Across America, baseball fans are tuning in to the 2020 World Series with their palms sweaty and breath held as they wait to see if the Los Angeles Dodgers or the Tampa Bay Rays are going to take home the biggest prize in baseball. Both teams have demonstrated an immense amount of talent and persistence, as out of the thirty teams in the league these two have proved that they are the best. This season has been particularly challenging for the MLB, as the Covid-19 virus has forced the league to approach this season much differently than others. We’re going to go over some of those challenges, and take a look at both teams to see how they made it this far and if they have what it takes to end the year as champions.
This year’s baseball season has handled the coronavirus in a number of different ways, most notably being the fact that the season was shortened from 162 games to 60 games for each team. Unfortunately for Major League Baseball, the coronavirus ramped up in intensity right as spring training was underway. As other sports leagues like the NBA and NHL were deciding to postpone their seasons, MLB decided that their regular season would be postponed indefinitely. For the longest time it seemed like there simply wouldn’t be any baseball this year, until sometime in the summer, reports began to circulate that league officials, team representatives, and the MLB Players Association were going to begin deliberation on how to conduct a shortened regular season. After initial deals were shot down by the MLPA, an agreement was finally reached that would allow for a restructured regular season. In addition to the 60 game season, teams would attempt to stay on their respective coasts in order to reduce travel, and fans wouldn’t be allowed inside the parks. Players had the option to opt out of the season for personal health concerns, and a few players, like the Washington Nationals’ Ryan Zimmerman, took advantage of this. Although the league took many precautions to avoid the spread of illness, some outbreaks did still occur within certain clubhouses. This resulted in numerous postponements and a lot of doubleheaders for teams, but luckily players that did get sick were able to recover quickly and the regular season was able to end mostly on schedule.
With the end of the regular season came the playoffs, and this year’s format was also rather different because of the shortened season. More teams were included in the playoffs, and they would have the American League play primarily at San Diego’s Petco Park and the National League would have their playoff games at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium. The playoffs went much smoother than the regular season, as fewer teams and less travel meant that there was a smaller chance of any breakouts. This was a good sign for the World Series, as many people were afraid that it was going to extend into November or even December, but as of right now it’s slated to wrap up close to the end of October like it usually does.
Speaking of the World Series, it’s happening, like right now. The Los Angeles Dodgers are currently facing the Tampa Bay Rays in a series that’s tied with each team having a win, ensuring that there is going to be at least five games in the series. This year’s World Series is going to be pretty historic no matter the outcome, as the Dodgers haven’t won a World Series since 1988 and the Rays haven’t won one since they were established in 1998.
This time around the Dodgers are pretty hopeful that this year is finally going to be their year, as they’ve become rather infamous for reaching the postseason every year for the past seven years without a single World Series title to show for it. Everything has seemed to be going in the Dodgers’ favor this season however, which has fans hopeful that they’ll finally come home with the trophy this year. One of the biggest tools in the Dodgers arsenal that’s helped them this year is outfielder Mookie Betts, who the Dodgers acquired from the Boston Red Sox after the 2019 season. Before Betts reached the Dodgers, it was no secret how talented he was both with a bat and in the field. It seems that Los Angeles has unlocked something in Betts that the baseball world has never seen before, as even with the shortened season Betts has been able to craft an MVP level performance. With 16 home runs, 64 RBIs, and a batting average of .292, Betts has shown that he’s worth the $365 million dollar contract that he signed this year. Alongside Betts, the Dodgers also have big bats in the form of Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy, and the dominant Corey Seager, who has hit seven home runs in the postseason alone. When paired with the pitching talents of veteran Clayton Kershaw and the young Walker Buehler, it makes total sense that the Dodgers won 43 of their 60 games this season. Now fans just have to wait to see if they can finally stick the landing.
In the case of Tampa Bay, the Rays are in the World Series for the first time since 2008 when they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies, and they’re in the playoffs for the first time since 2013 when they fell to the Boston Red Sox. Over the past few seasons, much like the Dodgers, the Rays have been building up quite the respectable lineup. Their acquisitions of pitcher Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Austin Meadows in 2018 were some of their most notable moves, and younger players like infielder Brandon Lowe have proven to be vital members of the team. With a record of 40 wins and 20 losses this season, Tampa Bay has also emerged as one of the few teams to really excel in the shortened regular season. And to the Rays’ credit, playing in the same division as the New York Yankees is comparable to playing in the same division as the New England Patriots, so to outplay one of baseball’s most recognizable teams goes to show the level of talent that the Rays have this year. Even with all of their talent however, the general consensus is that Tampa Bay is the underdog to Los Angeles this year. This is not to say that the Rays don’t stand a chance, they’ve already prevented a total series sweep with their most recent win, but the Dodgers have just been so dominant this season that it seems like they’re destined to walk away as World Series champions. Only time will tell at this point, as the Rays and Dodgers are currently tied up in the series and still have a long way to go until a victor is decided.
Which team do you think is going to become the next World Series champion? Let us know in the comments below and for more news on pop culture and everything entertainment, check back here at its-bananas.