The MLB made it through its 60-game season, and now they move on to their 16-team 2020 playoffs. The first round will have all teams playing simultaneously for a best of three series. Having all 16 teams playing simultaneously should be fun, but I can see the higher seeds not being particularly enthused. The divisional round, league championship, and World Series will all be held in bubbles. Just like the regular season, I would say expect the unexpected.
AL Winner-Tampa Bay Rays
I want to go with my team, the White Sox, but the Rays are way too talented, and it is finally their time to get back to a World Series. They got three big game starters, Charlie Morton, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow. They will be the driving force of this team’s playoff run. Don’t sleep on this offense, especially 2B Brandon Lowe, who leads the Rays on average, RBI’s, and home runs. This team also possesses one of the deepest and nastiest bullpens, which always comes into play and is as big of a factor as starting pitching is. This is the number one team in the American League for a reason. Although the series against the Yankees should be epic, I don’t see anybody taking them out.
NLCS and World Series Winner-Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers were the team to beat before the season began, and were number one from start to finish. This team is number one in almost every offensive category, and they sport the deepest lineup. OF Mookie Betts and OF Cody Bellinger are the two most recent MVPs and will lead the Dodgers to World Series glory. The pitching staff led by Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, and young guns Dustin May, Julio Urias, and Tony Gonsolin will anchor this offense in a great way.
The Dodgers’ weak link is their bullpen, but I think the offense is too much to overlook. Besides, their starting pitching is good enough that the pen won’t factor in too much. The pen is made up of Joe Kelly, Adam Kolarek, Brusdar Graterol, Blake Treiman, and Kenley Jansen, which are more than serviceable. This is finally the year the Dodgers will take this title home after so many blown postseasons.