Taking a Full Swing at the MLB Odds with 2020 World Series Predictions

Baseball owners and players put aside their hatred for now and decided to go with a shortened season along with crowning a World Series champion in the strangest year of most people’s lives.

The MLB odds at various sportsbooks have been released and for the most part, who was favored to win over 162 games and the postseason, is still who the oddsmakers like moving forward with 60 games and a World Series chase.

Like everything since March, the baseball season will be awkward and those teams that can adapt and focus on the task at hand will create advantages. Talent still matters, but different variables will certainly apply.

Pitching, Pitching, and more Pitching

Because there is no time to ramp up into the season, managers will have to make decisions on starting pitchers on the fly. We will see creative and unique methods applied to the best way to use starters and it’s not out of the question that teams with two very solid front line starters could pitch three, maybe four innings over the first month of the season on three days rest to enhance their chances of winning, especially if they have a quality bullpen that has versatility.

Teams that have three or more dependable starting hurlers can dictate how games are played and if they have bullpen options where they mix and match pitchers say from the sixth or seventh inning, where they can play to their strengths, they will have a distinct advantage. The Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay and Atlanta all fit this criterion for the regular season.

Managers Will Be Scrutinized Like Never Before

Because every game will have such meaning, those believers that managers lose more games than they win will have a field day, especially for those making MLB picks as mentioned by Doc’s Sports.

Managers will not only have to worry about in-game decisions, but the psyche of players when it comes to dealing with the coronavirus and be aware if individuals start - tuning out – for whatever reason and swiftly make adjustments.

For skippers who have clubs with low expectations like Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Miami, Seattle, San Francisco, Baltimore, and Detroit, those managers have to focus on winning early to keep the team engaged. A 2-8 start will likely mean the remaining 50 contests will be filled with too many players going through the motions and just wanting baseball to be over.

National League World Series Picks

The L.A. Dodgers are like Triple Crown winner Secretariat, far ahead of the rest of the field in the senior circuit. The Dodgers starting pitching is not elite, but with how they hit and adding a DH will only make their offense stronger.

The key to Los Angeles winning it all is the bullpen, which has not done the job well enough in the postseason recently. If not Dodger Blue, then who in the National League?

Atlanta is the closest team ability-wise to contend with the Dodgers. The Braves might not have overwhelming starting pitching studs, but they do have five hurlers who can get batters out and regularly post mostly zeros on the scoreboard. Atlanta has a potent offense with Freddie Freeman its leader and with their top six hitters, only L.A. might be better. A worthy consideration for baseball picks.

From there, cannot trust the New York Mets until they prove they can win. The World Series champs Washington, a one-year wonder.

Cincinnati has great potential thanks to a deep pitching staff. The Reds will score enough runs at Great American Ball Park to be a threat. St. Louis has a pretty good offense and pretty good pitching. But is that enough?

Want a longshot, what about the Chicago Cubs? Their staff is modestly above average, however, it’s only 60 games, thus, the wear and tear are less a factor. The offense can be explosive and has star power, along with a new manager that could ignite the emotional fire. Plus, ample postseason experience. Just sayin’.

NL Picks for World Series: 1st - Dodgers +450 - 2nd- Braves +2000 - Longshot- Cubs +2800

American League World Series Picks

The New York Yankees are the betting choice in the American League and their offense alone could get them to the Fall Classic. With this season starting so late, no possible contender benefited more from having players heeling. The extended break also gave new ace, Gerrit Cole, time to recover and be the leader of a starting staff that looks similar to Atlanta’s, sans Cole.

Houston might be the luckiest team, possibly going the whole season of not having fans screaming at them for their transgressions. The Astros everyday lineup remains strong, but no Cole and the uncertain status of Jason Verlander quickly thins out the starters and the bullpen is weaker. Good, just not good enough.

Minnesota and Oakland remain contenders and have exceptional attributes. Their downside, neither has accomplished anything in the postseason, thus, even in this unfathomable year, what leads one to think that either can or will surpass the Yankees or Astros?

Tampa Bay is a better version of the Cubs for a longshot. The Rays always have or develop reliable pitchers, both for starters and in the bullpen. That won’t change. Tampa Bay has added offense and if the new players click, this is a team built to take one-run leads into the late innings and make them hold up.

AL Picks for World Series: 1st - Yankees +500 - 2nd- Astros +1200 - Longshot- Rays +1800

Taking the Dodgers and Yankees is boring, but winning isn’t. Otherwise, backing both longshots.