![There likely will be Finest cards coming for the Fall affinity. [Image Source: Flickr | PlayStation.Blog]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2020/10/10/660x290/b_502x220x82/there-likely-will-be-finest-cards-coming-for-the-fall-affinity-image-source-flickr-playstationblog_2527874.jpg "There likely will be Finest cards coming for the Fall affinity. [Image Source: Flickr | PlayStation.Blog]")
To be clear, it hasn’t yet been announced that ‘MLB The Show 20’ will be coming out with Finest cards this year. Nearly everyone is assuming though, that they will be the Stage 4 Fall Affinity reward for each team.
Last year, Finest cards were given to those who excelled during the 2019 regular season. There was a fan vote on who should get them, and it is not clear if it will be the same this year.
If each team gets one Finest card, here is who should be their representative. This is totally subjective. There is sure to be some disagreement (examples are some will likely believe Fernando Tatis Jr. should be the Padres choice, Luke Voit for the Yankees, Kenta Maeda for the Twins, and Devin Williams for the Brewers).
Arizona Diamondbacks - Zac Gallen (SP)
It was a disappointing season for the Diamondbacks, but don’t blame Gallen, who finished sixth in the NL with a 2.75 ERA and 10th with 82 strikeouts.
Wanted to revisit this Zac Gallen tweet after the full season. The LOB% did regress to 83.6%, but Gallen still pitched incredibly well and actually lowered his ERA (2.75) on the season. His 167 ERA+ was good for 8th in baseball. https://t.co/26Lappt3UZ
— Carlos Collazo (@CarlosACollazo) October 2, 2020
Atlanta Braves - Freddie Freeman (1B)
Seen by some as the NL MVP favorite, Freeman led the NL in both runs (51) and doubles (23) while finishing the year with an outstanding 1.102 OPS.
MVFreeman pic.twitter.com/7Gk7Maqh6O
— Cut4 (@Cut4) October 10, 2020
Baltimore Orioles - Jose Iglesias (SS)
As a defensive-first player for much of his career, Iglesias hit .373 with 17 doubles in 2020 (142 ABs).
Mike Elias was asked if he planned on picking up option on Jose Iglesias' contract. Said he won't announce any personnel decisions in a Zoom forum. "But I think his impact on the team has been plain to see this year." #orioles
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) September 26, 2020
Boston Red Sox - Xander Bogaerts (SS)
Bogaerts hit .300 on the year with 11 homers and eight stolen bases, providing a steady bat for an otherwise underwhelming Boston team.
Wishing Xander a very happy 28th birthday! 🎂 pic.twitter.com/OxNSu5vwIt
— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 1, 2020
Chicago Cubs - Yu Darvish (SP)
One of the most unhittable pitchers of 2020, Darvish led the NL with eight wins, finished second with a 2.01 ERA, fourth with a 0.96 WHIP, and tied for fourth with 93 strikeouts.
So which Cubs played well enough for nine weeks to earn All-Star selection if MLB had staged a game? None if you’re talking about the starting lineup, unless you try to make a case for Yu Darvish. But @GDubCub says at least five merited consideration.https://t.co/43VgaOPhkj
— Cubs Talk (@NBCSCubs) October 10, 2020
Chicago White Sox - Jose Abreu (1B)
Appearing in all 60 games for the White Sox, Abreu is an AL MVP contender as he led the league with a .617 slugging percentage, 60 RBIs, and 76 hits.
NEW CT PODCAST W/ @TomWestNBA + @soxmachine_josh
— Chase Thomas (@chase__thomas) October 8, 2020
— AD & LeBron’s huge Game 4 defense
— KCP’s sneaky good playoff run
— Heat just need Dragic
— Doc in Philly
— Knicks want CP3, what?
— #ChangeTheGame in review
— MVP Jose Abreu
— Tim Anderson, he’s goodhttps://t.co/LMgcOLe2m2
Cincinnati Reds - Trevor Bauer (SP)
The likely NL Cy Young, Bauer led the league in both ERA (1.73) and WHIP (0.79) while going at least six innings in 10 of his 11 starts.
🗣️ ICYMI@joonlee previews both #ALCS and #NLCS with @JGoldberg12 & @SNSAlli, look at some of the breakout stars in the 2020 #Postseason, if the Astros have something to prove, which team can land Trevor Bauer and much more!
— Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) October 10, 2020
🎧⤵️https://t.co/BdF6NwDv19
Cleveland Indians - Shane Bieber (SP)
It was an incredible 2020 regular season for Bauer, who led baseball with a 1.63 ERA and 122 strikeouts.
Indians News: Baseball Digest names Shane Bieber best pitcher in Majors#ShaneBieber #ClevelandIndians #Indians #MLB https://t.co/4lh3sYfv4F
— Factory of Sadness (@FanSidedFoS) October 7, 2020
Colorado Rockies - Trevor Story (SS)
Story’s 15 stolen bases led the NL and he had 28 extra-base hits (11 home runs) in 59 games.
