Fearless MLB Predictions

Photo by:
James Roesch, LJR Sports Media
Copyright 2020, All Rights Reserved

By Lou Roesch

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (July 23, 2020)  The MLB season is upon us and as all great sports fans do we make our predictions on who wins what and who doesn't and why? Our choices make for great conversation and fuel our desire to watch even if it's only on T.V. Here are the fearless predictions for the 2020 season. Debate them, share your own but above all enjoy the season.

American League

AL East: New York Yankees

The AL East may be baseball's most competitive division again but hey what else is knew. Place your money on the Yankees. Their lineup is formidable and Gerritt Cole is a difference maker. Just ask  Houston, they'll tell you the mistake it was not to pitch him at all in Game 7 and thus handing the 2019 World Series title.

AL Central: Cleveland Indians

The AL Central is a forgettable division in a 162 games but in a 60 games season it should be fun to watch three teams battle it out. The Tribe pitching staff makes the difference with Shane Bieber and his 259 K's in 34 appearances leading the way,]..And with Francisco Lindor playing for a big day this is the team to beat as they edge out Minnesota and the Sox.

AL West: Houston Astros

Cheating or not this team has all the tools to run away and hide in the first 30 games. Don't be surprised if they challenge the 1984 Tigers  record of 35-5 after 40 games. A pitching staff of Justin Verlander, Zach Greinke and Lance McCullers Jr could put the team in position to threaten the road record of 17 straight wins by the 1916 New York Giants. And the lineup of Altuve, Bregman, Correa and Springer is the best up and the batting order.

AL Wildcards:  Tampa Bay and Los Angeles Angels

AL Champion: Houston Astros over the NY Yankees in seven games. Should be plenty fireworks here plus strikeouts, home runs and story lines.

AL MVP: George Springer

AL Cy Young: Gerrit Cole

AL Rookie of the Year: Luis Robert

AL Manager of the Year: Dusty Baker

National League

NL East: Philadelphia Phillies

This will be the most interesting pick of any predictions. Atlanta and the Nationals are glamour choices but the Phillies have a healthy Bryce Harper and Andrew McCutcheon plus DIdi Gregorius is in the hole at short and J.T. Realmoto behind the plate. All this aside, the Phillies win because they have Joe Girardi in the dugout and we know what he did New York.

NL Central: Cincinnati Reds

This will be the most fun division to watch in baseball once again. The Reds have been a team that hangs around until the All-Star break but this 2020 is different because its only 60 games. With a $165 million spent on off season acquisitions, this team will finally be steady and consistent. Is there a better potential Murders Row then Joey Votto, Eugenio Suarez and Mike Moustakas in the National League. Should the Reds pitching staff falter the Cubs, Cardinals and Brewers will be waiting in the wings. Guesing these four wind up with in four games or less of each other.

NL West: Los Angeles Dodgers

Mookie Betts is in the fold and Clayton Kershaw is well Clayton Kershaw and so the Dodgers should win the West again like a broken record. There are many reasons to think the Dodgers will beyond just these two players. A short season plays right into the hand of the Chavez Ravine Boys of Summer. 

NL Wildcards: Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs

NL Champions: Philadelphia Phillies over the Chicago Cubs in six games. There's just something about having a catcher as a manager that makes a big difference and an interesting series. The Phillies are a team with a chip on their shoulder not to mention their manager.

NL MVP: Bryce Harper

NL Cy Young: Josh Hader

NL Rookie of the Year: Shogo Akiyama

NL Manager of the Year: David Bell

And now for all the marbles: the Houston Astros win it all in 2020 handing Dusty Baker the one thing missing from his Hall of Fame resume as they sweep the Phillies.