Predictions for the 2020 Season

The 2020 season is on hold for the moment, but the MLB and the Players’ Association are working to figure out a plan to have MLB competition this year. The Players’ Association recently proposed a 114-game schedule that would begin on June 30th and end October 31st. The MLB responded with a proposal that included a 50-60 game schedule. However, they both agreed to pay the players’ their full prorated salaries which is a huge step in the right direction. They will most likely come to an agreement within the next couple weeks.

The MLB also altered the American and National Leagues by separating the teams among 3 divisions. These divisions are as follows:

East – Rays, Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Nationals, Orioles, Phillies, Pirates, Blue Jays, Marlins

Central – Cubs, White Sox, Brewers, Cardinals, Royals, Reds, Indians, Twins, Braves, Tigers

West – Dodgers, Angels, Giants, Athletics, Padres, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Rangers, Astros, Mariners

Assuming the league decides on an 82-game season, it will be interesting to see how these divisions play out. The Rays are in a very top-heavy East division with teams like the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Nationals, and Phillies that could all compete for first place. With the Rays’ great pitching, I believe they will be a contender. 82 games into the 2019 campaign, the Rays had a .561 win percentage with a 46-36 record. With the players they added this off-season, the Rays will definitely be on the rise. My prediction for the Rays’ performance in the 2020 season is a 50-32 record and a 2nd place finish in this new East division. Below are my predicted standings for the whole league:

East

Yankees	56-26
Rays	50-32
Nationals	48-34
Red Sox	45-37
Mets	42-40
Phillies	41-41
Blue Jays	38-44
Pirates	35-47
Marlins	32-50
Orioles	28-54

Central

Twins	55-27
Braves	49-33
Indians	45-37
Cardinals	43-39
Reds	42-40
White Sox	41-41
Brewers	39-43
Cubs	39-43
Royals	36-46
Tigers	34-48

West

Dodgers	58-24
Athletics	51-31
Astros	50-32
Padres	47-35
Diamondbacks	45-37
Angels	43-39
Rangers	40-42
Giants	37-45
Rockies	33-49
Mariners	30-52