SB Nation Reacts: Fans assess the Cubs and the future of MLB

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Each week, we send out questions to the most plugged-in Chicago Cubs fans as well as fans around the SB Nation network. Sign up here to join Reacts.

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Baseball returned Thursday, and fans were permitted in ballparks across MLB for the first time since 2019.

Here are some forecasts for the Cubs and the NL Central from fans surveyed in the latest SB Nation Reacts poll.

According to the latest SB Nation Reacts results, just 13 percent of fans around the league think the Cubs will win the NL Central. They trail the St. Louis Cardinals, who earned 58 percent, and the Milwaukee Brewers at 22 percent.

To give Cubs fans a unique look at the team this year, fans of the Cubs’ biggest rivals were asked what they think about the North Siders. Fans of the Cardinals and Chicago White Sox don’t think the Cubs will be good in 2021.

Fans nationally also voted on who they believe will take home the league’s biggest awards at the end of the season. Gerrit Cole of the Yankees led the vote for AL Cy Young with 37 percent.

In the NL, Mets ace Jacob deGrom earned 52 percent of the vote. He beat out Walker Buehler of the Dodgers, who was the next closest with 16 percent.

The AL MVP voting was equally dramatic in its divide after the top choice. Angels superstar Mike Trout earned 69 percent of the vote, blowing away the next closest player — Aaron Judge — who had just 10 percent.

The closest vote came in the NL vote for MVP. San Diego Padres young star Fernando Tatis Jr. edged out the field with 26 percent. He narrowly beat Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts with 25 percent, Nationals slugger Juan Soto was a close third at 22 percent and Atlanta star Ronald Acuña Jr. finished with 19 percent of the vote.

Despite all the excitement of Opening Day, the feeling about the league as a whole is still quite mixed. Fans were asked what one word best describes the game right now. “Exciting,” “Confused,” “Good,” and “Chaos” were all among the top choices.

To vote in the Reacts surveys and have your voice heard each week, sign up here.