Could Nolan Arenado or Trevor Story be on the move for real? Let's rank the Rockies’ most likely trades this winter based on what they could get in return: https://t.co/r3ZYEnba0k
— Nick Groke (@nickgroke) October 8, 2020
Detroit Tigers - Jeimer Candelario (1B)
The 26-year-old Candelario easily put together his best season smashing previous career-bests with a .297 batting average and .872 OPS in 2020.
The Detroit Tigers saw infielder Jeimer Candelario turn some heads in 2020 with a truly impressive performance. (via @tyler_kotila) #Detroit #Tigers #MLBTwitter #MLB #BaseballTwitter #Baseball https://t.co/hFqdTIUyzY
— Detroit Jock City (@DetroitJockCity) October 5, 2020
Houston Astros - George Springer (CF)
While many of Houston’s bats didn’t quite get it going (at least in the regular season), Springer finished tied for seventh in the AL with his 14 homers.
"They are an unbelievable baseball team. A hard team to beat. It's going to be a grind."
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 11, 2020
Astros' George Springer on facing the Rays in the ALCS: pic.twitter.com/5JtcsxvwOe
Kansas City Royals - Salvador Perez (C)
Perez was arguably baseball’s best offensive catcher in 2020 with a stellar .333 batting average and .986 OPS in 37 games.
Most career postseason home runs, active catchers:
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 7, 2020
Gary Sánchez: 7
Travis d'Arnaud: 5**
Yasmani Grandal: 5
Salvador Pérez: 5
** = including 1 today
Los Angeles Angels - Mike Trout (CF)
It was just another ho-hum season for the perennial MVP candidate Trout, who hit 17 homers with a .993 OPS in 53 games.
Curious how many 2-HR games Mike Trout has? Find out with Stathead, the number one sports research tool on the Internet
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) October 9, 2020
Try it for free! https://t.co/onCnmnmSxg
Los Angeles Dodgers - Mookie Betts (RF)
According to Baseball-Reference, Betts led the majors with a 3.4 WAR as he helped guide the Dodgers to the best record in baseball in his first year with the team.
The 2020 NLCS features the two best leadoff hitters in baseball over the past three seasons.@Dodgers manager Dave Roberts discusses Mookie Betts and Ronald Acuña Jr. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/saGS0BCbRt
— FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) October 11, 2020
Miami Marlins - Miguel Rojas (SS)
Much like Iglesias, Rojas was known as a glove-first shortstop, but he hit .304 with an .888 OPS in 2020.
Miguel Rojas in the growth from the young guys who made their debut this season pic.twitter.com/AXz8RD9tJt
— Brendan Tobin (@Brendan_Tobin) October 8, 2020
Milwaukee Brewers - Corbin Burnes (SP)
After an atrocious 2019, Burnes was one of the top starters of 2020, pitching to a 2.11 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with 88 strikeouts in 59.2 innings.
Corbin Burnes, Devin Williams receive Brewers' top individual awards for the 2020 season https://t.co/mAO7WR3Jfd via @journalsentinel
— Lou Saldivar (@LouQ) October 7, 2020
Minnesota Twins - Nelson Cruz (RF)
The ageless wonder (now 40 years old), Cruz connected on 16 homers in 2020, now giving him 417 for his career.
Nine years ago today...Nelson Cruz called game in the 11th inning of Game 2 of the ALCS against the Tigers with the first walk-off grand slam in MLB playoff history. @Rangers | @ncboomstick23 | #Flashback pic.twitter.com/xe6a0rdNBM
— FOX Sports Southwest (@FOXSportsSW) October 10, 2020
New York Mets - Jacob deGrom (SP)
While he probably won’t win his third-straight NL Cy Young, deGrom continued his dominance on the mound leading the NL with 104 strikeouts.
October 9, 2015: Jacob deGrom mows down 13 Dodgers in 7 scoreless innings as the Mets take Game 1 of the NLDS.
— SNY (@SNYtv) October 9, 2020
We look back at his brilliant performance in that series on BNNY. https://t.co/rBUhyvh25Q pic.twitter.com/kQ7wQdmtlw
New York Yankees - DJ LeMahieu (2B)
According to Yahoo, LeMahieu became the first player in MLB history to win a batting title in both leagues after he hit .364 in 2020 (led the NL in batting average in 2016 with the Rockies).
For the love of god resign DJ LeMahieu. Don't you dare let him walk.
— Eric Hubbs (@BarstoolHubbs) October 10, 2020
Oakland Athletics - Chris Bassitt (SP)
Named the AL Pitcher of the Month for September, Bassitt had the third-best ERA in the AL in 2020 at 2.29.
