The New York Yankees will only face nine different teams in the 2020 MLB season. With 60 games on the schedule, the Bronx Bombers are set for 40 matchups against the AL East and 20 contests with NL East clubs.

The Boston Red Sox will account for one-sixth of New York’s games. In most years, the Yankees’ chief rival would be considered one of their most difficult opponents.

That might not be the case in 2020. After going 84-78 for a third-place finish in 2019, the Red Sox traded Mookie Betts and David Price to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Boston isn’t considered to be among the top World Series contenders, entering spring training 2.0 with better championship odds than only 10 teams in baseball.

Based on the over/under win totals at Caesars Sportsbook, the Tampa Bay Rays are the best team on the Yankees’ 2020 schedule. Tampa Bay made the 2019 postseason with 96 victories, winning the AL Wild-Card Game and taking the Houston Astros to five games in the ALDS.

Tampa Bay led the majors in team ERA last year. The Rays’ bullpen, the strength of their team, could propel them to one of the league’s best records in a short regular season.

The Yankees went 12-7 against the Rays last year, finishing seven games ahead of them atop the division.

The Atlanta Braves have the best World Series odds of anyone on New York’s schedule. Atlanta has won two consecutive NL East titles.

Ronald Acuna Jr. hit .280/.365/.518 with 41 home runs last year, finishing fifth in the NL MVP voting. Freddie Freeman had a .938 OPS and 38 homers with a 10th-place finish in the MVP race. Ozzie Albies led the Braves in batting average at 22 years old.

The Washington Nationals are arguably still the best teams on the Yankees’ schedule. Washington earned the first NL wild-card berth last season on its way toward winning the World Series.

Max Scherzer, World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg and Juan Soto are all back with the Nationals. Anthony Rendon left Washington for the Los Angeles Angels in free agency.

The New York Post has reported the Yankees and Nationals are set to meet on Opening Day on July 23.

The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets are considered to be playoff contenders in the NL East, which might be MLB’s best division.

Masahiro Tanaka New York Yankees
Pitcher Masahiro Tanaka #19 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game at Yankee Stadium on June 22, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. Rich Schultz/Getty Images
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