North America’s big four leagues have made a solid return to action post-lockdown. The NBA and NHL are entering their playoffs and NFL teams are returning to training camps in preparation for the regular season beginning next month.

MLB has not made such a successful return in recent weeks. Spectator-less games have not made for an enjoyable television experience while almost 30 games have already been postponed due to COVID-related scares. The playoffs have been extended to allow more teams participate after the curtailed 60 game season concludes.

With that in mind, we take a look at some of this week’s important games and some of the interesting outright bets available at the moment.

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The 60-game season has kicked off. Almost immediately games have been postponed due to Corona virus but the majority of games are still going ahead. One thing it means is that teams may not have the opportunity to try out different options with their roster. There is less room for error with teams in the shortened season. Expect to see less rotation this season with the risk of losing out on playoff positions.

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The Major League Baseball season is having a serious rework for this season. The regular 162 game season might return next year but unfortunately not in the 2020 season. The season will consist of 60 games. As a result, the 2020 season will be the shortest regular season since 1878. Each team will play nine opponents rather than the usual 19 or 20 for the season. The league has also been split into smaller sub-divisions in order to reduce the amount of travel. The new interleague matchups will be AL East vs NL East, AL West vs NL West and AL Central vs NL Central.

There are some teams that have strengthened their team during the off season. Including the Dodgers and Angels who improved their world series title chances. This new season will start on July 23^rd. The opening games will consist of the New York Yankees at Washington Nationals. While the San Francisco Giants play the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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Very rarely do we have such a contrast in makeup of the two World Series-contesting clubs.

One has a limited, but successful history in their conference, while the other is a household name in the NL, without having ever done anything of note – and who are just one of two teams never to have contested a World Series.

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The Conference Championships are tough.

On hand, they’re probably more exciting than the World Series. If you’re unsure on that, think of the Conference Championships in the NFL and use that logic. There’s something about the desperation to get to a World Series that’s more enthralling than what actually happens there.

I suppose, once you’re there, you’re remembered in history forever. If you fall now, it’s like the good you created during the entire regular season counted for nothing.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to potentially 14 games of baseball than even the casual viewer can become addicted to.

This is tension – this is baseball.

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The MLB Playoffs are heating up with the Divisional Series in full swing. The National League Divisional Series have been particularly exciting. Both series (Atlanta Braves vs. St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Nationals vs LA Dodgers) are both tied at 2-2 with with Game 5 to come. On the other side of the coin, the New York Yankees secured a place in the ALCS with a 3-0 series victory over the Twins. They look likely to be joined by the Houston Astros who lead Wild Card winners Tampa Bay Rays 2-1.

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Overview – Wild Card

As much as the World Series is the coveted prize in all of baseball because the seven-game series embodies exactly what baseball is – removing the potential for abnormalities and crowning the consistent best – these Wild Card games are the most exciting 18 innings in baseball.

This year, we’re treated to four teams who could all conceivably reach their respective Conference Championship Series, and it’s not often you can say that.
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Rays @ Blue Jays

In many ways, being in the same division as the Orioles could well gloss over the need for urgency at the Blue Jays. After all, Montoyo is pretty set to carry this farm into 2020 and finishing by sweeping the the Orioles as well as taking three of six against the Yankees sweetens the bitter taste in the mouths of the fanbase.

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Blue Jays @ Orioles Series Preview

Toronto Blue Jays (59-91) Baltimore Orioles (49-101)

If you could name this series, you’d probably dub it the ‘at least we’re not the Detroit Tigers’ three-gamer. That’s, of course, being cynical, but bar some farm system magic, neither of these rosters will get the blood pumping too quickly over the next few years.

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