Opening Day lineup, rotation, closer predictions

July 20th, 2020

Here’s how each club's lineup and starting rotation is projected to look like in 2020.

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

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Ace is out for the season following Tommy John surgery, and the Red Sox could go with a four-man rotation while putting an opener in the fifth spot. Newly-acquired swingman

This lineup is much different than the one the Yankees likely would have fielded on March 26, when Hicks, Judge and Stanton were all expected to be on the injured list. Stanton was expected to re-join the squad in April, while Hicks has resumed taking batting practice following Tommy John surgery last year. Details of Judge's progress from a right rib fracture have been cloudy, but Newsday reported on Thursday that he has resumed hitting off a tee.

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Paxton would have been absent had the season started on time, but he recovered from back surgery and was expected to be ready sometime in May. Montgomery seemed to secure a rotation spot this spring, but Jonathan Loaisiga was also a strong contender. Pitching coach Matt Blake said that the Yanks were planning to use Loaisiga in a variety of roles, including as a spot starter.

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

A lot of this lineup will come down to Naquin. The outfielder, who underwent surgery to repair his torn ACL in September, is expecting to be cleared to resume all baseball activities before summer camp starts. If he’s healthy and ready, he’d likely be the Indians’ top choice to start in right field. However, will get the start in right if the Indians think Naquin needs a little more time to ramp up. Plus, with the way Luplow hit lefties last season, he could get penciled in the lineup over Naquin if a southpaw is on the mound.

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The No. 5 starter could be a battle between Plesac and . Between the young duo and Plutko, the Indians have a few options to fill the back end of their rotation. But since camp is just three weeks, the team could either boast a six-man rotation or use the starter who is left out of the rotation in the bullpen for longer relief appearances, when pitch counts will build up at the beginning of the season.

Closer: , RHP

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The remaining 39 games of 's suspension will not be prorated due to the shortened season, and he will need to serve the remainder in full before he will likely be eligible for reinstatement in early September. Pineda was issued a 60-game suspension last September after he tested positive for a banned diuretic.

The Twins have not ruled out a six-man rotation to start the season, depending on how their players' fitness tracks during summer camp. If so, could be a leading candidate for that additional slot.

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is ready to go after Tommy John surgery last May. The plethora of starting pitcher options, with Dane Dunning and Jimmy Lambert not far behind, give the White Sox a number of creative options with their pitching staff and specifically their rotation.

might not break with the White Sox following summer camp. But the talented second baseman figures to be a part of the squad this season.

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

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Ohtani is healthy and will pitch once a week, so the Angels will use a sixth starter, manager Joe Maddon said on June 24.

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Pitchers

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If healthy, would start in right field, with Lewis moving to left and Fraley becoming the backup outfielder. But Haniger’s return from a torn adductor muscle in his groin and a herniated disk remains uncertain.

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The Mariners will go with a six-man rotation as they return from a three-month layoff. The closer spot remains wide open, with likely in contention now as the time off allowed him to fully recover from October surgery to repair a torn anterior crucial ligament in his left knee.

Pitchers

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Ronald Guzmán is still competing with for the first-base job. That competition was ongoing at the end of Spring Training and is expected to resume in camp.

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

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While using a 30-man roster during the season’s first two weeks, the Braves are planning to limit their starters to 3-4 innings. Newcomb, Kyle Wright and Touki Toussaint are among the pitchers who could be used to piggyback with the starter.

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Much will depend on Céspedes’ health and production. He could DH more often than not, or the Mets could use some combination of , Alonso, Davis and Canó in that spot.

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For the first time in Nationals history, their lineup will not feature mainstay , who elected not to play this season. Veterans Kendrick and Thames are expected to share first-base duties, and Kendrick could also be a top DH option. The Nationals have given top prospect Kieboom the opportunity to earn the starting third-base job. That role has yet to be finalized, and it could go to if Kieboom is not ready.

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was a top candidate to earn the fifth starting spot -- which had been a combination of him, Erick Fedde and Voth -- before he elected not to play in 2020. Voth could get the nod, or the Nationals could implement a four-man rotation.

Pitchers

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NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL

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also figures to play a prominent role in the bullpen and could wind up as the closer, freeing Hader for a more flexible role. Knebel was an All-Star closer in 2017, but missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Closer: LHP or RHP

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Right-handed starters (Tommy John surgery) and (neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome surgery) are out until 2021. The Pirates have not committed to a full-time DH, suggesting they will rotate players through that spot, and they have not confirmed their rotation. Manager Derek Shelton has said the club could use non-traditional methods to fill out its starting staff, so the Bucs might employ an opener or piggy-back starters -- a strategy that would create a role for returning right-hander Chad Kuhl.

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NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

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