White Sox 2020 Season Preview
Ready to check out our 2020 Chicago White Sox predictions? The AL Central has been a one or a 2-team race in recent seasons but the White Sox’ long rebuild is finally reaching a point where the fans are going to start expecting wins and this season, at least according to the futures market, it’s a 3-team race in the Central.
MLB White Sox Predictions & Handicapping Insight
The White Sox were hovering around .500 before last year’s All-Star break. Then the wheels came off in the second half.
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But the youth movement is one year older and some veteran additions may help this team get through the whole season with more wins than losses.
2020 MLB Team Previews – Chicago White Sox
- Chicago White Sox 2020 American League Central Odds: +350
- Chicago White Sox 2020 American League Odds: +1200
- Chicago White Sox 2020 World Series Odds: +4000
Key Additions:
- Yasmani Grandal
- Dallas Keuchel
- Edwin Encarnacion
- Nomar Mazara
- Gio Gonzalez
Grandal will take over for James McCann, who came out of nowhere to have an All-Star season in 2019 before struggling in the second half. He will still be available as a backup and DH but it was prudent for Chicago to go out and land some high quality depth at the catcher position instead of relying on McCann replicating numbers he probably won’t be able to.
Chicago’s rotation was young and right-handed last season. Enter Dallas Keuchel and Gio Gonzalez, who both come over from the National League. At this point, Keuchel has more in the tank but Gonzalez pitched well in almost 90 innings for Milwaukee last season. Both give the White Sox depth as well as veteran presence.
Nomar Mazara never blossomed into a star with Texas but it may not be wise to be certain he never will. He has a hit skill and Edwin Encarnacion will provide some right-handed power and completed his tenth consecutive season with an OPS+ over 100 last season in New York.
Key Losses:
- Ivan Nova
- Yolmer Sanchez
The acquisitions make a nice, diversified portfolio of bats and arms. The subtractions are small.
Ivan Nova was an innings eater but the Sox brought in enough pitching to make up for him. Plus, they are reaching the point where they want to shoot a little higher than just an average, at best, starter.
Yolmer Sanchez played great defense in the infield but his bat was limited. His loss won’t be felt too greatly.
2020 Chicago White Sox Predictions: Projected Lineup:
- Tim Anderson SS
- Yoan Moncada 3B
- Jose Abreu 1B
- Yasmani Grandal C
- Edwin Encarnacion DH
- Eloy Jimenez OF
- Nomar Mazara OF
- Luis Robert OF
- Leury Garcia 2B
The top of this lineup is dynamic. Tim Anderson led the majors in hitting at .335 last season and was on his way to an All-Star team before getting hurt.
Yoan Moncada posted a 141 OPS+ in 2019 and will reportedly turn just 25 in May.
Jose Abreu is a bonafide All-Star in the American League hitting behind them both. And then Grandal plugs in in the clean-up spot.
The bottom half is intriguing. Eloy Jimenez has huge power and hit 31 homers in 122 games as a rookie in 2019. He, Moncada or Abreu could lead the league in homers in 2020 and that’s not to mention Encarnacion or Mazara. The power, especially from the right side, is real in Chicago.
2020 Chicago White Sox Predictions: Projected Rotation:
- Lucas Giolito
- Dallas Keuchel
- Reynaldo Lopez
- Dylan Cease
- Gio Gonzalez
- Michael Kopech
Lucas Giolito made his first All-Star team and finished sixth in the American League’s Cy Young voting in 2019. He will be popular in the Cy Young futures market.
He has some depth behind him now, too. Keuchel is a great compliment and Reynaldo Lopez was pretty good in the second half of last season.
Michael Kopech was the other guy, along Moncada, who came over in the Chris Sale deal, which Chicago already looks to be the winner of.
There is less of a chance Chicago will run low on pitching in 2020 like it did last season for two reasons. Firstly, the season will be significantly shorter and secondly, the arms are now in place.
2020 Chicago White Sox Predictions: Projected Closer:
- Alex Colome
Colome had a fine season in 2019 but I’m not sure he’s the most trustworthy closer at this point in his career. Regardless, he’s a fine option for now and the White Sox did add some insurance with the acquisition of Steve Cishek, who has experience closing games.
Aaron Bummer was really good in 2019 but will that change with a more comprehensive scouting report now available on him?
2020 Chicago White Sox Predictions: 84 wins and 3rd in the AL Central (Bet Now at any of our reviewed MLB Sportsbooks!)
I have Chicago finishing behind Cleveland and Minnesota but only by a matter of a couple games. I could see any of the three winning the division and the Sox’ chances are definitely improved with the shorter season.
But rather than play them in the division futures, I’d rather take the win total or a long-shot World Series play. The offense is going to be, potentially, as good as any in the game and if Giolito takes another step forward, Chicago has boom potential.
What do you think of our 2020 Chicago White Sox predictions? Comments are welcome below.
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