MLB 2021 Season Preview: Teams & Players to Watch This Year
We’re now a handful of games into the 2021 MLB season, and you can already feel a difference as almost all teams have welcomed back some level of fans to games. The crack of the bat, the smell of the hot dogs and peanuts, it’s a sure sign that summer is almost here. So grab your favorite team’s jersey and cap, and enjoy the games from the comfort of your own home, or from the stadium!
Who are the contenders?
Hope springs eternal for all of the diehard fans, but here are the odds as the sportsbooks show them for the top 10 favorites:
Odds to win the 2021 World Series
- Los Angeles Dodgers: 7/2
- New York Yankees: 11/2
- Chicago White Sox: 9/1
- San Diego Padres: 9/1
- Atlanta Braves: 10/1
- New York Mets: 10/1
- Minnesota Twins: 18/1
- Houston Astros: 22/1
- St. Louis Cardinals: 22/1
- Toronto Blue Jays: 22/1
Where to watch?
Now that fans are allowed back in, the best place is of course in the stadium. If you’re not ready to go back, you can watch on your cable provider or through MLB.com’s subscription service. You can also enjoy this season’s games and highlights with a Hulu+ account. The choice is yours!
Divisional Breakdowns?
American League East:
The New York Yankees are the dominant favorite here. Led by Garrett Cole and Aaron Judge, they always attract a lot of attention due to their ability to spend without restriction. This year, they’ll be pressed and chased by the upstart Toronto Blue Jays and their young stars of Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr, as well as defending American League champions, the Tampa Bay Rays and young star Randy Arozarena. Come the fall, the Yankees overall talent on both the pitching and hitting sides will likely prove to be too much to overcome!
American League Central:
The Chicago White Sox are expected to be the favorite here. Led by star starter Lucas Giolito and reigning MVP Jose Abreu, they have seemingly completed their rebuilding years and appear ready to compete for a World Series title. Previous year’s divisional mainstays, the Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins both have fallen a little bit due to offseason losses. Cleveland traded away Francisco Lindor, and the Twins didn’t do much of anything in terms of additions to a playoff team from last year. The AL Central may prove to be a one horse race!
American League West:
The Houston Astros and the Oakland A’s look like they may trade punches all season long. Houston’s pitching is slightly better, and their bats may also be better, but they have a massive hole in the lineup from losing all-star George Springer. Of course, there will be a ton of focus on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as well due to having the two biggest names in baseball with Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. The West is definitely setting up to be one of the more competitive divisions in all baseball!
National League East:
The New York Mets are back led by Jacob DeGrom and new acquisition Frankie Lindor. They will battle the young Atlanta Braves and their stable of stars, Ronald Acuna, Jr, Freddie Freeman, and Ozzie Albies. These two front runners are setting the stage for a great battle for years to come. The Philadelphia Phillies are likely on the outside looking in, but they do have superstar Bryce Harper, so they are “must watch” television!
National League Central:
The St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and Milwaukee Brewers will all be battling to see who survives this division. St. Louis acquired star third baseman Nolan Arenado in the off season to add some pop to their lineup, but the other teams mainly sat idly by. This division is expected to be a war of attrition with no team likely to contend for a World Series title unless they make some moves at the trade deadline.
National League West:
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the defending world champions, and also added top free agent pitcher Trevor Bauer in the off season. They look like a very hard team to beat, but the San Diego Padres went on a spending spree this past winter. They extended Fernando Tatis Jr, a young and upcoming superstar, and have one of the best infields in baseball. They also traded for Cy Young candidates Yu Darvish and Blake Snell. This will be one of the more competitive divisions even if it’s only a two horse race!
Where can I get the latest gear to support my favorite MLB baseball team?
Whether you choose to go back to the stadium or simply watch on your tv or computer, the MLB Shop is the best spot to get the latest and greatest gear to show your fandom!
