TOP PICKS FOR EXPANDED MLB POSTSEASON

Executive+Online+Sports+Editor+Aidan+Murrays+picks+for+the+2020+MLB+Postseason.+

Executive Online Sports Editor Aidan Murray’s picks for the 2020 MLB Postseason.

Aidan Murray, Sports Reporter

With the MLB shortening their regular season down to 60 games due to COVID-19, the 2020 MLB playoffs are already here with quite a few unfamiliar faces in October baseball. 

The 60 game sprint has given young teams, such as the Chicago White Sox and San Diego Padres, top seeds in the postseason, along with other underdog teams who snuck in like the Miami Marlins and the Cincinnati Reds. We also are seeing the same old teams such as the Dodgers, Indians, Yankees and Cubs. With such a variety of teams who could get hot just in time for the extended playoffs, here are my top picks for 2020 World Series champions. 

Despite a major skid during the last 10 games of the year, the Chicago White Sox have been a rather exciting team to watch this year as they are top five in just about every offensive category and have landed themselves a seventh seed in the playoffs. The team’s starting lineup contains dangerous hitters such as 2020 RBI champion and American League MVP candidate, Jose Abreu, along with other offensive specialists such as Tim Anderson, Eloy Jimenez, and James McCann

 “They are one of the best offenses in all of baseball, and they just have so much depth,” Senior White Sox Fan Yanni Makropoulos said.

One thing that is most necessary for each team to advance in the postseason is pitching, which the White Sox have had some struggles with this season. On a more positive outlook, if the team’s two top guys Dallas Kuechal and Lucas Giolito continue to perform and Dylan Cease, Dane Dunning, and Reynaldo Lopez can perform to their potential, along with the bullpen holding up, this team will not be easy to beat.

The Cubs have looked impressive this season as certain pitchers such as Yu Darvish and even Kyle Hendricks have led them to a solid three seed in the playoffs. Although their bullpen isn’t the strongest, their starting pitching staff has plenty of postseason experience, which I believe gives them the edge over many teams they could potentially face this postseason. 

“If the [Cubs] just keep their pitching on point, I think they can go pretty far,” Sophomore Cubs Fan Chance Rolfe said. 

The Cub’s offense has always been strong, but this year they haven’t seen the best seasons out of superstars Kris Bryant and Javier Baez. Instead, they have had players like Ian Happ and Jason Heyward step up. Case in point is that if guys like Bryant and Baez turn it on at the right time during the postseason, this team can be scary. 

What can I say, it’s beginning to become no surprise that the Dodgers are in the playoffs with the number one seed.

Now, I know that it has been a recurring situation each year in which the Dodgers just can’t secure a trophy, but something tells me this year they can take it. 

With the addition of a superstar in Mookie Betts to an already explosive lineup, this team is bound to go far. The pitching can’t be forgotten about either, as they have an arsenal of young pitchers in Dustin May and Brusdal Graterol, along with a solid bullpen. Facing that pitching staff is no walk in the park. 

Although the Yankees haven’t had as dominant of a season as they had hoped for, this has been due to injuries of some of their top guys. With some of their franchise names in Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge being sideline for a good chunk of what is already a shortened season, it’s hard to be successful. However, with dominant seasons from guys like Luke Voit, MLB home run champ and American League MVP candidate, they have been able to keep a solid record and secure a fifth seed in the playoffs. 

Lets not forget about how nasty this pitching staff can be. They have guys all the way from Gerrit Cole as their ace, to Aroldis Chapman closing. If these guys have their full offense and pitchers performing well this offseason, watch out for a potential 28th franchise ring. 

With the way 2020 has gone so far, all my picks could be wrong. For all we know we could see the Marlins make a trip to the NLCS or the Houston Astros stun all the haters by winning a World Series without hidden cameras and trash cans. One thing we know for sure is this postseason will be jam packed with new and regular October teams fighting it out for possibly one of the most unique World Series rings in the history of the MLB.