Biggest MLB Upsets in 2021
The 2021 MLB season has already come to a close, but now that the calendar year is just about over, it's a good time to look back at the season that was.
More specifically, let's take a peak at the biggest upsets that occurred in the 2021 season. Before we get started, fair warning to Yankees fans, you may want to prepare yourselves before continuing.
All odds listed are via WynnBET.
Biggest Upsets in the 2021 MLB Season
Texas Rangers (+300) vs. Boston Red Sox - August 21st, 2021
The Texas Rangers may have had the third worst record in Major League Baseball this season, but they're winners of the biggest upset all season. They were the only team to win with odds of +300 (bet $100 to profit $300) or longer.
The strangest thing about the win, is that it wasn't even close. It was also one of the biggest blowouts of the season, as the Rangers crushed the Red Sox by a final score of 10-1. Eduardo Rodriguez got the start for the Red Sox, and allowed five earned runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings. His bullpen relief didn't fare much better.
Baltimore Orioles (+290) vs. New York Yankees - September 5th, 2021
This is the first of several appearances by the Yankees on this list. In fact, if you take a look at the "honorable mentions" section below, you'll see the game that took place the day directly after the one we're looking at now. Yikes.
In this one, the Orioles took the 8-7 lead over the Yankees by putting together a four-run seventh inning. No more runs were scored the rest of the way, and Baltimore held on to the lead. Corey Kluber of the Yankees gave up two earned runs in 3.2 innings, but it was Andrew Heaney who allowed most of the damage, allowing four earned runs without even recording a single out.
Cleveland Guardians (+285) vs. New York Yankees - September 19th
Just two weeks after allowing the Orioles to win as +290 underdog, the Yankees allowed the Cleveland Guardians (known as the Indians at the time) to win as a +285 underdog.
Much like the first game on this list, the outcome wasn't a close one. The Guardians scored two runs in the top of the first inning, and never looked back. The second and fourth innings were the only innings that they didn't record at least a single run on their way to an 11-1 victory.
Gerrit Cole allowed seven earned runs on 10 hits in 5.2 innings.
Other Notable MLB Upsets
Here are the next five biggest upsets that occurred in the 2021 MLB season:
- Angels +280 vs. Padres - September 7th
- Cubs +280 vs. White Sox - August 28th
- Orioles +280 vs, Yankees September 6th
- Orioles +280 vs. Astros June 28th, 2021
- Rockies +250 vs. Dodgers July 23rd