One-Day-Away: SneakerReporter 2020 MLB Preview

MLB is back on July 23 when the defending champion Washington Nationals play the New York Yankees and the Los Angles Dodgers take on the San Francisco Giants.

It is July 22^nd. The world is still in the midst of a global pandemic. However, Major League Baseball has done whatever it takes to bring sports back to the United States. The league attempts to begin their 60-game season on Thursday, July 23rd hoping that they can play it through completion, without fans in attendance of course.

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

As negotiated between Commissioner Robert Manfred and the MLB Player’s Association, an abbreviated 60-game season is replacing MLB’s regular 162 season. Nobody knows if it will be finished, or how many games will be played. This is new to everybody

There is no denying the fact that the country needs baseball. Needs a distraction. Something to unify our society and bring cities together.

This is going to be a unique season. We won’t see another 50-homer season from Pete Alonso. Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole are not going to strike out 300 batters each. There could be some history made. We could see the first .400 hitter since Ted Williams hit .406 in 1941.

There are no clear candidates for who that batting title champ could be. Maybe a guy like Whit Merrifield. Or Jeff McNeil. Cody Bellinger could definitely make a run for it.

There are three new rules during this season. There is a universal Designated Hitter for the first time. To start extra innings, there will be a runner on second base. In addition to those two new changes, there is a three-batter minimum for relievers.

One of the oddest things of this season is going to be the absence of an All-Star game. There will be no Mid-Summer Classic to honor the game’s brightest stars. This is the first time since 1945 that there will be no MLB All-Star Game.

Another interesting aspect of this season is the trade deadline. Who knows if teams are going to be willing to part ways with their All-Star caliber players.

Now, let’s get to the predictions. Here are SneakerReporter’s predictions for the MLB standing, postseason, and awards.

National League East

New York Mets
Washington Nationals- WC
Atlanta Braves
Philadelphia Phillies
Miami Marlins

National League Central

Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati Reds- WC
Milwaukee Brewers
Louis Cardinals
Pittsburgh Pirates

National League West

Los Angeles Dodgers
Colorado Rockies
San Diego Padres
Arizona Diamondbacks
San Francisco Giants

Washington over Cincinnati

New York over Chicago

Los Angeles over Washington

Los Angeles over New York

NL Champs: Los Angeles Dodgers

American League East

New York Yankees
Tampa Bay Rays- WC
Boston Red Sox
Toronto Blue Jays
Baltimore Orioles

American League Central

Minnesota Twins
Chicago White Sox- WC
Cleveland Indians
Kansas City Royals
Detroit Tigers

American League West

Houston Astros
Oakland A’s
Los Angeles Angels
Texas Rangers
Seattle Mariners

Tampa Bay over Chicago

Minnesota over Houston

New York over Tampa Bay

Minnesota over New York

AL Champs: Minnesota Twins

World Series Champs: Los Angeles Dodgers

This 60-game season is going to be molded by the major transactions of this past offseason. Gerrit Cole’s signing in the Bronx will help the Yankees return to the postseason but will not be enough with their short-handed rotation. Josh Donaldson will be a huge asset for the Twins and will be their main driving force to their World Series run, and all those signings by the White Sox will bring them back to the playoffs. Mookie Betts, and his new $392 million extension, will finally help the Dodgers over the hump and win a World Series title.