2020 Baltimore Orioles Preview - MLB Odds & Betting Predictions

In 2020, the Baltimore Orioles will be a team in transition. Baltimore will not reach the postseason, as the lineup top to bottom has many young position players as well as pictures, but those same players will eventually become the foundation for the franchise's future beginning in 2021. Last season, Baltimore finished at the bottom of the American League East with an overall record of 54-108. 

During the offseason, the Orioles signed Jose Iglesias who is coming off a solid season with the Cincinnati Reds where he batted .288. In addition to obtaining Iglesias, the Orioles signed free agent starting pitchers Kohl Stewart and Wade LeBlanc. Stewart is very inexperienced with only 62 Innings pitched in the major leagues, while LeBlanc is a veteran who will bring a solid presence into the clubhouse.

The Orioles lost one of their top hitters from last season Jonathan Villar who is now playing with the Miami Marlins. Last season, Villar belted 24 home runs and knocked in 73 runs. On the mound, the Orioles lost Dylan Bundy who will play for the Los Angeles Angels after five seasons in Baltimore. Bundy pitched the most innings for Baltimore last season with 161.2.

Baltimore will also start the season without its best hitter of last season Trey Mancini, who had surgery to remove a tumor from his colon. However, Renato Nunez, Pedro Severino and Hanser Alberto are back following productive seasons at the plate in 2019, while Chris Davis will try to find his hitting stroke and start at first. Several young talented players will be inserted into the lineup for the Orioles in 2020 headed by Anthony Santander who in 2019 hit 20 home runs in just 93 games played.

In addition to Santandar, the Orioles will also have young prospects such as Ryan Mountcastle and Austin Hays, who is expected to be the Orioles starting center fielder. Mountcastle will likely be a utility role player in 2020 playing first base and third. 

The pitching rotation will be the Orioles weak spot.  John Means is coming off a strong season and is Baltimore's number one starter but will be pushed by Alex Cobb and LeBlanc. Other possible starters in the rotation will be Keegan Akin, Dean Kremer and the previously mentioned Kohl Stewart. Mychal Givens is the top pitcher in the Orioles bullpen, although Sean Armstrong will be given the opportunity to win the closing role in the early part of the season.

The Baltimore Orioles will not be a good team in 2020, but will win as many or more games than last season when they won only just 54. The young players will slowly take over the team during the season and help make the Orioles relevant once again in the American League East in 2021.