It stands to reason that an abbreviated MLB schedule will create much more competitive postseason races in 2020. With less distance over which to run away from the pack, there’s a lot more room for randomness to dictate the proceedings. Even a relatively minor injury to an ace pitcher on a contending team will have a great deal more impact in an 81-game season than it would otherwise.
Spending a month on the IL means missing a quarter of the season, assuming baseball makes it back in June, and a breakout from an unlikely star could propel a middling team into contention.