Winning formulas:

[IE]

Winning formulas: The sorts of clubs that will benefit most are (1) stable veteran contenders with a deep pitching staff and (2) young, high-variance fringe contenders. In the first group, we have the Dodgers, Yankees and Rays. In group two, there are many more options, but narrow it down to the Padres, Braves and Blue Jays. --

I think teams with very young rosters, such as the Blue Jays, Tigers and Marlins, will benefit in the beginning. Fitness and preparation are going to be an important factor from the get-go. But any team with a solid rotation will thrive, given that hitters will have less time to get their timing at the plate, meaning the Nationals, Dodgers and Rays will have an edge. --

 

[IE]

The one that gets hit with COVID-19 infections and the soft-tissue injuries that are so abundant early in the season. In a 60-game season, a COVID outbreak in a clubhouse could be crushing. The players who test positive will miss at least a week of action -- and all those exposed to them will need to quarantine too. When there are only nine weeks in a season, playing extremely shorthanded for one of them could be crushing. Say a COVID-hit team goes 1-9 over a week and a half. Let's also say a playoff berth requires a .550 winning percentage. That's a 33-27 record, meaning that faltering team would need to play .640 baseball over the remainder of its games to make up for that down stretch. Just watch: The healthiest teams will be the best.