Happy Opening Day everyone! I don’t know about you, but I’m so happy that Major League Baseball is back. Especially after only the partial season we had last year. I’m excited for the full 162 this season and ready to see how things play out. Like usual, I wanted to put together a prediction article with my predictions for the upcoming season, along with fellow Sports Chief member Yacs’ predictions. Here’s what we’re thinking:

AL East

Garett

Toronto Blue Jays

New York Yankees

Tampa Bay Rays

Boston Red Sox

Baltimore Orioles

Yacs

New York Yankees

Toronto Blue Jays

Tampa Bay Rays

Boston Red Sox

Baltimore Orioles

AustYn

Yankees

Blue Jays

Red Sox

Rays

Orioles

We know the Blue Jays have the talent. The question is, however, if they are quite ready to win the division. They are loaded with some of the game’s best young talent and they added a very nice bat in George Springer this year. Their offense will certainly be fun to watch and if their pitching is good enough, then I think this is their year. The Yankees are still very good as well, and the Rays will miss some pitching they relied on last year. The Red Sox and Orioles just aren’t there yet.

AL Central

Garett

Minnesota Twins

Chicago White Sox

Cleveland Indians

Detroit Tigers

Kansas City Royals

Yacs

Chicago White Sox

Cleveland Indians

Minnesota Twins

Kansas City Royals

Detroit Tigers

AustYn

Indians

White Sox

Twins

Royals

Tigers

This will be an interesting division to watch all year long. The Twins can swing it with the best of them, which is why I think they will win the Central again. The White Sox are young and dangerous, but missing Eloy is certainly a huge loss. And the Indians can win the division on pitching alone. All three of those teams have the capability to win the Central, but because of a lineup that is filled with run producers, the Twins are my pick. The Tigers and the Royals are clearly a few steps behind as they rebuild.

AL West

Garett

Oakland A’s

Los Angeles Angels

Texas Rangers

Houston Astros

Seattle Mariners

Yacs

Houston Astros

Los Angeles Angels

Oakland A’s

Seattle Mariners

Texas Rangers

AustYn

Astros

A’s

Angels

Rangers

Mariners

The Oakland A’s are the silent killers. Every year they are really good, but they just can’t get any respect. Well, I’m respecting them by picking them to win the division. They simply know how to get the job done. They aren’t flashy, but they don’t need to be. They just win. Now here’s where it gets interesting. I love the fact the Angels added Anthony Rendon to their lineup. Giving some lineup protection to the game’s best player in Mike Trout is just what they needed and I think it will give them a huge boost. I just wish they had the pitching to send Mike Trout to a deep playoff run. Still, I think they’ll surprise folks this year. The Rangers have some exciting players that I think will jump onto the scene this year and surprise folks as well. And the Astros’ time is OVER! No Verlander, no Springer, and while their lineup can and still will produce, it won’t be nearly as consistently as they will start to slip off this year and get edged out by the other Texas team in the standings. And then you have the Mariners…

NL East

Garett

Atlanta Braves

Washington Nationals

Miami Marlins

New York Mets

Philadelphia Phillies

Yacs

Atlanta Braves

Washington Nationals

Philadelphia Phillies

Miami Marlins

New York Mets

AustYn

Braves

Nationals

Mets

Phillies

Marlins

This will be the most fun division to watch all year long. Any one of these five teams can take the pennant and no one would be surprised. The Marlins shocked a lot of people last year with their ascent to a wildcard spot, so they shouldn’t be overlooked. But to me, it’s the Braves’ division to lose. They have proved in recent years that they are the team to beat, and until they get beat, this is their division. The Nationals are talented and have pitching. The Mets and Phillies are good, very good, but someone has to finish at the bottom. The Mets are loaded, but they are still the Mets and unlucky things seem to happen to them. And the Phillies seem to get a lot of attention every year, just to disappoint. So, until they prove they won’t disappoint, they are my pick to finish in the NL East basement.

NL Central

Garett

St. Louis Cardinals

Chicago Cubs

Cincinnati Reds

Milwaukee Brewers

Pittsburgh Pirates

Yacs

St. Louis Cardinals

Cincinnati Reds

Milwaukee Brewers

Chicago Cubs

Pittsburgh Pirates

AustYn

Cubs

Brewers

Cardinals

Reds

Pirates

This division was like the NL East in recent years, where every team had the capability to win it. But that’s not the case this year. There are only two serious contenders in my opinion, the Cardinals and the Cubs. And to be honest, I think the Cardinals will win by 7+ games. The Arenado addition is absolutely huge. Him and Goldschmidt in the middle of that order is dangerous. And you know the Cards can always pitch. The Cubs are going to be good, especially under David Ross who enters his 2nd year at the helm. But they just don’t have enough fire power to win it this year. Then it falls off from here. The Reds losing their frontline man Trevor Bauer will hurt tremendously. The Brewers don’t excite anymore. And the Pirates will be bad, very bad.

NL West

Garett

Los Angeles Dodgers

San Diego Padres

Arizona Diamondbacks

San Francisco Giants

Colorado Rockies

Yacs

Los Angeles Dodgers

San Diego Padres

Colorado Rockies

San Francisco Giants

Arizona Diamondbacks

AustYn

Dodgers

Padres

Diamondbacks

Rockies

Giants

The NL West will be a two team race. And it should be a very fun race. But the Dodgers are the team to beat. Sure, the Padres are young, talented, and quickly up and coming, but until they prove they can take down the loaded Dodgers, it is their division to lose. Both teams are stacked and I can’t wait to watch them battle each other all year long. The rest of the division don’t bring much to the table and they can finish in pretty much any order. The Rockies are trending downwards, especially after losing Arenado and it wouldn’t surprise me if they lose Story before the trade deadline. The Diamondbacks and Giants both have some pieces, but they are still far away from seriously competing in the top-heavy division.

AL Wildcard Game

Garett

Chicago White Sox over Los Angeles Angels

Yacs

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Cleveland Indians

AustYn

A’s over Blue Jays

NL Wildcard Game

Garett

Washington Nationals over San Diego Padres

Yacs

Washington Nationals vs. San Diego Padres

AustYn

Padres over Nationals

World Series

Garett

Atlanta Braves over Toronto Blue Jays

Yacs

Los Angeles Dodgers over Chicago White Sox

AustYn

Yankees in 6 over Braves

American League MVP

Garett

Mike Trout

Yacs

Alex Bregman

AustYn

Gleyber Torres

National League MVP

Garett

Ronald Acuna

Yacs

Mookie Betts

AustYn

Juan Soto

American League Cy Young

Garett

Lucas Giolito

Yacs

Gerrit Cole

AustYn

Shane Bieber

National League Cy Young

Garett

Walker Buehler

Yacs

Max Scherzer

AustYn

Corbin Burnes

American League Rookie of the Year

Garett

Bobby Dalbec

Yacs

Nick Madrigal

AustYn

Casey Mize

National League Rookie of the Year

Garett

Ian Anderson

Yacs

Dylan Carlson

AustYn

Christian Pache

Let us know what you think in the comments about our picks and who you would pick. Now let’s enjoy a full season of baseball!

Garett

2021 MLB Season Predictions