Los Angeles Angels: Team preview and prediction for 2020 season

ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 10: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim looks on during the MLB game between Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 10, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 10: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim looks on during the MLB game between Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 10, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images) /
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MLB Anthony Rendon
Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

Los Angeles Angels: Team preview and prediction for 2020

But what is going to be highly-impressive this year will be the Angels’ lineup.

Mike Trout, the reigning AL MVP, will finally have some big-time protection in his lineup and a real shot at getting a playoff berth- something he hasn’t touched in a while. The addition of Anthony Rendon is huge.

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I think the two of them (Rendon and Trout) are going to be one of the best 1-2 punches in baseball this year and the addition of Rendon gives the Angels something only a small handful of teams in the league have- two legitimate MVP candidates in their lineup.

They get a healthy Shohei Ohtani back as well, so that’s another big left-handed bat that’ll probably follow that duo of Rendon and Trout in order to knock-in somewhere around close to 30+ home runs in a full season, not to mention the damage he’ll do on the mound.

Justin Upton, Albert Pujols, Tommy La Stella, David Fletcher, and Andrelton Simmons are all solid bats as well that I’m excited about seeing play in winning conditions. Both Upton and La Stella battled injury last year, but after seeing what La Stella did in the lead-up to his first All-Star selection, and knowing what kind of player

Upton still is, I feel very confident that both will put on good shows at the dish and backup the monster numbers Trout, Ohtani, and Rendon should be posting.

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Finally, the Halos have some youth to be excited about making an impact this season.

I fully expect Jo Adell to be up in the Majors in no time, as well as prospects like Jared Walsh, Brennon Lund, Matt Thaiss, Brandon Marsh, Elliot Soto, and Jose Rojas all throwing their hats in the ring on this active roster at some point this season. I’m excited about Adell because I think the timing is perfect for him. Right field is his for the taking and he has developed at a rapid pace down in the minor leagues with three great seasons under his belt.

This is going to be a fun team to watch that sports a mix of elite veterans, above-average secondary players, and exciting rookies. I think the Angels finally turn the ship around and finish with a record above .500 though I’m not exactly keen on the number of wins they’ll tally since I’m not sure how many games will actually be played. Before the outbreak, I had them finishing 86-76, but now, all I can say is I think they finish above .500.

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Admittedly, I do have them finishing in third place in the West and missing the playoffs, but a lot of eyes will be opened to this team and 2021 will be their coming out party.