2021 Pre-Season Profile: Washington Nationals

 #12

The Washington Nationals followed up their World Series championship run in 2019 with a disappointing season in 2020.  Will a return to 162 games lead to success again for the Nats?

2020 Predictions

#16 - 4th in NL East

MIH - Juan Soto

MIP - Patrick Corbin

PTW - Carter Kieboom

2020 Results

#20 - 26-34, 4th in NL East

In 2019, the Nationals got off to a slow start before finishing strong, making the playoffs, and winning the World Series.  In 2020, the Nationals got off to a slow start and just about when they had gotten hot the year before, the shortened season ended with the team in 4th place.  Teams often have a down year after a championship run, but I am really curious what would have happened if they had a full season.

Additions / Subtractions

The Nationals treated this offseason like a team that is not far away from returning to a deep postseason run.  They upgraded first base by trading for Josh Bell from the Pirates.  They rounded out an already strong rotation with veteran arm Jon Lester.  They filled a hole in the outfield by signing slugger Kyle Schwarber.  They strengthened the back end of their bullpen by signing lefty Brad Hand.  They also got Ryan Zimmerman back after he opted out in 2020.  Every move made seemed to be an upgrade over the player that occupied that spot last season, whether it be Adam Eaton, Anibal Sanchez, or Howie Kendrick.

Most Important Hitter

Josh Bell

The Nationals boast one of the best leadoff hitters in the league in Trea Turner and one of, if not the, best hitter in baseball in Juan Soto.  These two just seem to be getting better and better too.  It seemed that the goal of the offseason seemed to be protection in the lineup for these two.  With young players like Carter Kieboom, Luis Garcia, and Victor Robles filling out a third of the lineup every day as players still trying to find their stride at the plate in the big leagues, they needed some veteran bats.  Enter Josh Bell and Kyle Schwarber.  Both are in similar places in their career.  Both have shown flashes of brilliance, and both have shown great struggles.  I went with Bell in this spot because he has hit higher heights, and the Nats invested more in Bell.  A switch-hitting slugging first baseman, Josh Bell made the All Star Team in 2019 during a season he hit 37 home runs and had a 142 OPS+.  In 2020, Bell was under a 100 OPS+ for the first time in his career while anchoring the worst lineup in the league.  Now he is expected to give that much needed protection to Turner and Soto while also hitting in a much deeper lineup.  If he bounces back to 2019 form, this could be a scary lineup.

Most Important Pitcher

Daniel Hudson

The Nationals still have one of the most talented starting rotations in the big leagues.  When you bring in Jon Lester to be your 4th starter behind Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Patrick Corbin, you know you have a strong rotation.  The Achilles heel for the Nats in this latest run has always been the bullpen.  In the 2019 postseason, they pitched their starters more than any other team to avoid having to use the bullpen as much as possible.  Now they are a little more established in the back end with Will Harris and Brand Hand.  The question is can Daniel Hudson be a reliable closer.  If he can, this bullpen should be good.  If he can't, Hand will probably take over the role, shortening the depth of the bullpen they built.

Prospect to Watch

Tim Cate

The Nationals were just ranked the worst farm system in baseball by MLB.com, boasting only one Top 100 prospect, and that is their most recent first round pick (and he is only coming in at #99).  Most of their system is nowhere near the big leagues.  The player most likely to have an impact on the big league roster in 2021 is pitcher Tim Cate.  This lefty is the 9th ranked player in the Nationals' system, and although he doesn't boast the plus velocity like many stud pitching prospects these days, he has the makeup of a guy that can be a back-end rotation option or a swing reliever able to pitch multiple innings.  A skill set like that can be helpful down the stretch of a pennant chase.

2021 Prediction

3rd in NL East

The Nationals are going to be back in the conversation in 2021.  They should be competitive again through a long season that did not involve a deep playoff run the year before.  Their young bats should take a step forward.  Their new additions should add some depth and pop to their lineup.  I really like the look of what the Nationals are bringing this season.  The problem is their division.  As I have said with the previous two entries from the NL East, this is one of the deepest and most competitive divisions in MLB history.  I see a scenario where the Nats win the division.  I also see a scenario where they finish in last.  And I could say the same for every team in the division.  The amount of talent the Nationals have, this feels about right.  They will be in the race in the last week of the season, but ultimately come up just short.

Fearless Prediction

Max Scherzer and Ryan Zimmerman will play their last games in a Nationals uniform in 2021.

