The day has finally come, opening day of the 2021 baseball season. I am glad because to open the season all teams are allowing fans to some extent. Some teams will allow more than others. There will be some of the same traditional rules, and there will be some different rules.
Rules the Same as Last Year:
There will be 7 inning double headers, and there will be a runner on second base to start every extra inning.
Rules Different From Last Year:
The playoffs will be 10 teams like normal. There will be no universal DH, and there will be a full 162 game season.
My predictions
American League
AL East
New York Yankees
Toronto Blue Jays
Tampa Bay Rays
Boston Red Sox
Baltimore Orioles
AL Central
Minnesota Twins
Chicago White Sox
Cleveland Indians
Kansas City Royals
Detroit Tigers
AL West
Houston Astros
Oakland A’s
Los Angles Angles
Texas Rangers
Seattle Mariners
National League
NL East
Atlanta Braves
New York Mets
Philadelphia Phillies
Washington Nationals
Miami Marlins
NL Central
ST Louis Cardinals
Milwaukee Brewers
Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati Reds
Pittsburg Pirates
NL West
Los Angles Dodgers
San Diego Padres
San Francisco Giants
Arizona Diamondbacks
Colorado Rockies
Playoffs
American League
- Yankees
- Astros
- Twins
Wild Card 1: Blue Jays
Wild Card 2: A’s
Wild Card Round: A’s over Blue Jays
ALDS: Yankees over A’s
ALDS: Twins over Astros
ALCS: Yankees over Twins
National League
- Dodgers
- Braves
- Cardinals
Wild Card 1: Padres
Wild Card 2: Mets
Wild Card Round: Padres over Mets
NLDS: Dodgers over Padres
NLDS: Braves over Cardinals
NLCS: Dodgers over Braves
World Series
Yankees over Dodgers
Awards
AL MVP: Mike Trout
NL MVP: Mookie Betts
AL Cy Young: Gerrit Cole
NL Cy Young: Jacob DeGrom
If you want to hear why I chose some of the teams, drop a comment and I will fill you in.
super sports fan's blog 
Why do you pick the Yankees, aside from being a Yankee fan!?
LikeLiked by 1 person
While the Yankees are my favorite team, I think they will win because they have the starting pitching this year that they haven’t had in the past few seasons.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those Mets. Ah those Mets. I hope 2021 is the beginning of an upward trajectory. I agree it seems logical picking them with the 2nd wildcard and losing to the Padres, it makes sense and yet the masochistic part of me believes the Mets will be quite a bit better than the braves and Padres. Here is my basis: Travis D’Arnoud and Marcell Azuna both had career years stats in 2020 that neither has produced in a regular scheduled long season, their pitching is good but nothing special with Fried, Morton, Brice and Wilson. I just don’t see how the braves will even make a playoff spot. As for the Padres they just added a ton of marquee names and while the Mets weren’t as news worthy they have a pitching staff that is an equal to the padres and I see a very even matchup there. I give the edge to the Mets due to the stability of their roster.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Braves and Mets are both in good positions heading into the season. Both teams have lots of talent. I give the edge to the Braves because the Braves have solid pitching and good all around players. The pitching is led by Max Fried and Charlie Morton. While Morton is getting older he has shown he can still go out and eat up innings. The Braves also have other good players such as, Ronald Acuna Jr., Ozzie Ablies, and Freddie Freeman. I think Ozuna and D’Arnaud will continue to preform well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a small sample but the Braves performed as I expected. Their pitching was good not great. And their batters were pedestrian at best with D’Arnoud coming back down to earth after last season’s aberration. The Phillies looked solid. Overall from a Mets fan’s perspective with the Phillies looking that good things got harder not easier for the Mets.
LikeLike
The Phillies pitchers pitched extremely well in their opening series against the Braves. The Phillies pitchers limited a great Braves lineup to only 3 runs in 3 games. While the Phillies looked good, the Braves pitchers didn’t preform badly. The Braves pitchers gave up a max of 4 runs. The Braves didn’t look like the team they should look like with all the good hitters they have. While the Phillies looked great in there wins over the Braves, I don’t expect them to look that good all season. I think the Phillies will end up just out of a playoff spot. The Mets are a good team, and they play the Phillies 19 times this season. I expect the Mets to come out on top in 11 of the 19 matchups.
LikeLike
I just don’t see where the Braves have that goto guy. That guy in the middle of the lineup that has the ability to lift the team in a regular long season. I see D’Arnout tiring from all the catching and regressing. Who is their star that carries them? The pitching was good just not great. They don’t have a knockout punch in the lineup or among their pitchers. My pick: Mets Phillies Nationals Braves Marlins
LikeLike
The Braves go to guy is Ronald Acuna Jr. Acuna is a great all around player. He plays good defense, he has great speed, and he has tons of power. The Braves pitching is good not great, but they have great hitters that can keep the team in the game when the pitchers are not preforming well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Soooooooo. I want to first give you all the emotional support you need as you mourn the Yankeee’s season already. A moment of silence………… Second those Braves are middling and not getting any better Acuna Jr., abdominal strain will not go away quickly because those injuries are pesky and tend to linger, leading to a dip in the player’s performance when he does return, if he returns before being 100%. Those mets are awesome!
LikeLike
While the Yankees are not playing to the best of their ability, they have only played 15 games and have plenty of time to turn it around. I still think the Yankees will have a great season despite having a slow start. Ronald Acuna Jr. is feeling a lot better and will likely avoid a stint on the injured list. The Mets are looking good, but they have only played 11 games, while most of the teams have played at least 15 games.
LikeLike