Since this came up in the Fox booth...
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) October 6, 2020
3 pitchers have now been allowed to face a hitter the 4th time through a lineup in this postseason - and not the 3 you'd expect:
Alcantara today
Chris Bassitt in WC game 2
Kyle Hendriks in WC game 1
Philadelphia Phillies - Bryce Harper (RF)
With an NL-leading 49 walks, Harper posted a sensational .420 on-base percentage while also connecting on 13 home runs.
#MLB column: Bryce Harper's support and an $18.9 million qualifying offer won't be enough for J.T. Realmuto to remain with the #Phillies: https://t.co/Eb2L9GcZ9m pic.twitter.com/ZyhPUdCVYi
— Tom Moore (@TomMoorePhilly) October 11, 2020
Pittsburgh Pirates - Ke’Bryan Hayes (3B)
On a terrible 19-41 team, Hayes is an easy choice despite playing only 24 games as he hit .376 with a 1.124 OPS after making his big league debut in September.
#Pirates' Ke'Bryan Hayes#Mariners' Evan White#Astros' Cristian Javier#Brewers' Devin Williams@GoldenSombrero discusses this season’s top rookie Statcast performers: https://t.co/JXvCTiru14 pic.twitter.com/8B1OWrLXHE
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) October 9, 2020
San Diego Padres - Manny Machado (3B)
After a disappointing first season with San Diego in 2019, Machado had career-bests across the board in batting average (.304), on-base percentage (.370), and slugging percentage (.580) this season.
Spring training can’t get here soon enough for the Padres, who rode the swagger and talent of budding superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado to their first winning season since 2010.
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) October 10, 2020
by @berniewilson
https://t.co/TVpiLl34tO
San Francisco Giants - Mike Yastrzemski (RF)
Yastrzemski showed marked improvement from a very solid 2019 rookie season as he had 28 extra-base hits in 54 games.
Mike Yastrzemski led the majors in WPA and Mookie Betts led it in WAR. Freddie Freeman finished second in both while Jose Abreu is the only AL player to appear in both top 10s pic.twitter.com/WG15d9PpTT
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) September 28, 2020
Seattle Mariners - Kyle Lewis (CF)
The potential AL Rookie of the Year, Lewis slugged 11 homers and possessed a .364 on-base percentage in 2020.
Kyle Lewis isn't injury guy or comeback guy or forgotten guy anymore.
— 710 ESPN Seattle (@710ESPNSeattle) October 8, 2020
He was THE guy for the #Mariners in 2020, and despite late-season struggles, he's still on an upward trajectory.
Story by Mariners insider @shannondrayer.https://t.co/HQ4EOEKqke
St. Louis Cardinals - Paul Goldschmidt (1B)
Goldschmidt rebounded after an off 2019 (by his standards) hitting .304 and nearly walking (37 times) as many times as he struck out (43 times).
A year ago today Paul Goldschmidt almost hit @CharlieMarlow_ and @Frank_Cusumano in the head with a home run in Atlanta in the NLDS and I came away with a pretty neat story and desk ornament pic.twitter.com/phGYYJBcKJ
— Corey Miller (@corey_miller5) October 3, 2020
Tampa Bay Rays - Brandon Lowe (2B)
An All-Star as a rookie in 2019, Lowe was eighth in the AL in OPS with a .916 mark in 2020.
Sorry, no matter how many celebrations the #Rays may have the rest of the way, Brandon Lowe says he's not about to jump into the dance-off competition with Randy Arozarena and Brett Phillips: "I don’t need to get embarrassed by that much. I've seen those two dance.''
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 11, 2020
Texas Rangers - Lance Lynn (SP)
Really the only bright spot on a 22-38 Rangers team, Lynn led the majors with 84 innings pitched and was seventh in the AL with a 1.06 WHIP.
Lance Lynn would help the #Mets upgrade their biggest need: the starting rotation #LGM #LFGM https://t.co/9eDiYIpaUQ
— Rising Apple (@RisingAppleBlog) October 10, 2020
Toronto Blue Jays - Teoscar Hernandez (RF)
Hernandez hit a home run once every 11.9 at bats in 2020 which was the fourth-best mark in the AL.
💵 Extend Teoscar Hernandez
— The Athletic Toronto (@TheAthleticTO) October 2, 2020
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Washington Nationals - Juan Soto (LF)
Don’t blame Soto for the Nationals’ struggles in 2020 after winning the World Series the previous year as he led the NL in batting average (.351), on-base percentage (.490), and slugging percentage (.695).
Posting a review of the 2020 season for the Nationals tonight, but the main takeaway was that Juan Soto and Trea Turner were phenomenal. Everyone else was not.
— Christopher Crawford (@Crawford_MILB) October 12, 2020
