Giants 2020 Season Preview
Ready to check out our 2020 San Francisco Giants predictions? The Giants are no longer contenders in the National League. That much is certain. But are they rebuilding yet? San Francisco is stuck in a place no team really wants to be ahead of the 2020 season.
MLB Giants Predictions & Handicapping Insight
The Giants actually have the best odds (50/1) of any division underdog in either league. Some of the recognizable names remain and another returns but 2014 feels a long time ago now and that magic feels like a 50-1 shot to be rediscovered.
2020 MLB Team Previews – San Francisco Giants
- San Francisco Giants 2020 National League West Odds: 500/1
- San Francisco Giants 2020 National League Odds: 250/1
- San Francisco Giants 2020 World Series Odds: 500/1
The odds on the Giants are a bit strange, however. They’re odds of winning the NL West and the NL pennant are identical and they are x10 from there to win the World Series. Seems to me if you like the Giants, the World Series is the way to go at 500/1 at betonline.ag.
Key Additions:
- Hunter Pence
- Billy Hamilton
The Giants made a lot of acquisitions over the winter but little in the form of game-changers for this upcoming season.
Hunter Pence returns to San Francisco, where he played for seven seasons and won two World Series. It’s a strange move in the sense that Pence had so much success last season as a DH for Texas before suffering an injury. He won’t have that option available to him in the NL.
Billy Hamilton signed a 1-year deal and is expected to compete for a starting outfield spot.
Other additions include: Trevor Cahill, Wilmer Flores, Yolmer Sanchez, Drew Smyly, Andrew Triggs and Kevin Gausman.
Key Losses:
- Madison Bumgarner
- Kevin Pillar
- Burch Smith
It will hurt to see Bumgarner pitching in a division rival’s uniform after 11 great seasons in the Bay. He’s signed on to head Arizona’s staff in 2020.
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Kevin Pillar had a nice season in his quick tenure as a Giant but he’s now in Boston to try and help fill the void left by the Mookie Betts trade, which impact San Francisco in another way.
Burch Smith offered a decent prospect return in a trade with Oakland, which the Giants, who are playing the long game, had to have felt compelled to accept.
2020 San Francisco Giants Predictions: Projected Lineup:
- Mike Yastrzemski OF
- Buster Posey C
- Brandon Belt 1B
- Evan Longoria 3B
- Alex Dickerson OF
- Brandon Crawford SS
- Mauricio Dubon 2B
- Billy Hamilton OF
Mike Yastrzemski is projected to hit the most home runs and finish with the highest OPS (.832), according to rotochamp.com.
By contrast, every member of the Dodgers’ starting lineup is projected to finish with an OPS at least as high as Yaz’s.
After eight consecutive seasons to begin his career with an OPS+ of at least 103, Brandon Belt finally finished below league-average in 2019 (98). He’s never hit more than 18 home runs in any season during his career but does offer a professional approach in the middle.
Alex Dickerson put up a 131 OPS+ in over 170 plate appearances with the Giants in 2019. He’s expected to get the opportunity to play a full season as a starter in 2020.
2020 San Francisco Giants Predictions: Projected Rotation:
- Johnny Cueto
- Jeff Samardzija
- Kevin Gausman
- Drew Smyly
- Andrew Suarez
- Tyler Beede
This rotation has the potential to be a disaster.
Only way it isn’t, in fact, is if the season is cut well short and both Gausman and Smyly stay intact for most of it and actually re-discover the stuff that made both pretty effective pitchers for brief stretches in their careers.
Tyler Beede was a first-rounder in 2014 and he’s had some big league experience in the last two seasons with mixed results. He’s the guy who has the chance to really come into his own and make a difference in the rotation as someone who could become more than just a quality starter. He has a big arm but has yet to command it against big league bats.
2020 San Francisco Giants Predictions: Projected Closer:
- Tony Watson
- Shaun Anderson
- Trevor Gott
The Giants have listed three potential closers to enter the season. All three guys were on the staff last season and only Gott saved one game.
He and Watson were league-average, compared to all pitchers, out of the ‘pen, which is actually to say they were below average.
Anderson posted a 77 ERA+ in 28 games, which included 16 starts. He looked okay at times but it looks like this bullpen is going to fly by the seat of its pants in 2020.
2020 San Francisco Giants Predictions: 67 wins and 5th in the NL West (Bet Now at any of our reviewed MLB Sportsbooks!)
I might throw a cent on the Giants to win it all at 500-1, knowing that they do have some players.
More likely, though, is San Fran makes a short season feel long with lots of losing and injuries.
What do you think of our 2020 San Francisco Giants predictions? Comments are welcome below.
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