2021 will probably see the end of an era in DC.  Max Scherzer is entering the last year of his 7 year contract he signed in 2015, and although it was a huge megadeal (that will still be paying Max for 7 more years thanks to deferred money) it might go down as one of the greatest contracts in baseball history.  He might move on after the 2021 season, but he will be remembered fondly in the nation's capital.  So will Ryan Zimmerman, who has been a part of the organization ever since they moved from Montreal.  His career is in its twilight, but he has been the face of the franchise for a very long time.  If this is his last year in Washington, it is because he will retire.  I doubt he will ever put on another uniform.

2021 Pre-Season Profile: Houston Astros

 #13

The Houston Astros struggled in the 2020 regular season, barely making the playoffs, but once they were in they were a game away from making the World Series.  What will come next for one of the most successful teams of the last 5 years?

2020 Predictions

#6 - 1st in AL West, lose in ALDS

MIH - Carlos Correa

MIP - Lance McCullers Jr.

PTW - Forrest Whitley

2020 Results

#16 - 29-31, 2nd in AL West, lost in ALCS

If any team benefited from the COVID layoff and no fans in 2020, it was the Houston Astros.  Coming off a huge scandal with sign stealing, by the time the season start in 2020, the narrative had changed and there were no fans to heckle them.  With all that said, the Astros struggled in the regular season, finishing below .500 and only making the playoffs because of the special 2020 rule that all second place finishers make the playoffs.  Their postseason run did show they know what to do when they get there though, losing in Game 7 of the ALCS to the Rays.  So was 2020 a successful season?  Yes and no.

Additions / Subtractions

Everyone knew the core of this Astros team wouldn't be able to stay together forever.  At some point, when all these young players are ready to get paid, some were going to move on.  For the first time, this happened this offseason as George Springer, the team's best player in 2020, signed in free agency with the Toronto Blue Jays.  Outfielder Josh Reddick also is no longer on the roster.  Both spots the Astros chose to replace internally.  In terms of pitching, they brought in Jake Odorizzi late in the process to help compensate for some injuries suffered during Spring Training.  For a team that was loading up talent only a few years ago, the Astros seemed to have reached a point where they are just trying to maintain as much as possible.

Most Important Hitter

Jose Altuve

Many players in the Astros' lineup had lackluster shortened seasons in 2020, but no one struggled quite like Jose Altuve.  The former league MVP has earned the reputation as one of the best hitters in baseball, but 2020 led to a .219 average and a 71 OPS+, both career lows.  Could he have bounced back if given a full 162?  Maybe.  Could his production have dropped due to the sign stealing scandal?  Maybe.  He needs to bounce back in 2021, not only to show everyone his reputation was earned and not stolen, but also because the Astros need the bat to set the table at the top of their lineup.  Losing leadoff hitter George Springer leaves a huge hole in the Astros' lineup.  If Altuve gets back to doing Altuve things, it will go a long way to replacing that production.

Most Important Pitcher

Cristian Javier

The Astros had some pretty big seasons out of some unheralded young pitchers in their rotation, especially after ace Justin Verlander went down after Opening Day.  Between Jose Urquidy, Framber Valdez, and Cristian Javier, the Astros were able to round out a solid rotation alongside Zack Greinke and Lance McCullers Jr.  This was shown particularly in the playoffs.  Now, the Astros are counting on them to repeat that production in 2021.  Framber Valdez broke a finger in his first Spring start and might miss the season.  This makes Cristian Javier that much more important.  Entering his age 24 season and coming off a 3rd place finish in the Rookie of the Year voting, Javier will be counted on to have another strong season and become one of the aces of this staff.

Prospect to Watch

Pedro Leon

The Astros built this roster from the ground up.  When you do that as successfully as the Astros have done, you are going to go from a top farm system to a bad farm system.  That's what has happened here.  The Astros only have one Top 100 prospect in Forrest Whitley, who probably should have made his debut by now if it weren't for some injuries and suspensions.  Now he is down with Tommy John and will delay his debut even longer.  So let's talk about someone else that might actually play in 2021.  Pedro Leon is a Cuban defector that signed with the Astros just days before George Springer signed with the Blue Jays.  Now, the Astros are looking at this outfielder as Springer's possible replacement in centerfield.  If Miles Straw struggles in center, look for the 22 year old Leon to be given a shot sooner rather than later, even though he will only be playing his first season in the states.

