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2020 MLB Baltimore Orioles World Series Odds & Picks

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read

Can the Baltimore Orioles Avoid
Another 100-Loss Season in 2020?

It’s going to be difficult to watch the Baltimore Orioles in 2020. The Orioles have won a total of 101 games over the last two seasons, and they were projected to lose more than 100 games again this season prior to the league being put on hold.

They lost two of their most talented players when Jonathan Villar and Dylan Bundy were dealt, so most Orioles fans will be more concerned about the development of their prospects than the fate of the big league club.

2020 Baltimore Orioles World Series
Betting Online Odds at FanDuel: +50000

Odds provided by FanDuel (IN, NJ, PA & WV only)
Subject to Change - T&C's Apply, 21+

2020 Baltimore Orioles
Season World Series Odds Overview

Baltimore is tied with six other franchises as the teams with the longest World Series odds at 500-1.

The Orioles were considered longshots to even win 70 games in this division at the start of Spring Training, so their chances of pulling off an “Angels in the Outfield” moment are highly unlikely.

American League East

Over the last two seasons, the Orioles are 47-105 against their AL East counterparts. They are projected by everyone to finish at the bottom of the division for the fourth straight season, and Baltimore is 250-1 to claim the AL East at FanDuel.

On the Hill

Someone had to make the All-Star Game for Baltimore last season, so why not send rookie John Means? Means had a solid season as the Orioles’ top arm, posting a 12-11 record with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.135 WHIP. He is not a strikeout specialist with a 7.0 K/9, so some regression is to be expected as batters key in on his tendencies, but he doesn’t walk batters. His fastball tops out in the low-90s, so he needs to continue to have strong command of his other pitches.

Alex Cobb doesn’t have the worst contract on this team (we’ll get to Chris Davis), but the front office is certainly wishing they could rethink the decision to give the right-hander a four-year, $57 million deal prior to the start of the 2018 season. Cobb is 5-17 with a 5.36 ERA and a 1.445 WHIP in his first two seasons with Baltimore, and he only pitched 12.1 innings last season due to a hip injury. If he starts the season off strong, look for the Orioles to get out from under his contract.

Baltimore’s bullpen was the worst in the American League last season, and it looks to be one of the worst bullpens in the majors again this year. There is no great relief arm that has emerged as significantly better than any other, so look for this to be a closer by committee situation.

At the Plate

Trey Mancini was the best hitter on this team by a wide margin in 2019. Mancini was the only hitter with regular appearances to finish with an OPS over .800, and he showed great power with a triple slash line of .291/.364/.535. Opposing pitchers were more willing to put him on base since he was one of the few hitters that could punish them, and he could see an uptick in his walk rate again in 2020.

Renato Nunez was the only other hitter on this team with power, crushing 31 home runs in 2019. However, Nunez was largely boom or bust with a batting average under .250 and a high strikeout rate. Looking at his advanced numbers, there is real danger in Nunez striking out far too often, and Baltimore already has one hitter like that on the roster.

The Orioles have the worst contract in baseball with Chris Davis. Since signing Davis to a seven-year, $161 million contract before the start of the 2016 season, he has posted a -2.3 WAR. He has finished with a batting average under .180 in each of the last two seasons, and he is declining rapidly. Davis still has some power when he makes contact, but his strikeout rate is prodigious. He has struck out in 37.9 percent of his plate appearances the last two seasons.

2020 Baltimore Orioles World Series Projection

You’d be better off buying a lottery ticket than you would be by betting on Baltimore to win the World Series. This team is in the middle of a long rebuild, and even if a few players break out and have career years, they will be dealt to contenders.

2020 Baltimore Orioles World Series Free Pick:
Not a chance - Alternative Options

Odds provided by FanDuel (IN, NJ, PA & WV only)
Subject to Change - T&C's Apply, 21+

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