MLB Time

Full MLB 2020 Season Preview

Keval Ramanathan previews the 2020 MLB season with evaluations of all 30 teams, projected standings and Award and Postseason predictions.

by Matt Kolln

MLB 2020 Season Preview: Postseason and Awards

NL Division Winners: Atlanta Braves, St Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers NL Wild Card: New York Mets, Washington Nationals AL Division Winners: New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Oakland Athletics AL Wild Card: Tampa Bay Rays, Houston Astros NLCS: Dodgers over Braves ALCS: Rays over A’s World Series: Dodgers over Rays  MVP: NL – Ronald Acuña…

by Keval

MLB 2020 Season Preview: AL East

New York Yankees (Last Year: 103-59): 39-21 The Yankees are really good. There’s not really a weak spot in their lineup, led by Aaron Judge, DJ LeMahieu, Gleyber Torres, and Gary Sanchez. Judge, Aaron Hicks, and Giancarlo Stanton have battled injury issues throughout their careers, but all three are healthy going into this season. Gio…

by Keval

MLB 2020 Season Preview: NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers (Last Year: 106-56): 39-21 The Dodgers had one of the best lineups in baseball last season and then added a top five player in the world to it. Mookie Betts’ average season over the last five years has been .302/.374/.524 with 27 home runs and 8 WAR. Add in the DH to…

by Keval

MLB 2020 Season Preview: NL Central

St. Louis Cardinals (Last Year: 91-71): 35-25 The Cardinals snapped a four year playoff drought by winning 91 games and getting to the NLCS a season ago. Marcell Ozuna and Jose Martinez are gone, but every other key offensive piece returns. Tyler O’Neill will get the first crack at replacing Ozuna after hitting 14 homers…

by Keval

MLB 2020 Season Preview: NL East

Atlanta Braves (Last Year: 97-66): 36-24 I was tempted to put the Braves lower after losing Josh Donaldson in Free Agency and Freddie Freeman’s struggle with COVID-19, but the Braves lineup still has a lot of talent and their bullpen is strong. Austin Riley and Johan Camargo can’t replace the production they got from Donaldson…

by Keval

MLB 2020 Season Preview: AL Central

Minnesota Twins (Last Year: 101-61) 37-23 The Twins were put on this Earth to lose to the Yankees in no more than four games in the ALDS, but they’ll be really good on offense up until then. After smashing 37 home runs with a 6 WAR for Atlanta last season, Josh Donaldson joined the Twins…

by Keval

MLB 2020 Season Preview: AL West

Oakland Athletics (Last Year: 97-65): 37-23 Despite winning 97 games a year ago, the A’s finished 10 games out of first place in the AL West. This year, I expect that to change. Oakland shipped off Jurickson Profar but returns three players who hit at least 30 homers last year: Matt Chapman, Marcus Semien, and…

by Keval

Statcast says Gary Sanchez will Start Hitting [VIDEO]

A breakdown of why Yankee fans should be optimistic about Gary Sanchez’s return using Statcast data. A look at some of Statcast’s “Expected Statistics” and how they can be used to predict success. How does Gary Sanchez’s season compare to the season of the Cardinal’s first baseman Matt Carpenter? Sanchez is beginning a rehab assignment…

by Matt Kolln

Why Baseball fans Should use wOBA Instead of OPS [VIDEO]

An explanation of why wOBA is not only a more effective stat than OPS, but also how it is more intuitive. Exploration of why OPS has become as popular as it has become and why we should not rely on it too much. Links for More:FangraphswOBA – FangraphsLinear Weights – FangraphsBaseball SavantSABR Thank you to…

by Matt Kolln

It’s not what you want… but don’t Panic Yet [VIDEO]

The Yankees-Red Sox series was brutal, but do not write this team off yet. A Recap of the Yankees-Red Sox series (8/2/18 – 8/5/18), why you should not blame Aaron Boone for the Yankees’ struggles, and why the Yanks should turn things around.

by Matt Kolln