The American League Central was represented with two playoff teams, the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians. The Indians were eliminated in the play-in game by the Tampa Bay Rays. While the Detroit Tigers were defeated by the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS. The AL Central has a huge difference in teams, like any other division. You have the very good teams like the Tigers and Indians. Also the Kansas City Royals who will be threatening to make the playoffs in 2014 as well. The Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox are also in the Central but don’t provide the star power that the other teams in this division do. Below is the five biggest storylines of the AL Central.
5. Can the Cleveland Indians have a repeat performance of 2014?
The Indians and Terry Francona surprised a lot of people when they busted out ten straight wins and received a wildcard spot during the 2013 season. The main question is whether or not they can do it again. The addition of David Murphy was the only “big” contract that they signed. This team has the potential to be just as good as they were last year but the loss of Ubaldo Jimenez, Jason Kubel and Drew Stubbs doesn’t help. They did make a good move to avoid arbitration with pitcher Justin Masterson who signed a one-year, $9.7 million contract.
4. Is this the year the Kansas City Royals Make the Playoffs?
The Kansas City Royals started their 2013 season off on the wrong foot. They figured things out a little after the All Star break but it was too little too late. Although they may have not made the playoffs they did make great strides towards October. They led the American League in ERA at 3.45. They also had the third most quality starts of any AL team at 95. This is a great sign for a young Kansas City team looking for confidence. Everyone knows that if you don’t have pitching you don’t have anything. Thankfully for the Royals they have some great pitching that could lead them to the playoffs this year.
3. Is Miguel Cabrera Ever Going to Slow Down?
There has been whispers of a fall off year for Mr. Triple Crown this offseason. Fantasy owners are well aware that he is one of the best players in the league but has been dropping to the fifth pick in certain mock drafts. Obviously the fifth overall pick is not bad but for Cabrera it is strange. The reason some people are scared is because they think he is going to be injured at some point this season due to how the 2013 season ended. To those people I say get out of here! He had a career high in batting average last season at a .348 mark. He also tied his career high in home runs with 44. Trust me when I say that Cabrera is going nowhere anytime soon.
2. Is Justin Verlander Healthy?
Mid way through January Verlander had to undergo a core muscle surgery procedure. Everything seems to be going fine but there has been some talk that he won’t be available for Opening Day. General manager Dave Dombrowski does not believe that it is anything serious and stated that if Verlander were to miss anytime it would be a very short period. As a Tigers fan you have to be a little worried about the health of Verlander but have to believe what he is saying. Things seem to be right on schedule and he even threw 41 pitches in his last session.
1. Will the Detroit Tigers win the AL Central?
The Tigers have won their division for three straight years and are going for number four in 2014. Last year they won 93 games and beat the Indians by one game. They had amazing pitching help from Doug Fister, Anibal Sanchez, Max Scherzer and of course Justin Verlander. It also didn’t hurt to have the best hitter in baseball along with power hitting Prince Fielder. Unfortunately for the Tigers they will be without Fielder but the did acquire Ian Kinsler. I see no reason why the Tigers don’t take home the AL Central crown once again this year.