Predicting the 2020 MLB Postseason and World Series
By Adam Cheek
Wild Card Winners
Starting with the American League, on the west coast:
(1) Tampa Bay Rays vs. (8) Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto slides into its first postseason since 2016, but the American League-leading Rays loom in front of them to open the playoffs. The Rays put up 40 victories on the season, winning eight of their last 10 despite batting leader Yandy Diaz on the 10-day injured list. Toronto finished eight games back and struggled on the road. Tampa Bay in two games.
(4) Cleveland Indians vs. (5) New York Yankees
Cleveland won eight of their last 10 games while the Yankees stumbled, and possible MVP contender Jose Ramirez came alive and clinched the Indians’ playoff berth with a walk-off in the season’s final week. New York is no slouch at the plate or on the mound, but struggled against the Marlins in the season’s final series and were nearly swept, losing two out of three. Look for a lot of extra innings in this series…they’ll need it. Cleveland in three games.
(3) Minnesota Twins vs. (6) Houston Astros
Even as they drew the ire of most of the MLB’s fanbase in 2020, the Astros somehow managed to survive their final stretch and make the playoffs with a losing record. Less than a year removed from Game 7 of the 2019 World Series, Houston topped Washington in the World Series hangover category as the Nationals failed to make the playoffs at all, but that won’t last long.
Minnesota’s season-ending run placed them at .600 and they won 24 of their 31 home games, which gives the Twins the edge in the first two contests – Houston was terrible on the road in 2020, failing to hit double-digit wins away from home. Minnesota in two games.
(2) Oakland Athletics vs. (7) Chicago White Sox
Oakland quietly became the best team in the AL West while the South Siders struggled down the stretch, with the White Sox winning just two of their final 10 games. Chicago still has everything it needs to dig their way out of a seven-seed hole, though, with Luis Robert and Tim Anderson providing strength at the plate and Dallas Keuchel on the mound. It’ll be a grueling series for both teams, but Chicago finds their stride again and pulls off the series win. Chicago in three games.
Moving to the NL, let’s see who ends up playing in the Lone Star State:
(1) Los Angeles Dodgers vs. (8) Milwaukee Brewers
Los Angeles won their division with the best record in baseball, a winning percentage a full .05 points higher than the second-closest (Tampa Bay) and went on an 8-2 run during their final 10 games. Milwaukee, despite their power at the plate, won’t be any match for the Dodgers – who did nothing but benefit from the addition of Mookie Betts to their already star-studded lineup. Los Angeles in two games.
(4) San Diego Padres vs. (5) St. Louis Cardinals
The Padres have been a tear this season, and their streak of grand slams just one highlight in a host of them. St. Louis needed until the final day of the 2020 campaign, and for several other dominoes to fall their way, to just barely edge their way into the postseason. St. Louis hasn’t looked right less than a year after making it to the NLCS, and San Diego’s bats will prove too much for the Cardinals. San Diego in three games.
(3) Chicago Cubs vs. (6) Miami Marlins
Break out the 2003 comparisons, because it’ll be the higher-seeded Cubs against the just-barely-made-it Marlins. There won’t be an (unfairly maligned) Steve Bartman, nor any other fans, in the stands for this one, but the Cubs will ride their momentum of a two-win series against the White Sox into the postseason. The North Siders cooled off after a hot start to the season, but the struggling Kris Bryant came alive during the season-ending series with two homers in the final two games (including a grand slam). Don’t forget manager David Ross either, who has led the Cubbies to October in just his first season at the helm.
Miami has won the World Series both times the club made the postseason (1997 and 2003), but that perfect run will end in 2020. Chicago in two games.
(2) Atlanta Braves vs (7) Cincinnati Reds
Potential MVP Freddie Freeman has led the way for Atlanta, but he’s backed up by a stellar batting order that includes Ronald Acuna Jr., Dansby Swanson, and Marcell Ozuna. Atlanta dropped two of its last three against Boston, but look for them to be firing on all cylinders as they face the low-seeded Reds. Cincinnati is led by Trevor Bauer on the mound and Jesse Winker at the plate, but Atlanta has everything it needs to go deep into the postseason. Atlanta in two games.