With the start of a new season just a few days away, now is the time for everyone to get their opinions and perspectives out on their predictions for the 2021 season. This year, I thought I would throw my hat into the ring with my 2021 season predictions. This will include my thoughts on all 30 teams heading into 2020, accompanied by division standings, playoff teams, and World Series predictions. Keep in mind these are my predictions, so if you have any opinions, comment down below! Now, with all the formalities out of the way, let’s hop right in!
American League East:
New York Yankees (101-61)
Tampa Bay Rays (91-71)
Toronto Blue Jays (85-77)
Boston Red Sox (79-83)
Baltimore Orioles (59-103)
Yankees: The Yankees are one of the best “regular season” teams in MLB, but we’ve yet to see them truly flourish in the playoffs the past few seasons. Their lineup is stacked one through nine, led by Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and the new $90 million man D.J LeMahieu. The question marks start to arise with their pitching staff, however. Ace Gerrit Cole looks to build off his strong first year in the Bronx, but what should be we expect from new additions Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon? With injury concerns throughout their roster, the Yankees look to finally end their playoff demons with 2021 being a “World Series or Bust” season.
Rays: In perhaps the strangest season MLB has seen in a while, it seems poetic that the team breaking the most norms made it to the World Series. Repeating their success from last season will be tough, however, with the losses of staff ace Blake Snell and veteran Charlie Morton from the starting rotation. The Rays will look to depth and innings eaters more-so than ever before, so it’ll be interesting to follow how they hold up over a full season of games. The big X-factors for this Rays ballclub are postseason hero Randy Arozarena and top prospect Wander Franco, who could both be the star hitter this team is needing.
Postseason hero Randy Arozarena, (Image courtesy of WFLA)
Blue Jays: The Buffalo Blue Jays turned some heads at the end of the 2020 season, making a playoff push when they weren’t expected to even be relevant. The young stars in their lineup like Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio remain the biggest strength of the ballclub, and only got better this offseason with the addition of George Springer. Their lack of pitching does raise concerns, with Hyun Jin Ryu being the only known commodity in the Jays’ staff.
Red Sox: Wow, doesn’t 2018 seem forever ago? Jokes aside, the Red Sox look to rebound from an all-around disappointment of a season in 2020. Bolstering a strong lineup headed by Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers, the concerns remain on the pitching side of things. Staff ace Chris Sale isn’t expected to return until after the All-Star Break, so if the pitching holds until then, they’re not dead just yet. The biggest addition was the return of manager Alex Cora, who proved in his first 2 years in Boston that anything is possible with the right guy at the helm.
Orioles: The rebuild continues here in Baltimore, with more top prospects on the way to strut their stuff. First baseman Ryan Mountcastle looks to build on his success at the end of last year, and catcher Adley Rutschman looks to debut sooner rather than later. The development of pitching is still up in the air, with guys like Bruce Zimmermann and Dean Kremer hoping to take advantage of their opportunities. This club still looks to be a few years away from being competitive, if all goes right.
AL Central:
1. Chicago White Sox (93-69)
2. Minnesota Twins (91-71)
3. Cleveland Indians (84-78)
4. Kansas City Royals (77-85)
5. Detroit Tigers (64-98)
White Sox: Similar to Toronto, the White Sox were a bit ahead of schedule in 2020, clinching their first playoff berth since 2008. Led by AL MVP Jose Abreu and their young core, the South Siders are primed for another playoff run in 2021 with the additions of closer Liam Hendriks and starter Lance Lynn. Despite the loss of outfielder Eloy Jimenez for the foreseeable future, the lineup remains strong and the pitching seems to have the highest upside in the division.
The king of the bat flip, Tim Anderson (Image courtesy of FanSided)
Twins: Being the 2-time defending division champion, the Twins have made impressive strides under manager Rocco Baldelli. Despite their regular season successes, they’ve been bounced in the first round of playoffs both in 2019 and 2020. Losses of Eddie Rosario and Jake Odorizzi should have some impact, but shouldn’t deter the Twins and their lethal bats from making their 3rd straight AL playoff appearance.
Indians: Cleveland fans have a tough pill to swallow with star shortstop Francisco Lindor being moved to Queens, but the front office remains optimistic the team can stay competitive. Star players Jose Ramirez and Shane Bieber are likely to carry the load for Cleveland this season, with hopes of their 5th playoff berth in the last 6 seasons. Keep an eye on righthanders Triston McKenzie and James Karinchak, who both look to improve on their rookie season successes.
Royals: GM Dayton Moore had one of the more underrated offseasons in the big leagues, bringing in solid contributors like Carlos Santana, Mike Minor, Wade Davis, and Andrew Benintendi. While the team waits for star prospect Bobby Witt Jr to make his debut, Kansas City looks to stay somewhat competitive in a division that could be theirs for the taking in just a few years.
