The champs are here. The Kansas City Royals had an outstanding season in 2015, as they ran away with the American League Central crown en route to their World Series triumph. But as every champion knows all too well, it’s much tougher to defend the title than to win it. Can the Royals withstand the challenge of their division rivals, who will all be looking to improve upon last year’s disappointment?
Find out the defending champs’ chances of a repeat this season, and who among the other four AL Central teams will be the biggest threat to their title. Meanwhile, check out our previews of the other five MLB divisions: NL East | NL Central | NL West | AL East | AL West
MLB World Series News and Previews
- Cleveland Indians vs. Minnesota Twins Preview –August 17, 2017
- Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays – August 17, 2017
- Chicago White Sox vs. Texas Rangers Betting Preview – August 17, 2017
2016 American League Central Preview
Kansas City Royals
Key additions: SP Ian Kennedy, RP Joakim Soria
Key departures: SP Johnny Cueto, 2B/OF Ben Zobrist
Outlook: The Kansas City Royals have managed to improve upon their regular season win total from the previous season every year since 2009. It’ll be a pretty tough task for them to top their 95-win 2015 campaign, but exceeding their over/under win total of 85.0 wins seems pretty achievable.
The defending champs did lose both of last year’s key midseason acquisitions – Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist – and the top of the rotation looks shaky with a couple of volatile pitchers – Yordano Ventura and Edinson Volquez – expected to be its anchors.
Nevertheless, the homegrown gang that includes Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, and Alex Gordon is still intact and ready to play their style of high-contact, aggressive offense and lockdown defense which has seen them reach the World Series in back-to-back years. The Royals are priced at +125 to defend their division title, and +800 to defend their World Series crown.
Cleveland Indians
2015 record: 81-80
Key additions: 1B Mike Napoli, OF Rajai Davis, RP Tommy Hunter, IF Juan Uribe
Key departures: SP Shaun Marcum, 3B/1B Chris Johnson, IF Mike Aviles
Outlook: The odds favor the Indians, who are +240 to win the division, to be the Royals’ biggest challengers this season. That optimism for the Tribe’s chances lies primarily with their outstanding 1-2-3 punch of Corey Kluber, Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco at the top of their rotation.
However, questions remain with the lineup’s ability to produce enough offense. Francisco Lindor was a revelation in his rookie year last season, but the big bats expected to provide some much-needed pop – Mike Napoli and Yan Gomez – carry some significant risk of injury. Michael Brantley is coming off shoulder surgery and Jason Kipnis has yet to string together consecutive All-Star-caliber seasons.
The Indians actually have the highest over/under wins line in the division, which is set at 86.5. They certainly have the tools to make a run at that mark, but having full faith in that lineup to produce consistently will be tough.
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Detroit Tigers
2015 record: 74-87
Key additions: SP Jordan Zimmermann, OF Justin Upton, RP Francisco Rodriguez, SP Mike Pelfrey, RP Justin Wilson, RP Mark Lowe, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Key departures: RP Al Alburquerque, C Alex Avila, OF Rajai Davis, RP Joe Nathan, SP Alfredo Simon
Outlook: After going from first to worst in the Central last season, the Tigers did some serious shopping in the offseason. Zimmermann will look to fill the void David Price left in the rotation, Rodriguez and Lowe will be welcome additions to the bullpen, while Upton will be another dangerous bat in a lineup that already featured Miguel Cabrera, J.D. Martinez and Victor Martinez.
However, Martinez is 37 and is coming off one of the worst years of his career. Meanwhile, it’s still unknown which 33-year-old Justin Verlander the Tigers will get: the one who looked washed up with a 6.62 ERA through his first six starts of 2015, or the ace that had a 2.27 ERA over the next 14.
If those two can stay healthy and productive, the Tigers’ +400 odds of reclaiming the Central will stand a great chance of paying out. That’s quite a big “if,” though.
Chicago White Sox
2015 record: 76-86
Key additions: 3B Todd Frazier, IF Brett Lawrie, C Alex Avila, C Dioner Navarro, SP Mat Latos
Key departures: SP Jeff Samardzija, SS Alexei Ramirez, C Geovany Soto, 2B Gordon Beckham
Outlook: Last season’s moves to improve team weaknesses didn’t stick as the White Sox fell flat on their face. They made some more logical moves to plug their holes during this past offseason, particularly on defense, but will they finally make a difference?
With all the star power they have, you’d think things have to improve eventually. AL Cy Young front-runner Chris Sale and Jose Quintana form arguably the best 1-2 punch in the division, while slugger Jose Abreu (66 HRs over the past two seasons) and reigning home run champ Todd Frazier can launch moonshots all season long.
In a division that doesn’t seem to feature a truly dominant team, their +700 odds to win the Central should provide some decent value.
Minnesota Twins
2015 record: 83-79
Key additions: 1B/DH Byung Ho Park, C John Ryan Murphy, OF Carlos Quentin
Key departures: OF Torii Hunter, OF Aaron Hicks
Outlook: Don’t get too carried away from the Twins’ surprising 83-win season which saw them finish second in the division. Minnesota is a team that’s playing the long game of player development, not one that’s looking to win now. That’s why they hardly brought in anyone of note during the offseason.
If super prospects Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton suddenly live up to all their potential, it’s a different story. But with the Tigers, Indians and White Sox expected to be at least marginally better than last season, the Twins look like the team that takes a step back in the division this year.
Writer’s Prediction
The Royals (+125) repeat as division champs, with the Indians close behind. The Tigers and White Sox battle for third, with Detroit coming out on top, and the Twins tumble back down to last place.
