World Series Champion
Atlanta Braves
Braves over Astros (4-2)
World Series MVP: Jorge Soler
10/26: Braves 6 – Astros 2
10./27: Braves 2- Astros 7
10/29: Astros 0 – Braves 2
10/30: Astros 2 – Braves 3
10/31: Astros 9 – Braves 5
11/02: Braves 7 – Astros 0
While most pundits expected the Houston Astros to take this series given their extensive playoff experience, the Braves were in fact the hottest team going into the playoffs. With a commanding Game Six pitching performance by Max Fried the Braves won the series four games to two.
No-Hitters
April 9: Joe Musgrove, Padres 3- Rangers 0
April 14: Carlos Rodón, White Sox 4 – Pirates 0
May 5: John Means, Orioles 6 – Mariners 0
May 7: Wade Miley, Red 3 – Indians 0
May 18: Spencer Turnbull, Tigers 3 – Mariners 0
May 19: Corey Kluber, Yankees 2 – Rangers 0
June 24: Zach Davies / Ryan Tepera / Andrew Chafin / Craig Kimbrel, Cubs 4 – Dodgers 0
August 14: Tyler Gilbert, Diamondbacks 7 – Padres 0
September 11: Corbin Burnes / Josh Hader, Brewers 3 – Indians 0
Another COVID19 Season
With the world still in the throes of a global health pandemic, it was very surreal to see quite full stadiums throughout major league baseball. While the rules around the league were different for the teams and fans, every city’s fanbase — minute Toronto because of border restrictions — got to see a full season of their team.
The season started with a slew of no-hitters which baffled everyone, kinda. With rumours of doctored balls and pitchers being given a wide berth with “sticky stuff”, MLB was off to a terrible start hitting-wise. At some point, the league decided to start enforcing baseball tampering rules, but in quite an aggressive manner that got some pitchers pretty riled up.
Some of my personal highlights of the season were:
- The San Francisco Giants’ unexpected 107-win season
- Watching the Cubs, Nationals and Rangers go into full rebuild mode
- The blockbuster trade of Trea Turner and Max Scherzer to the Dodgers
- Getting the opportunity to see 6 Blue Jays games once they were able to cross the border and play in Toronto
- The Field of Dream game was “corn-y” as hell, but a lot of fun
While Bryce Harper seems to have finally lived up to expectations in Philadelphia by having an outstanding season and winning the National League MVP, Juan Soto is continuing to impress with a command of the strike zone with 145 walks and a .465 OBP in 2021. Let’s also remember that Soto is only 22 years old and will continue to get better over the next few years, just like another 22 year old — named Vladdy — who finally had the break-out season everyone was waiting for.
The biggest story of the season was Shohei Otani doing something that was last done by, Babe Ruth. Otani was baseball’s first full-time everyday DH and also has a regular slot in the starting pitching rotation. While it could be argued that there were pitchers and hitters that had better seasons than him, no one could claim to have hit 46 home runs and also struck out 156 batters with a 3.18 earned run average. Shohei ran away with the AL MVP and is now the face of Major League Baseball worldwide.
