Here are some early 2020 MLB World Series takeaways. This year it’s a surprising match up with the Tampa Bay Rays taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers but it has the makings for entertaining World Series. Here are some early takeaways and what to look forward to the rest of the series.
World Series Takeaways
This year has been strange for everyone including MLB who had to make some adjustments for the season and the playoffs. This year teams faced an expended postseason bracket, a Wild Card Series instead of elimination, and no days off in between games. The Rays and Dodgers had the best records in baseball with forty wins out of sixty games. This is a good match up because this is two of the best teams in the game right now.
There were some adjustments that had to be made for this year’s postseason to keep everyone safe. It includes using a bubble situation similar to other leagues. In order to keep everyone safe, they used two sites and no fans in stands. The World Series is being held in Texas as a neutral site that seems to even the playing field. MLB may consider keeping that change too.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays have been a welcome surprise this postseason and now the World Series which they have not been to since 1998. They were the only other team besides the Dodgers to win forty games in sixty games. Their success is because the Rays have the ability to close out games with big at-bats and efficient outs.
A takeaway is that the Rays have good pitching in both rotation and bullpen. Their top of the rotation is headed by Tyler Glasnow and ace Blake Snell who are dangerous to opponents. They look to be good for many years to come. The Rays can trust all relievers to close games they are that good and they can match up at any point in-game.
LA Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been in the playoffs the last seven years, but they have yet to get over the hump. It will be interesting to see if this year is different. As they seek their first championship since 1988, can what people see as the best Dodgers team yet end their World Series drought? Some think the Dodgers have the best lineup and bullpen.
Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger have been key to the Dodgers making the World Series. They have been like a tag team in the middle of line up feeding off each in big moments. Bellinger had the game-winning hit that sealed the Dodgers going to the final round. While Betts became the first player since Babe Ruth to steal two bases and walk-in the same inning of a World Series game.
The 2020 MLB World Series looks to be as crazy as this year has been. There have been plenty of takeaways so far about the Rays, Dodgers, and MLB. For more sports and entertainment visit Belly Up Sports.