2021 Prediction

2nd in AL West

There are so many question marks surrounding this team in 2021.  Can the lineup be productive without George Springer?  How much does Zack Greinke have left in the tank?  Can the kids in the rotation repeat their strong 2020 seasons?  Will Yordan Alvarez's knee hold up this season?  Will the Astros make a decision about Carlos Correa during his contract year?  And most importantly, how will the roster react to actually having to deal with fans for the first time since they were punished for the sign stealing scandal?  How will they react to watching their World Series winning manager walk into Houston wearing a Detroit Tigers jersey?  Could the Astros make the playoffs this year?  Absolutely.  Could they win the division?  Sure.  Could they finish in 3rd or 4th place in the division?  Not impossible.  There are just too many questions to predict them to do too much.  All I have to say is the rest of the league is hoping they stay out of the postseason.  No matter how their season goes, last season showed they are always dangerous in the playoffs.

Fearless Prediction

One of the Astros three core players left is playing their last season as an Astro.

Carlos Correa is entering his contract year and will be looking for a big pay day.  Jose Altuve is getting paid top dollar but is coming off a bad season.  Alex Bregman also struggled in 2020, but already has a sizable contract.  The Astros want to re-sign Correa, but will it cost them one of the other stars on their team?  I think either Correa goes elsewhere or they find a way to move on from one of their other stars.  This season has the potential to show the Astros they need to start to deepen their talent pool and roster instead of invest in the few left from their World Series core.  So many teams have copied the Astros' blueprint of success over the last several years.  Now they are going to be the trend setters on how maintain once everyone needs to be paid.  Or is it worth maintaining?  Either way, it will be fascinating to see what they do.

2021 Pre-Season Profile: Philadelphia Phillies

 #14

The Philadelphia Phillies extended their playoff drought in 2020 despite having a talented roster built to win now.  Will 2021 finally see them break through to the postseason and fulfill the promise of their talent?

2020 Predictions

#4 - 1st in NL East, lose in NLCS

MIH - Andrew McCutchen

MIP - Zack Wheeler

PTW - Alec Bohm

2020 Results

#18 - 28-32, 3rd in NL East

Every year, I think it's time for the Phillies to break out and make a deep run in the playoffs, and every year they disappoint me.  They keep adding elite pieces, and last year it was the addition of manager Joe Girardi.  There didn't seem to be much difference on the field though.  My highlighted players even had great years.  Andrew McCutchen played well.  Not great, but good.  Zack Wheeler was their best player.  Alec Bohm emerged as their everyday third baseman and a future star.  With all that said, they still feel well short.

Additions / Subtractions

The Phillies for the most part made news this offseason in their desire to change as little as possible.  They re-signed star free agents J.T. Realmuto and Didi Gregorius.  They brought in veteran starters Matt Moore and Chase Anderson to replace departing Jake Arrieta.  The one upgrade they made was closer Archie Bradley being brought in.  Other than that, their roster is exactly the same as 2020.

Most Important Hitter

Bryce Harper

Bryce Harper is entering year 3 of his 13 year megadeal he signed with the Phillies.  This deal is paying him like one of the top 5-10 best players in the league.  The problem with that is his production on the field has yet to reach the promise of his paycheck.  In the 5 seasons since his MVP in 2015 where he nearly posted a 10 WAR season, he has only posted two 4 WAR seasons (the rest are under 2), received MVP votes in only one season, and has simply not been able to match his reputation.  The way the Phillies get over the hump and become an elite team in the league is if Bryce Harper gets back to being an elite player.  If Harper is just good, they Phillies will be just good.

Most Important Pitcher

Archie Bradley

The bullpen has been one of the areas that has ruined many a recent Phillies' season.  Their starting pitching has been solid, led by Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola.  They just can't hold a lead.  Archie Bradley is the latest arm to be brought in to try and stabilize the end of games for the Phillies.  He has been a solid reliever everywhere he has pitched.  If he is able to continue to show the consistency he has displayed throughout his career, he might finally be the answer for the Phillies' bullpen.

Prospect to Watch

Mickey Moniak

The Phillies have a lackluster farm system, only boasting two Top 100 prospects.  Although one of those prospects (starting pitcher Spencer Howard) should have a big league impact in 2021, the most fascinating prospect to watch is Mickey Moniak.  Although only the 12th ranked prospect in the Phillies' system, what makes him intriguing is the fact that he was the #1 overall pick in the 2016 Draft.  Drafted straight out of high school, this outfielder has struggled to develop in the minors.  In 2020, he finally made his big league debut, appearing in 8 games.  Now he is competing for a roster spot and a possible starting job in centerfield.  He is still only 22 years old.  There is still the talent of a #1 overall pick in there.  If he gets his shot, it will be fascinating to watch if he shows more of that promise than he has been able to display at other levels of the organization.

