MLB: 2021 American League Outlook

MLB spring training is right around the corner, and sports bettors are clamoring to get into the action that the MLB season provides. Whether you look to find the best futures lines available or enjoy the daily grind of researching the lines for the best possible value, baseball has plenty of choices and a ton of games to pick from.

The American League has a few clear frontrunners and some teams to watch out for as the season begins. Here’s my 2021 American League outlook for bettors to be aware of and beware of.

1 – Chicago White Sox

The White Sox are starting spring training at +1400 to be your next World Series Champion. The young team has shown continued growth year after year and is poised to make a push.

They faltered at the tail end of 2020 in a shortened season and, after winning their first Wild Card game against Oakland, fell short in the next two games. Thus ending their hopes for the 2020 World Series.

Still, this roster is full of young talent that hasn’t even hit their prime yet. Think of what the Houston Astros were able to do by putting a young team of incredibly talented ballplayers on the field.

Now, subtract the front office antics and the cheating, and you’ll see the current Chicago White Sox. Chicago has all of the pieces in place to be a serious contender.

Luis Robert and Tim Anderson are electric players that have ignited a spark for the White Sox offensively. These two will be a powerful tandem for years to come in Chicago.

If 2020 was Robert’s break-out season, you could expect 2021 to be the year that solidifies him among the elite outfielders in MLB.

The White Sox pitching rotation also surprised a lot of the experts in 2020. Dallas Keuchel was fantastic in Chicago. With Lucas Giolito establishing himself as the Ace, this rotation looked capable of winning a title.

It may very well come down to what teams can stay healthy when trying to pick a team to bet on in 2021. Suppose this White Sox club can avoid injury and illness heading into the playoffs. In that case, those +1400 lines are going to evaporate to a much smaller number.

2 – Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians seemed like they were going to be a tough team to beat heading into 2020. Unfortunately, there was a litany of obstacles that popped up in their way.

The loss of their best pitcher, and the bats never warmed up. The Yankees made light work of the Indians’ stellar pitching staff come playoff time.

The Indians are jumping off as +2200 to be the 2021 World Series winners. However, it’ll take a lot of pieces coming along if that’s to happen.

Their 2020 offensive production was pathetic. This pitching staff will not give up a ton of runs, but their efforts are futile if there’s no run support.

Cleveland’s stud pitching rotation remains mostly intact. So, there are few questions about how that side of the ball will go. Still, if the bats continue to be stagnant, it won’t do much good.

You can’t lose the close games, and I don’t see the Indians putting up enough runs to make a deep playoff push.

3 – Seattle Mariners

Seattle is another young team to watch out for this season. They’re still well behind the White Sox in my mind. Still, offseason conditioning and another year of playing together can make the team improve rapidly.

Seattle is +8000 to be your 2021 champions, but I actually like this number. Seattle is good enough all-around to surprise the league.

Seattle did something very innovative in 2020; they used the short season to get their best young prospects playing time in the show. This brilliant move will pay off for them in 2021, and Seattle is a solid choice to win the West.

Their pitching staff has a wealth of talent; whether it’s enough to win a title remains to be seen.

The AL Rookie of the Year, Kyle Lews, has already established himself as an anchor on the roster, and this kid has only begun to show what he’s capable of with a bat in his hands.

Seattle has spent the off-season re-tooling the bullpen, and with enough help, it could push the Mariners over the top. This young team will be entertaining to watch in 2021.

4 – Texas Rangers

The Rangers have to fall on hard times. The team is currently a longshot of +12500 to be crowned the World Series winners.

You should save your money and avoid this wager. However, there are some bright spots in the line-up, and if you pay attention, there’s value here.

The Rangers have a ton of need on both sides of the game. Starting pitching is a significant need, and although they have Lance Lynn, he’ll likely be dealt with at some point.

Even if the Rangers retain Lynn, there is a gaping hole at the bottom of the rotation. Dealing Lynn may get Texas the pitching prospects they so desperately need.

Pitching is only one hole that the Rangers need to fill. Ronald Guzman seemed to be the answer at first base, but the 26-year-old batted an abysmal .230.

You have to get more offensive production out of your first baseman to be a postseason threat. So, it looks like without a trade involving Lynn, first base will remain a glaring hole.

When all is said and done, the Rangers aren’t any good, and neither are their futures bets. If they catch fire during the season, you may spot some value bets when their all-star takes the mound.

5 – Detroit Tigers

Detroit is slightly better off than the lowly Rangers but still seems to be poised to push for something better than mediocrity.

They currently sit at +6600. While they’ve put up the worst record in baseball over the past two seasons, there are at least signs of life.

This team has several young prospects on their pitching staff that will continue to develop. By signing veterans to 1-year deals, it buys these young players another year of development.

By the All-Star break, Detroit’s season will either be in building for the future mode or making a push to the postseason. It remains to be seen, and it’s unlikely the Tigers even make it to the AL Championship Series.

However, this is baseball, and things can change quickly. At the very least, the Tigers are trending up, and it’s only a few years until Detroit is a legitimate contender.

6 – Minnesota Twins

The Twins are getting some much-deserved respect in Las Vegas. They are currently +1800 to be the world champs in 2021 and +900 to win the AL.

Coming off consecutive division titles, the Twins are looking to take the next step in the playoffs. However, the offense tapered off in 2020.

If the team wants to improve on their successes, they’ll need to get more runs across.

The team took another hit to their bullpen. If they want to contend in 2021, they need to make a couple of moves to replenish it—especially given their weak spot in the back of their starting rotation.

So far, the off-season has been quiet for Minnesota. The team currently isn’t near the best team in the Central.

Without some significant changes made to the pitching staff, the Twins will be vying for one of the wild card spots. Given the talent stacked in their division, it could be a battle for years to come.

7 – Houston Astros

The Astros are a winning ball club, but they need to fill a couple of slots if they want to get back to the


World Series.

They watched their outfield disappear before their very eyes this offseason. The most significant impact is the heart and soul of their club George Springer.

Springer is a top-level talent on offense and defense; his departure to Toronto will be a tough pill to swallow for Astros fans.

Michael Brantley likely won’t be starting the season with the club either. Leaving tremendous gaps in the Astros line-up.

In addition to needing a new OF, the Astros will be looking to fix the bullpen issues. The injury took its toll in 2020, and it led to Houston ultimately falling short.

Still, Manager Dusty Baker still has Bregman, Correa, and Altuve at his disposal. Houston will be a severe threat to catch teams sleeping and may back into the playoffs, but I don’t see them being a contender in 2021.

Conclusion

You’ll see that the MLB landscape is changing. The 2021 American League outlook will provide opportunities for real money sports bettors to locate value where others may not be looking.

Pay attention to late roster additions and the injury situation. These factors will be critical as the season screams towards the postseason.