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MLB

Handicapping the MLB Shortened Season

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
3 minute read
By hook or by crook the 2020 MLB season will begin, albeit more than 4 months delayed.

Due to the pandemic, the 2020 MLB campaign will be shortened to a 60-game season.

With, here it, here is an illuminating report on how each MLB team has fared over the past three regular seasons in 60-game spans, both to start the season and to conclude the year.

American League Teams
Quick Starters

The Good

  • Houston Astros
  • New York Yankees
  • Boston Red Sox

The Bad

  • Kansas City Royals
  • Baltimore Orioles
  • Detroit Tigers
First 60 Games of the Season
A.L. Team 2019 2018 2017 Net Rank
Baltimore 19-41 19-41 31-29 -42 14
Boston 31-29 41-19 33-27 +30 3
Chicago White Sox 29-31 20-40 26-34 -12 10
Cleveland 30-30 32-28 36-29 +6 6
Detroit 23-37 28-32 29-31 -20 12
Houston 40-20 37-23 42-18 +58 1
Kansas City 19-41 21-39 26-34 -48 15
L.A. Angels 29-31 32-28 29-31 0 8
Minnesota 40-20 27-33 32-28 +18 4
N.Y. Yankees 38-22 41-19 37-23 +52 2
Oakland 30-30 31-29 26-34 -6 9
Seattle 25-35 38-22 30-30 +6 6
Tampa Bay 37-23 28-32 29-31 +8 5
Texas 32-28 24-36 29-31 -12 10
Toronto 22-38 26-34 29-31 -26 13

National League Teams
Quick Starters

The Good

  • Los Angeles Dodgers
  • Arizona Diamondbacks
  • Milwaukee Brewers

The Bad

  • Miami Marlins
  • Cincinnati Reds
  • San Diego Padres
First 60 Games of the Season
N.L. Team 2019 2018 2017 Net Rank
Arizona 32-28 34-26 37-23 +27 2
Atlanta 33-27 35-25 27-33 +10 7
Chicago Cubs 34-26 36-24 30-30 +20 4
Cincinnati 28-32 21-39 29-31 -24 14
Colorado 31-29 31-29 37-23 +18 6
L.A. Dodgers 41-19 30-30 35-25 +32 1
Miami 23-37 21-39 27-33 -38 15
Milwaukee 32-26 37-23 32-28 +26 3
N.Y. Mets 28-32 27-33 27-33 -16 12
Philadelphia 33-27 32-28 21-39 -8 10
Pittsburgh 29-31 30-30 26-34 -10 11
San Diego 31-29 26-34 23-37 -20 13
San Francisco 25-35 38-22 30-30 +6 8
St. Louis 31-29 33-27 28-32 -4 9
Washington 27-33 35-25 38-22 +20 4

American League Teams
Solid Finishers

The Good

  • Cleveland Indians
  • Houston Astros
  • Oakland Athletics

The Bad

  • Detroit Tigers
  • Baltimore Orioles
  • Kansas City Royals
Final 60 Games of the Season
A.L. Team 2019 2018 2017 Net Rank
Baltimore 21-39 18-42 27-33 -48 14
Boston 28-32 37-23 38-22 +26 7
Chicago White Sox 26-33 26-34 27-33 -21 12
Cleveland 33-27 35-25 45-15 +46 1
Detroit 17-42 21-30 18-42 -67 15
Houston 42-18 37-23 33-27 +44 2
Kansas City 21-39 27-33 26-34 -32 13
L.A. Angels 19-41 30-30 31-29 -20 8
Minnesota 39-21 30-30 35-25 +28 5
N.Y. Yankees 37-23 35-25 35-25 +34 4
Oakland 39-21 38-22 31-29 +36 3
Seattle 28-32 28-32 27-33 -14 10
Tampa Bay 39-21 38-22 27-33 +28 5
Texas 27-33 25-35 28-32 -20 8
Toronto 29-31 26-34 28-32 -14 10

National League Teams
Solid Finishers

The Good

  • Milwaukee Brewers
  • St. Louis Cardinals
  • Washington Nationals

The Bad

  • Miami Marlins
  • San Francisco Giants
  • Cincinnati Reds
Final 60 Games of the Season
N.L. Team 2019 2018 2017 Net Rank
Arizona 34-26 26-34 34-26 +8 8
Atlanta 37-23 35-25 24-36 +12 6
Chicago Cubs 29-31 35-25 38-22 +24 4
Cincinnati 28-32 22-38 22-37 -35 13
Colorado 24-36 36-24 29-31 -2 9
L.A. Dodgers 39-21 35-25 23-27 +24 4
Miami 18-42 20-39 28-32 -47 15
Milwaukee 36-21 38-22 32-28 +32 1
N.Y. Mets 39-21 34-26 22-38 +10 7
Philadelphia 27-33 22-38 28-32 -26 11
Pittsburgh 23-37 29-30 24-35 -25 10
San Diego 22-38 25-35 26-34 -34 12
San Francisco 25-35 21-39 25-35 -38 14
St. Louis 36-24 37-23 33-27 +32 1
Washington 38-22 31-29 36-24 +30 3

Note: A handful of teams saw their season conclude with only 161 games played. In those cases these teams are represented with results played over the span of the final 59 games played.

So the question begs – will teams approach this year’s 60-game season as if it’s the first 60 games on the schedule, or the final 60 games? That is the big question. My thought is more the latter, with the reward being a ticket to the postseason being just around the corner for teams fortunate enough to qualify.

If your'e looking for the largest differences from the first 60 to the final 60 games, then keep an eye on the below.

American League
Net Difference
Last 3 years

The Good

  • Cleveland +40 (+6 to +46)
  • Tampa Bay +20 (+8 to +28)

The Bad

  • Detroit -47 (-20 to -67)
  • Oakland -42 (+36 to -6)
  • L.A. Angeles -20 (0 to -20)

National League
Net Difference
Last 3 Years

The Good

  • St. Louis +36 (-4 to +32)
  • New York Mets +26 (-16 to +10)
  • Colorado +20 (-2 to +18)
  • Arizona +19 (+8 to +27)
  • Philadelphia +18 (-26 to -8)

The Bad

  • San Francisco -44 (+6 to -38)
Remember, by tuning into MLB Tonight every night, baseball fans will be brought up to speed on the status on the shortened 60-game season. With such a condensed season it is required viewing for serious fans.

Okay, let’s play ball!



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