2021 Prediction

4th in NL East

I have predicted the Phillies to win this division the last two seasons.  Their talent is good enough to be a playoff team.  The problem is they are playing in what might be the toughest division in league history.  Will I be surprised if they make the playoffs?  No.  However, I am done predicting it until I see it.

Fearless Prediction

Joe Girardi will be fired after the season.

The Phillies have built a roster to win now.  They brought in a manager in Joe Girardi before last season to put them over the hump and get them to the playoffs.  These windows for teams to win are not open very long.  If it doesn't work this season, the Phillies may be looking for something drastic to change.  Too many players are getting paid too much for too long, and even though Joe Girardi is one of the most respected men in all of baseball, he might be the one to change.

2021 Pre-Season Profile: Milwaukee Brewers

 #15

The Milwaukee Brewers did not have a stellar run in the shortened 2020 season, making the playoffs despite a 4th place finish in the division.  Now they are looking at bouncing back and returning to the top of the division in 2021.  Do they have the roster to make it there?

2020 Predictions

#12 - 3rd in NL Central

MIH - Keston Hiura

MIP - Brandon Woodruff

PTW - Drew Rasmussen

2020 Results

#15 - 29-31, 4th in NL Central, lost in Wild Card Round

In 2020, the Brewers finished outside the top two of the division for the first time since 2016.  Only thanks to the expanded playoffs did they make it into the tournament, losing right away to the eventual champion Dodgers.  The majority of their lineup underwhelmed, which has always been the strength of the team.  The bullpen continued to be a strength, with Devin Williams winning Rookie of the Year, only giving up one run all season.  With all that said, 2020 is not to be seen as a successful season for Milwaukee after seeing the heights they can reach the past few seasons.

Additions / Subtractions

The Brewers always approach roster construction differently than any other team.  If you ask an average analyst, they would say the Brewers need more pitching.  Instead, they just add to their lineup depth.  After opting out in 2020, centerfielder Lorenzo Cain is back, and he will be moving around some with the signing of Jackie Bradley Jr.  On the infield, the Brewers signed second baseman Kolten Wong, moving Keston Hiura to first base.  So instead of addressing potential needs, they overload at positions of strength.  The only real subtraction is all-time Brewer Ryan Braun, who looking more and more like he will be calling it a career.

Most Important Hitter

Christian Yelich

The Brewers' lineup begins and ends with Christian Yelich.  After an MVP season in 2018 and an MVP runner up season in 2019, Yelich barely had a batting average over .200.  He did have enough production to post an OPS+ over 100 (111), but that was the lowest OPS+ of his career.  If Yelich is back to MVP-caliber production, the rest of the lineup works and becomes more productive.  If Yelich stays at his 2020 production, the Brewers will be looking for everyone else to step up and make up for lost production from their best player.

Most Important Pitcher

Josh Hader

More than any other team in baseball, the Brewers refuse to focus on their starting rotation.  They have some quality starters, with Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes coming off strong 2020 seasons.  However, the pitching staff of the Brewers is all about the bullpen, and the anchor of that bullpen is still Josh Hader.  Even with the emergence of Devin Williams last season, Hader is the guy.  As with a lot of elite bullpen arms (especially ones that burst on the scene at a young age), production has a potential to slightly fade as the velocity starts to slow down.  From 2017-2019, Hader was literally unhittable as he earned the reputation as the most electric bullpen arm in all of baseball.  With that said, his ERA has slowly been rising each season, reaching a career high 3.79 in 2020.  If the Brewers' bullpen is going to remain elite and the anchor of the pitching staff, Hader needs to reverse this trend and get back to the freak of years past.  If he struggles, he won't even be the closer for very long.

Prospect to Watch

Mario Feliciano

The Brewers have a pretty lackluster farm system, only boasting two Top 100 Prospects and neither are close to the big leagues.  Unless a random arm is going to come up and contribute out of the bullpen, Mario Feliciano might have the best chance of having an impact in 2021.  This 22 year-old catcher is a plus hitter and a solid defender.  The Brewers do have a decent crop of Major League catchers, but you can never have enough catchers, and Feliciano appears to be a future option at the position sooner rather than later.

