Cleveland Guardians: mlb FUTURES & BETTING ODDS

CLEVELAND INDIANS 2021 OUTLOOK

The cash-strapped Cleveland Indians lost a fair amount of players in the offseason, but they may have enough firepower to be postseason contenders once again, even if the window on winning a world championship is closing with the current group of stars they employ. 

The team has reached the playoffs in four of the last five seasons and came tantalizingly close to winning a World Series in 2016, losing to the Cubs in extra innings of Game 7 at home that year. The club is hoping that longtime manager Terry Francona will be able to win with this newer roster as he has done with so many others.

The big move this offseason was trading All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor and pitcher Carlos Carrasco to the Mets for infielders Amed Rosario, Andres Giminez, and prospects. Also gone are infielders Carlos Santana and Cesar Hernandez, outfielders Delino DeShields and Tyler Nquin, and pitchers Brad Hand and Adam Cimber. 

2021 Featured Players

The good news for Cleveland is that the top of the rotation is still stacked. Shane Bieber returns after winning the 2020 Cy Young award after going 8-1 and posting a 1.63 ERA last year, which would've translated to a 20-win season in a normal year. Zach Plesac, Logan Allen, and Aaron Civale are all solid options, and Emmanuel Clase and his triple-digit stuff will be relied upon once his PED suspension is up at the end of April. 

Jose Ramirez, second in last year's MVP race, returns to anchor the offense, as he should easily hit 30 home runs and drive in over 100 runs. Roberto Perez is one of MLB's best defensive catchers, Franmil Reyes has shown incredible power, and the two players who came over from the Mets will be everyday players in the infield.

Bet on the Cleveland Indians! Cleveland Indians Odds for 2021

The Indians have somewhat long odds to do anything big this year because Minnesota and Chicago look strong at the top of the division. A bet on the Cleveland Indians to win the 2021 World Series will pay out a healthy 40/1 odds. The Cleveland Indians odds to win the American League pennant stand at 18/1, and they are at 15/2 to win the American League Central, well behind the Twins and White Sox if you were to bet on the Cleveland Indians. 

Indians Logo, Uniform & Stadium History

The Indians, now that the Cubs, White Sox, and Red Sox broke their long World Series droughts this century, are now the team with the longest drought between championships, last winning in 1948. Their last two World Series appearances (1997 and 2016) both went to extra innings in the deciding Game 7 before they lost both. 

The team is probably most-known from their success in the late 1990s when they won division titles in six of seven seasons from 1995-2001, featuring sluggers like Jim Thome, Albert Belle, Omar Vizquel, and Roberto Alomar. 

This will be likely the last season the club is known as the Indians, as they will be changing their name and logo due to added sensitivity toward Native Americans. They have been known at the Indians since 1915. They have already done away with the Chief Wahoo mascot that used to adorn the front of their caps. Now, a red "C" has taken its place. Home uniforms are all white with "Indians" across the front in red with a navy blue outine. The road grays have "CLEVELAND" written across the front in navy blue with a red outline. There are two alternate jerseys: a navy blue top for road games and a red top for home games. 

The team has called Progressive Field home since 1994, and it was known as Jacobs Field until 2008. The team has struggled to draw fans in recent years despite the great success, but in the 1990s, an Indians game was one of the hottest tickets in baseball. Cleveland sold out 455 consecutive games from 1995 to 2001. 

2020 Record: 35-25, Tied for Second Place in American League Central