In 80-Game MLB Season With Universal DH and 14-Team Playoffs, White Sox Stand Out as Good Value Bet

• A proposal gaining approval from team owners would see an 82-game MLB season beginning July 4th weekend
• Which teams offer the best bets in an 82-game campaign? What clubs should you consider as value bets?
• Analysis of the odds, and some wagers to make on MLB’s proposed season are in the story below

It’s looking more likely that there’s going  be an MLB season after all. Put into dry dock in mid-March by the COVID-19 outbreak, MLB owners have drawn up a plan to launch an 82-game season that would begin on the July 4th weekend.

Under this proposal, teams would play interlocking schedules with their opposite division. The AL East and NL East, AL Central and NL Central and AL West and NL West would be grouped together. Seven teams in each league will qualify for postseason play.

Games would be played without spectators and the NL would join the AL in employing the DH. It should be noted that this plan still needs the rubber stamp of approval from the players to give it the go ahead.

Naturally, a shorter season changes things up in terms of competition. For instance, had the 2019 campaign ended after 82 games, the eventual World Series champion Washington Nationals wouldn’t have made the playoffs.

2020 World Series Odds

Odds taken May 12th

Dodgers Still the Cream

Even in what basically amounts to a half season, it’s still difficult to tab any club with better odds to win the World Series than the Los Angeles Dodgers. LA has been to two of the past three World Series.

The core from those clubs still remains intact. To that, the Dodgers brought 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts and 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner David Price into the fold.

Mookie Betts could mess around and become a Hall of Famer in about 15 different sports. pic.twitter.com/OvfV3UIUhA

— Danny Vietti (@DannyVietti) May 11, 2020

The Dodgers are loaded with depth in starting pitching, the bullpen and among their position players. It’s difficult to find a weakness on this team.

Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers to win World Series (+325)

Shortened Season Benefits ChiSox

The defending champion Minnesota Twins are the deepest team in the AL Central, but in a shortened campaign, depth won’t prove as vital a quality.

2020 AL Central Odds

The Chicago White Sox were among the boldest movers during the offseason. The ChiSox spent $200 million on free agents. They added 2015 AL Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel and two-time all-star catcher Yasmani Grandal.

Keuchel and 14-game winner Lucas Giolito headline a steady rotation. Closer Alex Colome saved 30 games.

Yasmani Grandal has become a top tier catcher ?

2017➡️2018➡️2019

K%
27.3➡️23.9➡️22.0

BB%
8.3➡️13.9➡️17.2

Hard Hit%
37.8➡️40.4➡️41.8

Exit Velocity
87.9➡️88.9➡️90.3

Barrels
24➡️38➡️43

Middle of the White Sox lineup is a nice bonus?#RotoBaller pic.twitter.com/qwIqCSEYnd

— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) May 4, 2020

A team already with solid everyday players like Jose Abreu, Eloy Jimenez, Tim Anderson and Yoan Moncada is debuting AL ROY favorite Luis Robert.

The White Sox will benefit from lots of games against the Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Pick: Chicago White Sox to win AL Central (+300)

Diamondbacks Closed 2019 Strongly

How much emphasis should be placed upon strong finishes to last season?

Arizona Diamondbacks Win Percentage Odds

The Arizona Diamondbacks closed out 2019 going 31-20.

The Diamondbacks were a .525 team last season and added Madison Bumgarner to their pitching staff. They’re rated to win 51.5% of their games this season.

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Madison Bumgarner admits to using an alias to compete in team-roping rodeo competitions. https://t.co/TlOUboYWnh pic.twitter.com/ucwS0iIaXp

— CNN (@CNN) February 24, 2020

That total seems beatable.

Pick: Arizona Diamondbacks over 51.5% winning percentage (-110).