Top 10 Boldest Predictions for the 2021 MLB Season
Even though the season already started, I think there's still time to make bold and controversial predictions.
The Padres are the most hyped-up team this season. They won the offseason by acquiring aces such as Blake Snell and Yu Darvish, and Fernando Tatis Jr. looks to be the face of the MLB.
With all that said, the Padres have gained the ire of some people due to all this attention. While the Padres are a very exciting team to watch, they are in a tough division, and there's a very good chance a team like the Dodgers can eliminate them in the playoffs.
The Angels have been a pleasant surprise so far. The Angels have some excellent players (Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Anthony Rendon), but a weak supporting cast and poor management have held back the team.
This year seems different, however, as the team is finally clicking and winning most of their games. They are a dark horse to win the division, and this can finally bring Trout into the playoffs.
We all know about the sign-stealing scandal. We do not need any more fighting between Astros fans and the rest of the league. This situation has grown to ridiculous proportions, and I can't even go on social media without it being brought up.
Yes, they cheated during their 2017 championship, but the Astros are still a powerhouse (even after losing Springer and, to an extent, Verlander). We saw what happened last season when they were a game away from the World Series, and with a full season, the Astros can still be a threat in the league.
I'm a Yankees fan. Like, a really big Yankees fan. I love most of the players (popular stalwarts such as Judge and Stanton, but also underrated stars like Luke Voit and Gio Urshela).
This season so far has been disappointing to a lot of Yankees fans, and despite bringing in a few veteran aces like Corey Kluber and Jamison Taillon, the pitching depth has been mediocre, save for Gerrit Cole. Batting has been rather quiet compared to the last few years.
This may be a slow start, but due to the unpredictability of the AL East, you can't guarantee that they will make the postseason.
Already Baddoo has made a statement in the MLB. He hit a home run on his first pitch, hit his first grand slam, and made a walk-off hit in just three games. This impressive and historical feat is awesome to see, and Baddoo is the type of young blood the rebuilding Detroit Tigers need. If he keeps this performance up, Baddoo will be the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year.
For two decades, the Mariners have missed the postseason, and they remain the only team to never make a World Series appearance. Now, the Mariners have young talent such as Kyle Lewis, J.P. Crawford, and Mitch Haniger.
After so many years of being garbage, the M's are only starting to improve over time. As of this moment, they are the AL West leaders. A consistently great performance could help them win the division and, more importantly, make the playoffs.
The Royals are another surprise this season. This team fell on hard times ever since they won the WS back in 2015 and are in rebuilding mode. Most people expect the Chicago White Sox or Minnesota Twins to win the division, but they have been in a bit of a slump.
The Royals and the Cleveland Indians have been the only consistent teams in the division, but the Royals have transformed from a broken mess into a legitimate dark horse.
The Mets are another team that was hyped this year. New owners and new faces to the franchise (Francisco Lindor, anyone?) felt like paradise for Mets fans everywhere. They are poised to win the NL East this year.
However, with all the talent the Mets have, what brings them down is a notoriously unreliable bullpen (which has been a recurring trend for the Boys from Queens). If the bullpen improves over time or the Mets add key players before the trade deadline, then they will take the MLB by storm.
You can make a case for one or two teams winning each division (for example, the Dodgers taking the NL West or the Mets winning the NL East). But with the NL Central, there are many unanswered questions.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are bad but shockingly not the worst team this year (cough cough, Rangers), and the Chicago Cubs are rebuilding. But the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, and even the Milwaukee Brewers have an equal chance of winning the division. They are all teams riddled with talent, but the big question is, will any of these teams actually make a good playoff run? Because last year, all the Central teams were eliminated in the first round!
Ah, the Phillies. A team nobody expected to be this good this year. The last few years they have been a mediocre to decent team.
Yes, they have Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto, but nobody else really had a big impact on the team. But everything's coming together. Didi Gregorius has been a reliable clutch batter (I miss you, Didi!), Alec Bohm has been pretty good, and the pitching has actual depth.
Philadelphia arguably had the hottest start of the season, so if they remain hot and competitive, this team has unlocked new potential farther than anyone could have imagined.
They have one of the best outfields in the game. Starting pitching shouldn't be that bad, and the infield isn't bad either.
The Reds' main issue is their bullpen. Depending on how bad the bullpen is, they will either be a 75-87 team or a 90-72 team.