Tigers: The big move for Detroit this offseason was the hiring of former W.S champion manager A.J Hinch, who looks to put his reputation in Houston behind him. He’ll have a plethora of young players looking to prove themselves this season, including former #1 pick Casey Mize and star shortstop Willi Castro. Detroit’s bullpen remains a huge concern, and without the sure firepower in the lineup as Minnesota or Chicago, they remain in the cellar.
AL West:
1. Houston Astros (92-70)
2. Oakland Athletics (89-73)
3. Los Angeles Angels (84-78)
4. Seattle Mariners (75-87)
5. Texas Rangers (65-97)
Astros: After their playoff run last season, I can say with confidence that the Astros can still be legitimate contenders after their 2017-18 “trash-can” scandal. Losing leadoff hitter and center fielder George Springer will be a huge loss, but with the likely rebounds from stars Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, and Carlos Correa, the offense should be able to carry its own. The pitching Is what really puts Houston over the top, with Zack Greinke, Lance McCullers, and Cristian Javier bolstering a strong starting staff that will hopefully regain Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez sometime this season.
Athletics: The A’s suffered two big losses to their team this offseason, with the departure of closer Liam Hendriks and 2019 MVP finalist Marcus Semien. The front office, led by Billy Beane, remained resourceful, bringing in veterans Elvis Andrus, Mitch Moreland, and Trevor Rosenthal to help pick up the pieces. The A’s will only go as far as their young starting staff, led by lefties Jesus Luzardo and Sean Manaea.
Angels: The Angels were not able to secure the marquee starter that fans so desperately wanted, but made solid additions to the staff with Jose Quintana, Alex Cobb, and Raisel Iglesias. The lineup remains a positive, with Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon heading up a formidable starting nine. If the pitching holds up, the Angels can hopefully bring Mike Trout to only his 2nd playoff appearance.
Angels two-way player Shohei Ohtani (Image courtesy of LA Times)
Mariners: GM extraordinaire Jerry Dipoto’s trades are finally coming along, as many of Dipoto’s key prospect acquisitions were able to make their MLB debuts in the shortened season. Jarred Kelenic looks to join that crew this year, and the Mariners remain hopeful that their playoff drought of over 20 years in ending sooner rather than later.
Rangers: The Rangers remain in limbo after an underwhelming first season at Globe Life Field, and look to find some optimism this upcoming season. The team is full of young players looking for their opportunity to show their worth, but seems like that won’t be enough to keep Texas in playoff consideration. One player to watch is outfielder Joey Gallo, one of the strongest players in today’s game and a potential trade candidate by this year’s Trade Deadline.
NL East:
1. Atlanta Braves (96-66)
2. New York Mets (92-70)
3. Philadelphia Phillies (85-77)
4. Miami Marlins (78-84)
5. Washington Nationals (76-86)
Braves: Only one win shy of making the World Series last season, the Braves come in 2021 with a vengeance. They were able to retain MVP candidate Marcell Ozuna in the offseason, while adding veteran Charlie Morton to a young starting staff. Atlanta’s lineup has some real fire-power, with a young and talented crop of pitchers to help support them. The only concern for me is Atlanta’s lack of a real 9th inning guy, but otherwise, the Braves remain one of the scariest teams in Major League Baseball.
Mets: It only took one offseason for new Mets owner Steve Cohen to bring hope back into the hearts of Queens fans, with a whirlwind of free agency and trade moves capped by star Francisco Lindor. Health for their pitching staff remains concerning, with Seth Lugo and Carlos Carrasco already scheduled to miss the beginning of the season. However, the lineup lead by Lindor and Pete Alonso looks to be one of the best in baseball, and the bullpen looks improved from its status last year
New Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, (Image courtesy of Elite Sports NY)
Phillies: Philadelphia had one of the worst bullpen seasons in baseball history last year, posting an ERA north of 7. The additions of Archie Bradley and Jose Alvarado look to fortify things, but question marks pop up across the rest of the roster. Center field and back end of the rotation remain open competitions, and despite the solid lineup headed up by MVP candidate Bryce Harper, the Phillies seemingly will be on the outside looking in this season.
Marlins: Miami had a season to remember in 2021, dealing with the first team COVID outbreak and making the playoffs for the first time since 2003. However, their success doesn’t seem likely to carry over into the full 162 this season. The roster is full of young players who proved their worth last season, and now with Sixto Sanchez entering the fray, the team looks to have one of the brightest young rotations for years to come.
Nationals: Coming off their title in 2019, Washington has dipped back to mediocrity sooner rather than later. Losing star third baseman Anthony Rendon is tough, but additions Josh Bell and Kyle Schwarber look to add some power to a lineup carried by Trea Turner and Juan Soto last season. The Nats rotation remains a strength, with the trio of Scherzer, Strasburg, and Corbin at the top, but the question still remains if their offense is good enough to keep pace with Atlanta and New York.
