MLB PREVIEW: AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

BY ADAM GREENE

Last season multiple teams were picked to contend in the preseason in the American League Central, but by October, not only was there just one franchise standing, no other squad had a winning record.

But 2023 is a new year and there are new coaches and front office personnel in which all our early spring hopes can reside until the Groundhog of Truth gnaws through his cage bars and tears through our dreams. I just came up with that. Spring brings out the poet in me.

Here’s how I see the AL Central stacking up.

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

1. CLEVELAND GUARDIANS

Last season: 92-70, Lost 2-3 to the New York Yankees in the ALDS

Odds to win AL Central: +145

What do you do when you shock the MLB by storming out the gate hot, denying expectations and making an ALDS run? If you’re the Cleveland Guardians, you sit back and reload. There’s a reason teams like Cleveland don’t stay out of contention very long. With a nucleus of young, star talent returning just now hitting their stride, the Guardians opened up the bank accounts and added Mike Sunino at catcher and first baseman Josh Bell to go with Andres Giminez, Oscar Gonzalez and Gold Glove winner Steven Kwan.

You could argue that Cleveland has two aces in the rotation with Shane Bieber and Triston McKenzie. They’ll trade off with Cal Quantrill, Aaron Civale and Zach Plesac in the rotation. This is a strong unit that finished ranked sixth in the league in ERA a season ago.

Projected 2023 record: 95-65

2. CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Last season: 81-81

Odds to win AL Central: +235

Speaking of expectations, the White Sox also surprised in 2022 and not in a good way. Picked to win the AL Central by plenty of pundits and be a serious World Series contender, Chicago sputtered around all season to end with a .500 record and an October free from all responsibilities. Because of that, they cleaned house and brought in Pedro Grifol as their new manager this season. He’ll have less to work with as the team let batting leader Jose Abreu leave town in the offseason. They still have some formidable hitters like Andrew Vaughn and Luis Robert on the roster and will be fun to watch at worst.

The only addition to the pitching rotation is Mike Clevenger. The rest are all guys they rolled with last season — Dylan Cease, Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito and Michael Kopech. I can see them being better in 2023, but nowhere near as good as they were in 2021.

Projected record: 85-77

3. MINNESOTA TWINS

Last season: 76-84

Odds to win AL Central: +180

Speaking of disappointments, not only did the Minnesota Twins not contend for the AL Central, something plenty of people actually thought they could do, they didn’t even post a winning record. The stumble was made worse due to the late season trades for pitchers Tyler Mahle, Michael Fulmer and Jorge Lopez. Needless to say, none of those guys put them over the hump. They’ve not sat on their hands this offseason, adding Pablo Lopez in a trade and brought in Christian Vasquez and Joey Gallo.

Lopez and Mahle are the cornerstones of the rotation, along with Sonny Gray, Joe Ryan and Kenta Maeda. You have to think the Twins will be better in 2023 simply by talent acquisition alone, but not enough to see any playing time during the Halloween season.

Projected finish: 82-80

4. KANSAS CITY ROYALS

Last season: 65-97

Odds to win AL Central: +2500

Hey, there’s something to be said for knowing your team’s out of the pennant race before Opening Day. There’s a lot of freedom in that and the Royals, have been feeling free for a nice, long time. After their World Series title in 2015, Kansas City hasn’t sniffed the postseason since and finished below .500 in every season but one, 2016. And that year they went 81-81. So, when you’re bad and know you’ll be bad, what do you focus on? Player development and stars that will bring fans to your stands before these guys get signed away by the big market teams. MK Melendez and Bobby Witt, Jr. should be fun to watch this year and guys like Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez can still put the ball in play.

As for the pitching staff, Brady Singer and Zack Greinke are the real deal, but Jordan Lyles, Ryan Yarbrough and Brad Keller should be an adventure to watch early in the year when there’s still hope.

Projected 2023 record: 63-99

5. DETROIT TIGERS

Last season: 66-96

Odds to win AL Central: +2000

To no one’s surprise, the Detroit Tigers faceplanted last season and a new general manager. Scott Harris, was brought in to right the ship. And, if you’re doing the math on the potential standings here, it’s obvious I think it’ll take more than a season to figure out how to do that. Now, granted, the Tigers were beset with injuries last season, but this is a team that hasn’t posted a winning record since 2016. And they’ve not even sniffed at it, getting no closer than nine games below .500 in 2021. That brought a little optimism for last season, but that sunk quicker than the Detroit housing market. They let two of their best three hitters flee the facility in the offseason, leaving Jonathan Schoop and the desiccated remains of Miguel Cabrera to possibly carry the load. I do expect a better season out of Javier Baez, but there’s not a lot to see here. Unless you can make sure you get to the stadium on a day Cabrera DHs. It might be your last chance to see him.

The starting five in the rotation will probably be in flux for a while, but right now it looks like Eduardo Rodriguez, Spencer Turnbull, Matthew Boyd, Matt Manning and Michael Lorenzon. And, when you can say your arms are “in flux,” you know you’re looking at a long season.

Projected 2023 record: 60-102

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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