MLB odds: If Baltimore Orioles play in 2020, it will be without top hitter Trey Mancini

It's still not clear if there will be a 2020 Major League Baseball season due to the coronavirus, although there appears to be growing optimism for a start date in late June or perhaps even on July 4. Assuming there is one, the Baltimore Orioles are projected to be terrible again … and perhaps now even worse that arguably their best hitter, Trey Mancini, says he doesn't expect to play as he recovers from stage 3 colon cancer.

Mancini posted a terrific piece in the first-person Players' Tribune on Tuesday that "if baseball returns in 2020, it will probably be without me." He underwent surgery in March to remove a malignant tumor from his colon and is on a program of chemotherapy every two weeks for six months.

The outfielder added that after his team physical at spring training, doctors informed him his blood tests showed he had low iron levels. He had an endoscopy and colonoscopy March 6 and had surgery March 12 to remove the malignant tumor from his colon. He played only five games this spring after previously dealing with flu-like symptoms.

Last year, Mancini was a breakout star for the Birds as the 27-year-old – who also saw time at first base and designated hitter – hit .291 with 35 homers, 97 RBIs, all career highs and good for a Wins Above Replacement of 3.3 that was second on the team to second baseman Jonathan Villar. The rebuilding Orioles shipped Villar to the Miami Marlins in this offseason.

Baltimore ranked 22nd in MLB in runs last year with 729, and now without Villar and Mancini – and the fact that Chris Davis is still on the roster -- could be the worst offensive team in the majors in 2020. The Birds had the worst pitching staff in MLB last year by far.

When William Hill sportsbook released an Over-Under win total for the Orioles in the spring, it tied for the fewest in the majors at 56.5. Baltimore has only 101 combined games the past two seasons. Needless to say, 2020 win totals won't be re-posted until it's determined how long the regular season will be.