Happy Opening Day, everyone! Earlier this week on the Control the Zone podcast, we doled out our predictions for the shortened 2020 MLB season. However, because MLB is dysfunctional as ever and waited until quite literally the very last minute to finalize an expansion of the postseason from 10 to 16 teams, we’ve had to make some alterations to our predictions.
While the wackiness of a 60-game season was already enough, allowing over half of the league into the postseason makes things even crazier. It’s surprising how in line our predictions were with one another given the uncertainty of such a season, despite some of our boldest answers. But before you get too excited, no, none of us have the Mariners even sniffing the postseason this year. Sorry.
Colby Patnode
American League playoff teams: Yankees (ALE1), Twins (ALC1), Athletics (ALW1), Rays (ALE2), Astros (ALW2), Cleveland (ALC2), Angels (ALWC1), White Sox (ALWC2)
National League playoff teams: Dodgers (NLW1), Cubs (NLC1), Phillies (NLE1), Braves (NLE2), Cardinals (NLC2), Padres (NLW2), Nationals (NLWC1), Brewers (NLWC2)
World Series: Rays over Dodgers
AL MVP: Mike Trout, OF, Angels
NL MVP: Cody Bellinger, OF, Dodgers
AL Cy Young: Gerrit Cole, RHP, Yankees
NL Cy Young: Walker Buehler, RHP, Dodgers
AL Rookie of the Year: Luis Robert, OF, White Sox
NL Rookie of the Year: Gavin Lux, 2B, Dodgers
Ty Gonzalez
American League playoff teams: Yankees (ALE1), Twins (ALC1), Athletics (ALW1), Rays (ALE2), Astros (ALW2), White Sox (ALW2), Cleveland (ALWC1), Rangers (ALWC2)
National League playoff teams: Dodgers (NLW1), Braves (NLE1), Brewers (NLC1), Reds (NLC2), Nationals (NLE2), Diamondbacks (NLW2), Cardinals (NLWC1), Phillies (NLWC2)
World Series: Dodgers over Twins
AL MVP: Matt Chapman, 3B, Athletics
NL MVP: Ronald Acuña, OF, Braves
AL Cy Young: Lucas Giolito, RHP, White Sox
NL Cy Young: Walker Buehler, RHP, Dodgers
AL Rookie of the Year: Luis Robert, OF, White Sox
NL Rookie of the Year: Dustin May, RHP, Dodgers
Willie Keeler
American League playoff teams: Yankees (ALE1), Twins (ALC1), Angels (ALW1), Astros (ALW2), Rays (ALE2), Cleveland (ALC2), Athletics (ALWC1), Red Sox (ALWC2)
National League playoff teams: Dodgers (NLW1), Cardinals (NLC1), Phillies (NLE1), Braves (NLE2), Reds (NLC2), Diamondbacks (NLW2), Nationals (NLWC1), Cubs (NLWC2)
World Series: Yankees over Dodgers
AL MVP: Mike Trout, OF, Angels
NL MVP: Cody Bellinger, OF, Dodgers
AL Cy Young: Mike Clevinger, RHP, Cleveland
NL Cy Young: Jack Flaherty, RHP, Cardinals
AL Rookie of the Year: Jesús Luzardo, LHP, Athletics
NL Rookie of the Year: Dustin May, RHP, Dodgers
Jake Heffner
American League playoff teams: Yankees (ALE1), Astros (ALW1), Twins (ALC1), Athletics (ALW2), White Sox (ALC2), Red Sox (ALE2), Rays (ALWC1), Angels (ALWC2)
National League playoff teams: Dodgers (NLW1), Nationals (NLE1), Cardinals (NLC1), Braves (NLE2), Cubs (NLC2), Padres (NLW2), Phillies (NLWC1), Mets (NLWC2)
World Series: Dodgers over Yankees
AL MVP: Mike Trout, OF, Angels
NL MVP: Fernando Tatís Jr., SS, Padres
AL Cy Young: Gerrit Cole, RHP, Yankees
NL Cy Young: Jack Flaherty, RHP, Cardinals
AL Rookie of the Year: Luis Robert, OF, White Sox
NL Rookie of the Year: McKenzie Gore, LHP, Padres
