big three in the lineup. The Angels could make a run with reigning AL MVP Mike Trout and new third baseman Anthony Rendon, but that pitching staff after Shohei Ohtani does not inspire confidence.

In terms of wild card teams, I have the Tampa Bay Rays and the Chicago White Sox’s making it into the postseason. Now on to the National League!

NL East

1. Washington Nationals
2. Atlanta Braves
3. Philadelphia Phillies
4. New York Mets
5. Miami Marlins

NL Central

1. Cincinnati Reds
2. Chicago Cubs
3. St, Louis Cardinals
4. Milwaukee Brewers
5. Pittsburgh Pirates

NL West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. San Diego Padres
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
4. Colorado Rockies
5. San Francisco Giants

The NL East is far and away the best division in baseball. Also the hardest for me to pick. Excluding the Marlins, I can see any of the other four teams winning the division. I will give the edge to the reigning World Series champion Nationals to win the division. Losing Anthony Rendon hurts, put they are backed by a strong pitching unit with Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. The Braves are a young an exciting team led by future MVP Ronald Acuna and their future beyond 2020 looks very bright. The Phillies I still have questions about but when you have Bryce Harper you will be in the mix. The Mets are such a bad luck organization that despite all the talent, they will still find some bizarre was to ruin their season.

The NL Central there is no clear cut favorite it’s a giant toss up. But I’m going with the Cincinnati Reds to win the division. The Reds may have one the more underrated pitching rotations with Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray and Trevor Bauer. We all know Joey Votto but don’t sleep on Eugenio Suarez who had 49 homeruns in 2019 which was second in the National League. Putting the Cubs in second may be too high, but I still believe despite the nightmare in 2019 they can bounce back. Yes the pitching staff isn’t anything to write home about, but I’m still banking on veterans like Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant to come through for the Cubs.

Finally the NL West I didn’t even need to think about. The Los Angeles Dodgers are light years ahead of anyone in the division. I mean a lineup that now has Mookie Betts, along with Cody Bellinger, Joc Pederson, Corey Seager, Max Muncy is just gross. Also add in a pitching rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, David Price, Julio Urias this team is insane.

In terms of wild card teams, I’m going with the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs. Now to playoff predictions!

American League Playoffs

For seeding sake, I have the Yankees as the 1st seed, the Astros the 2nd seed and the Twins the 3rd seed

AL Wild Card: Rays over White Sox

ALDS: Rays over Yankees in 5/Twins over Astros in 4

ALCS: Rays over Twins in 6

Why not throw in a little surprise right? The Rays came awfully close to knocking out the Astros but fell just short. This time around I think the Rays led a strong pitching staff will shock the world and make it to the World Series!

National League Playoffs

For seeding sake once again, I have the Dodgers as the 1st seed, Nationals as the 2nd seed and the Reds the 3rd seed.

NL Wild Card: Braves over Cubs

NLDS: Dodgers over Braves in 4/Nationals over Reds in 5

NLCS: Dodgers over Nationals in 6

The Los Angeles Dodgers will get their revenge over the Washington Nationals and deny them back to back National League pennants. The Dodgers with their deep depth make it back to the Fall Classic

World Series Prediction: Dodgers over Rays in 6

The Cinderella story is going to fall short in the World Series as the Dodgers will reign supreme in MLB. If the Dodgers can’t win it all this year, they will never win a title. The Dodgers have gone all in this offseason to go for a championship and I believe finally after falling short so may times, the Los Angeles Dodgers will be the 2020 World Series champions!