2020 MLB Season: Checking in on future Win Totals
By Ryan Sanders
2020 MLB Season: Checking in on future Win Totals
Boston Red Sox O/U 92.5 – UNDER
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The Red Sox were one of the biggest disappointments in the 2019 season faltering to 84 wins after winning the World Series. Chaim Bloom, formerly of the Rays, is now at the helm of Baseball Operations in Boston and will be tasked with rebuilding a winner while also navigating large contracts given out by the Dombrowski regime. There remains elite talent on the roster but Mookie Betts is expensive and down to 1 year of control, Chris Sale, Xander Boegarts, David Price, and JD Martinez represent other large expenditures Bloom will have to navigate through. The farm system has also been depleted so there’s little in the way of reinforcements coming. They will also face stiff competition from the Rays, Yankees, and potentially the Blue Jays. That’s before you consider what a Mookie Betts trade would do for this team’s outlook.
Milwaukee Brewers O/U 82.5 – OVER
The Brewers lost a heart breaker in the wild card game after a botched ball in RF by Trent Grisham (who is now in San Diego). Yasmani Grandal and Mike Moustakas are gone via free agency but David Stearns has proven he can find talent and Craig Counsell can turn that talent into wins. The Brewers will get the return of the best player in baseball not named Mike Trout (Christian Yelich), a full season of Keston Hiura, and have made a number of value signings like Avisail Garcia, Justin Smoak, and Brett Anderson. The division will be tough but the Brewers are a much stronger team than this line gives them credit for.
Cleveland Indians O/U 91.5 – UNDER
Francisco Lindor and Mike Clevinger are on the block, Corey Kluber has already been shipped out, the Indians are looking like they’ll take a step back despite winning 93 games in 2019. The AL Central won’t be the supposed cakewalk the Indians thought it would be. The Twins are strong, the White Sox think their competitive window is opening, and the Tigers have made some veteran signings and will start seeing some of their talent coming to the MLB level. Mix that with all the strong teams in the AL West and East and the Indians have a rough road ahead.
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There’s still plenty of moves to be made and there will be other value plays as the lines continue to move. We will circle back as the off-season nears completion to see if there are any other values plays. Until then, those missing the itch of gambling baseball should checkout the Venezuelan or Mexican baseball leagues.