2021 Prediction

2nd in NL Central

As I have said before, this division is wide open among the top four teams.  This could lead to them beating up on each other, which is why I only predict one team will make the playoffs from the NL Central.  It always confuses me how the Brewers have such great success every year, but I think they will show the sluggish season in 2020 was a sign of things to come.  That result might be different if the NL had a DH in 2021, as no NL roster seems more set up for that than the Brewers.  I mean, how do you carry Daniel Vogelbach on your roster if there is no DH???

Fearless Prediction

The Brewers will have no offensive players make the All Star Team.

This is mainly a statement on what kind of season I think Christian Yelich is going to have.  Is he as bad as he was in 2020?  No.  Is he going to get back to MVP level?  I don't think so.  I see him struggling out of the gate again, and although he might turn things around by the end of the season, I think he misses the All Star Game, leading to no offensive players being good enough to make the Mid-Summer Classic.  The pitching on the other hand has the potential to be well represented.

2021 Pre-Season Profile: Los Angeles Angels

 #16

Starting with the Cleveland Indians at #17, we have officially entered the next tier of teams entering the 2021 season.  Teams 11-17 are teams that will be serious contenders for playoff spots, and it wouldn't surprise anyone to see them be a part of the postseason.  For the Los Angeles Angels, they continue to build a stellar lineup around the greatest player of this generation.  The only question is do they have enough pitching to get over the hump.

2020 Predictions

#13 - 3rd in AL West

MIH - Anthony Rendon

MIP - Shohei Ohtani

PTW - Jo Adell

2020 Results

#22 - 26-34, 4th in AL West

The Angels continue to be one of the more interesting teams every season.  Mike Trout is the best baseball player on the planet, but they can't seem to get him to the playoffs.  Even after bringing in Anthony Rendon, who was their most productive player in 2020, and new manager Joe Maddon, the Angels still squandered another season of Trout's prime.

Additions / Subtractions

The biggest hole for the Angels always tends to be their pitching, and although they didn't address it with star power, they did add a lot of depth.  To the rotation, they added Jose Quintana and Alex Cobb.  They also traded for Reds' closer Raisel Iglesias.  the biggest addition to the pitching staff might be the fact that Shohei Ohtani's arm is healthy enough to pitch again.  As for the offense, they replaced slick-fielding Andrelton Simmons with slick-fielding Jose Iglesias at shortstop.  They also brought in Dexter Fowler to solidify right field so they can show some patience with young phenom Jo Adell.

Most Important Hitter

Jose Iglesias

The lineup never seems to be lacking for production.  With that said, the Angels tend to have a lot of boppers and not a ton of table setters.  Jose Iglesias has a similar reputation to departing Andrelton Simmons for defensive prowess, but Iglesias's bat made a huge jump in 2020, hitting a career high 160 OPS+.  If that production continues, he is the leadoff hitter needed, along with second baseman David Fletcher, to get on base in front of Trout, Rendon, Pujols, and Upton.

Most Important Pitcher

Griffin Canning

The Angels lack the star ace at the top of their rotation.  Most of their rotation are veterans looking for a bounce back.  The one young arm in the group is Griffin Canning.  Playing his first full season in 2020 (if you can call that a full season), he has shown some serious promise of developing into a stud starter.  If he can take some huge strides forward and become the ace of this staff, he might solve all the Angels' pitching problems.

Prospect to Watch

Brandon Marsh

The Angels seem to have an average farm system, boasting only two players in MLB's Top 100 Prospects.  They don't seem to have a lot of talent that is ready to help at the big league level right now, especially with Jo Adell graduating from the list last season.  Their closest to the big leagues is their top prospect, outfielder Brandon Marsh.  This 23 year old left-handed hitter, ranked 53rd on the overall list, seems to be an all around stud.  The only problem is the Angels are loaded at outfield, with Justin Upton, Mike Trout, and Dexter Fowler manning the three spots now, Juan Legares on the roster as a defensive specialist, and Adell still the star in waiting.  Marsh might be blocked from a big league spot, which means he could be a trade piece to bring in a top talent if the Angels are buyers at the Trade Deadline.

2021 Prediction

3rd in AL West

The Angels are getting closer, but I don't think they have enough quite yet to break into the top two in this division.  This offense should score runs, but I still question if they have enough pitching to go from good to great.  With Mike Trout turning 30 this year, and Albert Pujols probably retiring at the end of the season, their window of winning with their generational talents should start getting a little urgent.

Fearless Prediction

Justin Upton and Dexter Fowler will be traded for prospects at the Trade Deadline.