NL Central:
1. Milwaukee Brewers (90-72)
2. St. Louis Cardinals (87-75)
3. Cincinnati Reds (77-85)
4. Chicago Cubs (74-88)
5. Pittsburgh Pirates (56-106)
Brewers: Milwaukee has now made the playoffs in 3 straight years under manager Craig Counsell, who may be one of the top managers in today’s game. 2018 MVP Christian Yelich had a rough 2020, but looks to help carry the Brewers lineup to the playoffs once more. Once their biggest concern, the rotation, headed up by the dynamic duo of Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes, seems to be an underrated strength. Along with Josh Hader and Devin Williams at the back-end of the bullpen, the Brewers seem primed for another division crown.
Cardinals: Two offseasons ago, GM John Mozeliak felt his team lacked a dynamic player on offense, and went out to acquire first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. Now, he did it once again with future Hall of Fame third baseman Nolan Arenado. The Cardinals seemingly lack the pitching upside needed to take the division, with question marks all around outside of staff ace Jack Flaherty. In a division with some weaklings at the bottom, St. Louis should remain competitive with Milwaukee until the end.
Newly acquired 3B Nolan Arenado, (Image courtesy of MLB.com)
Reds: The Reds were primed for a big season in 2020, but felt underwhelmed as they barely squeaked into the playoffs and were promptly dominated by the Atlanta Braves in Round 1. The team lost some big pieces in Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer and closer Raisel Iglesias, but still bolster one of the better pitching staffs in the NL. The question remains if their offense, limited to 0 runs in 22 postseason innings last year, can muster up enough run support to stay relevant.
Cubs: Just 5 years ago, the Cubs were being talked about as one of the next dynasties in baseball, coming off their 1st World Series win and having a young core of talented position players. Now, most of those players are gone or on expiring contracts, and some like Javier Baez and Kris Bryant are trying to bounce-back after less than ideal seasons in 2020. The pitching depth isn’t great, so the optimism for the North Siders remains low for me.
Pirates: One of the biggest tank jobs in baseball, the Pirates are looking to find their next corner-stone players in the upcoming years. Ke’Bryan Hayes looks to be one of them, with pieces like Mitch Keller and Bryan Reynolds there to support him. The upside looks low for Pittsburgh, but help should be on the way with all these top 5 draft picks they are gathering.
NL West:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (106-56)
2. San Diego Padres (98-64)
3. San Francisco Giants (79-83)
4. Arizona Diamondbacks (71-91)
5. Colorado Rockies (63-99)
Dodgers: The reigning champs look to explore their limits over a full 162 this season, with their roster only becoming even more strong with Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer coming to L.A. The lineup may be the deepest in baseball, headed up by Mookie Betts and World Series MVP Corey Seager, and the rotation isn’t too shabby either. They are 7 starters deep, and currently will deploy David Price and Tony Gonsolin in relief roles this year.
Padres: The team that I’d happily name, “The Best Watch In Baseball”, the San Diego Padres showed the talent and upside last season that should keep this division interesting past the summer. Stars Fernando Tatis Jr and Manny Machado are joined by newly acquired aces Yu Darvish and Blake Snell, who look to fortify one of the deepest young rosters in the sport. Their bullpen lost Trevor Rosenthal and Kirby Yates, but should remain solid headed up by Emilio Pagan and Drew Pomeranz.
New Padres ace Yu Darvish, (Image courtesy of San Diego Union Tribune)
Giants: The Giants made things close last year, fighting for a playoff spot until the last game when they were expected to be a basement dweller. The lineup is one of the most underrated in the sport, lead up by MVP candidates Brandon Belt and Mike Yastrzemski. The pitching remains the concern, with no real closer and only Kevin Gausman as a known commodity in the rotation. Manager Gabe Kapler boasts one of the best coaching staffs in baseball, and they’ll be fighting for .500 in this top heavy division.
Diamondbacks: Arizona looks to remain competitive after some underwhelming contributions from team MVP Ketel Marte and newly signed Madison Bumgarner last season. With staff ace Zac Gallen set to start the year on the IL, the rotation led by Bumgarner is lacking the depth they need to stay relevant. They have no real weapons in the bullpen, and despite a solid lineup, it’s looking like another long summer in the desert.
Rockies: Colorado went from back to back playoff appearance in 2018 and 2019 to one of the worst ballclubs in the sport pretty quickly. The trade of franchise star Nolan Arenado doesn’t look to help reverse that trend, with shortstop slugger Trevor Story likely out the door soon as well. Their pitching is not enough to fend off the notorious Coors Field, and definitely not enough to hold back the Dodgers and Padres.
Final Playoff Picture:
American League
East: Yankees
Central: White Sox
West: Astros
Wild Card: Rays vs Twins
National League:
NL East: Braves
NL Central: Brewers
NL West: Dodgers
NL Wild Card: Mets vs Padres
My World Series Pick: Dodgers over White Sox in 5 games
Have an opposing viewpoint to this opinion? Let us know. All views are welcomed. Send your thoughts to our Editorial Staff – Editor Anna Proulx aproulx@student.dean.edu or Dean Daily Faculty Advisor, Professor John Rooke jrooke@dean.edu