MLB 2020 Schedule: Future Picks And Betting Odds

Future picks in every sport come with some level of risk and a lot of variables. The reason for this is that you need to rely on previous year stats and the most updated knowledge that you can get your hands on for how the team’s roster looks this year. Educated guesses are the best way to go about this - about the injuries, form, and general ability of the players. 

The coronavirus cut the season off and now it is slated to resume with a few new rules, increasing the variables for those taking up future bets. The new rules will have all teams playing 60 games. 40 of those games will come against divisional opponents, while the remaining 20 are against crossover divisions. This means the only inter-divisional games will be played between the two leagues in the Eastern, Central and Western divisions. 

This changes the way teams are pitted against each other. Usually, teams of highly varying strengths do not play against each other. But this year, the gap is quite significant because the number of matches has been reduced from the usual 162 games that are played, and because of how the divisional and inter-divisional matches are to be played. 

The odds to win

Currently, based on pre-shutdown performance and taking into account their current form, the New York Yankees are still up there to win the MLB. They have played a phenomenal game for the past two seasons and have even pushed the Houston Astros to the end of Game 7 in the ALCS three years ago. They have everything a perfect team needs - young blood and veteran leaders playing together, and a solid pitching lineup. If you could point out one thing they were missing, it was an ace at the top of their rotation. They settled this too, by signing Gerrit Cole, during this off-season. 

But the Yankees could be threatened this year with the complete change in schedules and rules of play. The lower number of games means the stronger teams can’t get an enormous lead ahead of the others. Now that over 40 games will be against a team in the same division, the Yankees will be challenged since they have very strong teams in their division. 

The Yankees also have a spot of trouble in their team. Luis Severino is benched for the rest of the year as he had to undergo surgery. The others who are injured may be able to return to play, given the long break they had from playing. This includes Aaron Judge who has a fractured rib and DJ Lemahieu who tested positive for the coronavirus. 

Which teams will benefit from this format change?

We don’t have to go too far down the odds to see an immediate favorite - the Houston Astros. Their pre-shutdown season revolved around a cheating scandal, which was made worse with the awkward press conferences everyone from the team and management sat through. If the season had continued as is, every away game would have been a nightmare for the team and the PR reps. Fans would have been quick to criticize and boo away the Astros. But now that the whole season will be played without any fans, and in an empty ballpark, they won’t be subject to this negativity.

The delayed start also helps them get ace Justin Verlander for almost the whole season. The reigning Cy Young Award winner had to undergo groin surgery in March and would have had to take two months off before returning to play in late July. But now that the season itself is starting so late, he will be ready to play at the start or immediately after. 

The biggest losers

Boston Red Sox would have had a great chance of moving ahead if they were playing a normal season, given they would have been able to score points against teams in AL Central. But this season is not it. They will be playing many games against the NL East teams, which is undoubtedly the best division in the NL right now. 

Given that half of the 60 games will be against playoff games, including a whopping 10 against the Rays and the Yankees separately, and nine total against the Braves, and the Nationals, they will have it the worst this season. Even Toronto, Philadelphia and the Mets will have a great run compared to the Red Sox this year. Their issues also extended to their roster, as Chris Sale is out of the season due to his surgery.