Tribune-Review staff writer Chris Adamski offers his predictions for the 2020 MLB season, including award winners and playoff and championship participants.
National League
MVP
Ronald Acuna, Braves
Before he turned 22 in December, Acuna had accumulated 67 home runs, 53 steals, 205 runs and 165 RBIs — in just 267 MLB games. The Braves are expected to be among the NL’s best teams, too — always a bonus for MVP voters.
Cy Young
Walker Buehler, Dodgers
A one-time Pirates draft pick (he did not sign), Buehler finished in the top 10 of Cy Young balloting last season and has surpassed Clayton Kershaw as the ace of the majors’ best team. That’s often who wins the award.
Rookie of the year
Gavin Lux, Dodgers
The Dodgers already have had twice as many rookies of the year as any other franchise. Expected to be an early-season call-up, Lux would make it 19 in a 74-year span. MLB.com’s No. 2 prospect in baseball, the shortstop was Baseball America’s 2019 minor league player of the year.
Playoff predictions
NL East winner: Braves
NL Central winner: Brewers
NL West winner: Dodgers
Wild-card round: Reds over Nationals
Division series: Dodgers over Reds; Braves over Brewers
NLCS: Dodgers over Braves
World Series: Dodgers over Astros
American League
MVP
Mike Trout, Angels
Boring pick? Yes. But over the past eight seasons, despite missing almost 100 games because of injury, Trout has averaged 35 home runs and 92 RBIs with a .305 average in that time. He’s the favorite every year until proven otherwise.
Cy Young
Gerrit Cole, Yankees
Thought 2020 couldn’t get any worse, Pirates fans? How about a Cy Young for Cole, who finished fourth and second, respectively, since his trade out of Pittsburgh. A move to the Yankees — for $324 million — certainly won’t hurt his profile.
Rookie of the year
Luis Robert, White Sox
Robert had better be good — his signing bonus, MLB penalties related to that bonus and his guaranteed contract equal more than $100 million in investments from the White Sox in the Cuban defector already. All indications are he’s worth the hype.
Playoff predictions
AL East winner: Yankees
AL Central winner: Indians
AL West winner: Astros
Wild-card round: Twins over Rays
Division series: Astros over Twins; Yankees over Indians
ALCS: Astros over Yankees
World Series: Dodgers over Astros
