CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians will have no magazine cover to blame should they fall short of expectations this season.

Sports Illustrated opted to leave the Indians alone this year. The outlet instead placed the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets and San Francisco Giants on their four regional covers. The magazine projected the Astros to win the World Series.

Last year, the Indians, Nationals, Royals and Mariners graced the covers, with the Indians serving as the magazine's pick to become league champion. Michael Brantley and Corey Kluber stood, laughing, behind the headline, "Wait till this year: Why Cleveland? Why not Cleveland? Why the Tribe will win its first series since 1948." They weren't laughing in October, when the Indians finished with an 81-80 record and watched their division foes, the Royals, march to the title.

The Indians were a trendy preseason pick last year, and not just by Sports Illustrated. This year, projection systems at FanGraphs and Baseball Prospectus have pegged the Tribe as the favorite in the American League Central.