Dodgers 2020 Season Preview
Ready to check out our 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers predictions? Mookie Betts is on board and the Dodgers are large favorites in the National League. Can they take this one all the way in 2020?
MLB Dodgers Predictions & Handicapping Insight
The Dodgers don’t offer any value in the NL West futures market, especially with the uncertainty of exactly how many games will be played this season.
It’s hard to figure how a +150 pennant favorite offers any value either.
But, given the likelihood of the Dodgers getting to the World Series, +450 may offer something. After all, based on the NL pennant odds, the Dodgers should be closer to +300, unless you expect them to be large underdogs to whatever team they face from the AL in the World Series.
2020 MLB Team Previews – Los Angeles Dodgers
- LA Dodgers 2020 National League West Odds: -750
- LA Dodgers 2020 National League Odds: +150
- LA Dodgers 2020 World Series Odds: +450
Key Additions:
- Mookie Betts
- David Price
- Blake Treinen
- Jimmy Nelson
- Alex Wood
The Dodgers will pay Betts $27 million this season before he enters unrestricted free-agency in the offseason.
They also took on David Price in the deal for promising young outfielder Alex Verdugo. Price has three years remaining on the 7-year $217 million deal he signed with Boston in December of 2015. The Red Sox are paying him about half of the roughly $90 million left on the deal, which helps keep both Boston and LA under the luxury tax threshold in 2020.
Key Losses:
- Hyun-Jin Ryu
- Rich Hill
- Alex Verdugo
- Kenta Maeda
The Dodgers had to let Ryu walk in free-agency in order to open up the financial flexibility to sign Betts. Ryu was the Cy Young leader for most of last season before Jacob deGrom caught him at the end.
Rich Hill was more than just solid depth in his time as a Dodger and he moves on to Minnesota as a free agent.
Kenta Maeda also landed in Minnesota in a trade to free up the cash for Betts and Price. Verdugo went to Boston in the deal.
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So the Dodgers add Betts but they will lose a potential ace and some really solid depth after that, including in the outfield and in the bullpen. It isn’t necessarily a net-positive.
2020 Los Angeles Dodgers Predictions: Projected Lineup:
- Mookie Betts OF
- Justin Turner 3B
- Cody Bellinger OF
- Max Muncy 1B
- Gavin Lux 2B
- Corey Seager SS
- Joc Pederson OF
- Will Smith C
According to rotochamp.com every player in this projected lineup will finish 2020 with 20 or more home runs (based on 162 games, however) and at least an OPS of .830. There is no lineup in the game with stronger weakest links.
Will Smith and Gavin Lux are the two names that may still be new to some. Both came up as blue chip prospects and are not question marks going into the season. Both have power and skill with the bat as guys who will hit for average.
AJ Pollock is on the bench in this current projection but he’s also expected to hit 20 homers by rotochamp.com. Kike Hernandez adds infield depth.
2020 Los Angeles Dodgers Predictions: Projected Rotation:
- Clayton Kershaw
- Walker Buehler
- David Price
- Alex Wood
- Julio Urias
Kershaw remains the name atop the rotation but Walker Buehler is the true ace now and a favorite to win the NL’s Cy Young Award.
After those two, though, things get a little hazy. David Price is going to be motivated and at about $15 million per season, he’s not necessarily an overpaid starter anymore. The strength of his arm is a real question but in a shorter season and with less demand on his body (because of the Dodgers’ depth), he will pitch better in 2020.
It looks like Urias will make the transition back to being a starter. He’s still just 23 years old with lots of innings ahead of him.
Alex Wood returns to LA after an injury-riddled season in Cincinnati. The Dodgers hope he can provide some breadth to the rotation, though he won’t make 30 starts.
Dustin May, Ross Stripling, Tony Gonsolin and even Jimmy Nelson will fill in as spot starters. Nelson came over from Milwaukee after missing all of 2018 and most of 2019 following arm surgery. He was a promising young starter before his injury and the Dodgers are in the sort of position to take a flier on a guy like him.
2020 Los Angeles Dodgers Predictions: Projected Closer:
- Kenley Jansen
But for as star-studded as the lineup is and as solid as the starting pitchers look, the bullpen remains uncomfortably similar to the last couple seasons.
Jansen remains the closer, at least for now, with Pedro Baez and Joe Kelly bridging the gap. The Dodgers did bring in big Blake Treinen, who was as good as any reliever in baseball in 2018 before struggling a bit in 2019.
2020 Los Angeles Dodgers Predictions: 95 wins and 1st in the NL West (Bet Now at any of our reviewed MLB Sportsbooks!)
No one will stop the Dodgers in the division this year but the chances of something unusual happening do go up the more the season is shortened. Big favorites do not like the prospect of playing, say, 81 games instead of 162.
What do you think of our 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers predictions? Comments are welcome below.
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