National League
| EAST | W | L | % | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Braves | 88 | 73 | .547 | – |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 82 | 80 | .506 | 6.5 |
| New York Mets | 77 | 85 | .475 | 11.5 |
| Miami Marlins | 67 | 95 | .414 | 21.5 |
| Washington Nationals | 65 | 97 | .401 | 23.5 |
| CENTRAL | W | L | % | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Brewers | 95 | 67 | .586 | – |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 90 | 72 | .556 | 5.0 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 83 | 79 | .512 | 12.0 |
| Chicago Cubs | 71 | 91 | .438 | 24.0 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 61 | 101 | .377 | 34.0 |
| WEST | W | L | % | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Giants | 107 | 55 | .660 | – |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 106 | 56 | .654 | 1.0 |
| San Diego Padres | 79 | 83 | .488 | 28.0 |
| Colorado Rockies | 74 | 87 | .460 | 32.5 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 52 | 110 | .321 | 55.0 |
National League Awards
WAR: Zack Wheeler (PHI), 7.7
MVP: Bryce Harper (PHI)
Cy Young: Corbin Burnes (MIL)
Rookie of the Year: Jonathan India (CIN)
Batting Title: Trea Turner (WSN/LAD), .328
Home Runs: Fernando Tatis (SDP), 42
RBIs: Adam Duvall (MIA/ATL), 113
Wins: Julio Urías (LAD), 20
ERA: Corbin Burnes (MIL), 2.43
Strikeouts: Zack Wheeler (PHI), 247
National League Playoffs
NLCS, Braves win 4-2
10/16: Dodgers 2 – Braves 3
10/17: Dodgers 4 – Braves 5
10/19: Braves 5 – Dodgers 6
10/20: Braves 9 – Dodgers 2
10/21: Braves 2 – Dodgers 11
10/23: Dodgers 2 – Braves 4
NLDS, Braves win 3-1
10/08: Braves 1 – Brewers 2
10/09: Braves 3 – Brewers 0
10/11: Brewers 0 – Braves 3
10/12: Brewers 4 – Braves 5
NLDS, Dodgers win 3-2
10/08: Dodgers 0 – Giants 4
10/09: Dodgers 9 – Giants 2
10/11: Giants 1– Dodgers 0
10/12: Giants 2 – Dodgers 7
10/14: Dodgers 2 – Giants 1
NL Wild Card Game
10/06: Cardinals 1 – Dodgers 3
American League
| EAST | W | L | % | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Rays | 100 | 62 | .617 | – |
| Boston Red Sox | 92 | 70 | .568 | 8.0 |
| New York Yankees | 92 | 70 | .568 | 8.0 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 91 | 71 | .562 | 9.0 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 52 | 110 | .321 | 48.0 |
| CENTRAL | W | L | % | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago White Sox | 93 | 69 | .600 | – |
| Cleveland Indians | 80 | 82 | .494 | 13.0 |
| Detroit Tigers | 77 | 85 | .475 | 16.0 |
| Kansas City Royals | 74 | 88 | .457 | 19.0 |
| Minnesota Twins | 73 | 89 | .451 | 20.0 |
| WEST | W | L | % | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Astros | 95 | 67 | .586 | – |
| Seattle Mariners | 90 | 72 | .556 | 5.0 |
| Oakland Athletics | 86 | 76 | .531 | 9.0 |
| Los Angeles Angels | 77 | 85 | .475 | 18.0 |
| Texas Rangers | 60 | 102 | .370 | 35.0 |
American League Awards
WAR: Shohei Ohtani (LAA), 9.1
MVP: Shohei Ohtani (LAA)
Cy Young: Robbie Ray (TOR)
Rookie of the Year: Randy Arozarena (TBR)
Batting Title: Yuli Gurriel (HOU), .319
Home Runs: Salvador Perez (KCR) / Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR), 48
RBIs: Salvador Perez, 121 (KCR),
Wins: Gerrit Cole (NYY), 16
ERA: Robbie Ray (TOR), 2.84
Strikeouts: Robbie Ray (TOR), 248
American League Playoffs
ALCS, Astros win 4-2
10/15: Red Sox 4 – Astros 5
10//16: Red Sox 9 – Astros 5
10/18: Astros 3 – Red Sox 12
10/19: Astros 9 – Red Sox 2
10/20: Astros 9 – Red Sox 1
10/22: Red Sox 0 – Astros 5
ALDS, Red Sox win 3-1
10/07: Red Sox 0 – Rays 5
10/08: Red Sox 14 – Rays 6
10/10: Rays 4 – Red Sox 6
10/11: Rays 5 – Red Sox 6
ALDS, Astros win 3-1
10/07: White Sox 1 – Astros 6
10/08: White Sox 4 – Astros 9
10/10: Astros 6 – White Sox 12
10/12: Astros 10 – White Sox 1
AL Wild Card Game
10/05: Yankees 2 – Red Sox 6