With the young outfield talent waiting behind these veterans, I could see the Angels trading these corner outfielders as a way to possibly improve the roster by letting the kids play while also bringing in more young talent ready to contribute sooner rather than later.  They could be traded without the Angels really selling.  They would be interesting moves for sure.

2021 Pre-Season Profile: Cleveland Indians

 #17

The Cleveland Indians have been on quite a run over the last handful of years, however with the trade of Francisco Lindor, is that run coming to an end?  Will 2021 be the start of a rebuild or the continued success with another playoff birth?

2020 Predictions

#17 - 3rd in AL Central

MIH - Francisco Lindor

MIP - Carlos Carrasco

PTW - Logan Allen

2020 Results

#7 - 35-25, 2nd in AL Central, lost in Wild Card Round

I said the talk of 2020 was going to be if Francisco Lindor would be traded.  Somehow they were able to silence that drama for the season, trade away one of the their top starting pitchers in Mike Clevinger, and still put together a strong campaign that earned a playoff spot.  They didn't go far into the playoffs, but every time you think the Indians are done, they bounce back stronger.  The reason?  Terry Fancona.

Additions / Subtractions

Well, they were able to silence the noise for the season, but that didn't stop the move from being made this winter.  Lindor and Carlos Carrasco were both dealt to the New York Mets for quite a package.  Nothing beats having Lindor in the lineup though.  They continued to cut cost by releasing closer Brad Hand and not re-signing Carlos Santana at first base.  Coming into Cleveland are infielders Amed Rosario and Andres Gimenez in the Lindor deal as well as free agent outfielder Eddie Rosario from Minnesota.  The other big announcement of the offseason would be that 2021 will be the last year the club will be known as the Cleveland Indians.  The new name has yet to be announced, but look for it to be a much more PC moniker.

Most Important Hitter

Jose Ramirez

Much like Francisco Lindor was the talk of last offseason and regular season on what Cleveland would do with him, this season could easily be the same chatter about Jose Ramirez.  Ramirez is entering the last year of a club-friendly deal he signed, and although his personality doesn't draw the eyeballs like Lindor, he production on the field might exceed the new Met.  Ramirez has finished in the top 3 of MVP voting three times in the last four seasons, including a 2nd place in 2020.  He also has three Silver Sluggers under his belt.  In 2020, he had a 163 OPS+.  With no Lindor in the lineup, the success of the Indians is even more tied to the production of Jose Ramirez.  The future success of the Indians might also be tied to him depending on if they can find the right trade package for him.

Most Important Pitcher

James Karinchak

Throughout this run the Indians have been on, even though Lindor and Ramirez have anchored a strong lineup, the strength of the team has been pitching.  This year is no different with guys like Shane Bieber, Aaron Civale, and Zach Plesac anchoring the rotation.  The bullpen is not quite as secure this year with Brad Hand moving on.  Now, the Indians will be looking at 25 year old James Karinchak to anchor the back end of their pen.  Finishing 6th in Rookie of the Year voting in 2020 as a reliever, Karinchak dominated as a stellar setup man for the Tribe.  However, closing can be a different story, and with how volatile bullpen arms can be, his production needs to be as dominant and consistent as it was last season for the bullpen to be reliable.

Prospect to Watch

Tristan McKenzie

The big leagues got a taste of Tristan McKenzie in 2020, pitching 8 games and starting 6 with some decent success.  Now, this 51st best prospect in baseball and 2nd best in Cleveland's farm system will be counted on as a contributing member of the rotation from day one.  He is pretty unforgettable once you see him pitch, and not just for his electric stuff, but also for the 6'5" 165 pound frame and the big hair (which somehow makes him look even skinnier).  He should be a stud for them moving forward if he adds some weight to that frame so he can withstand the grueling nature of 162 games.

2021 Prediction

3rd in AL Central

I have the Indians predicted in the exact same spot as last year, however this year might be a little more earned.  Losing Lindor is going to affect their offense.  Rumors around losing Jose Ramirez could distract.  Also, the top of their division got better while they were selling pieces.  I know Terry Francona is one of the best managers in baseball, but I think they will finish lower than 2nd in the division for the first time since 2015.

Fearless Prediction

Shane Bieber will win a second straight Cy Young Award.

Somehow, the Indians just keep churning out elite starting pitching.  Last season, it was Shane Bieber's turn to see the spotlight.  He was easily the best player on the team in 2020, winning the pitching Triple Crown in the AL (Wins, ERA, Strikeouts).  He is just coming into his own, and I expect him to continue to grow and get better.  Look for another dominant year from him at the top of the Indians' rotation.