MLB AL Central Predictions To Win in the 2023 Season

The Major League Baseball season is upon us, and the boys of summer are preparing to run the gauntlet that runs into the fall. Today, we are going to take a look at the American League Central and try to figure out if anyone can knock the Cleveland Guardians from their perch at the top of the standings.

Check out MLB lines and analysis to win the American League Central Division in the 2023 baseball season.

MLB American League Central Predictions To Win in the 2023 Season

MLB Season Info | Updated MLB Odds
Duration: Thursday, Mar. 30 – Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023
Number of games: 162 games
Number of teams: 30 teams

5th Place | Kansas City Royals

The Royals had their time in the mid-20-teens, winning the World Series in 2015. However, the young stars went elsewhere, and the club was unable to sustain that success. Kansas City is now deep into a rebuild, with the light at the end of the tunnel still a long ways off.

The Kansas City Royals brought Zack Greinke back prior to last season, but he is far removed from his Cy Young-winning form. Last season, the soon to be 40-year old managed just 137 innings and 73 punchouts. He is now part of a rotation that could be considered the worst in the American League. The Royals have some young stars, but they are still a long way off from a winning season, never mind contention.

American League Central MLB Pick: Royals | Bet Kansas City Royals To Win AL Central
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Season

4th Place | Detroit Tigers

One of the more disappointing teams from last season, the Detroit Tigers finished under .500 despite pumping over $100 million into their roster. Javier Baez fell way short of expectations hitting just .238 with 17 home runs and just 67 runs batted in. With this season likely being Miguel Cabrera’s last, the future does not look particularly bright in Detroit.

The other concern for the Tigers has to be the attrition experienced by their bullpen. With Gregory Soto being traded away, combined with the loss of Michael Fullmer, the most dependable aspect of last season’s club now becomes one of its biggest question marks heading into the season.

American League Central MLB Pick: White Sox | Bet Chicago White Sox To Win AL Central
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

3rd Place | Chicago White Sox

Losing Jose Abreu in free agency is likely going to hurt this club for years to come. While the signing of Andrew Benintendi is a nice addition, he does not provide the pop that Abreu was capable of in the middle of the lineup. Tim Anderson is a star, but the Chicago White Sox are going to need some of their really solid players to become star players this season for them to make a serious run at the postseason.

The rotation is loaded with talent, but you just don’t know what you’re going to get out of them on a nightly basis. Dylan Cease is a nice ace, and Lucas Giolito has all the talent in the world, but he still threw a sky high era last season. Michael Kopech is the rotation member to keep an eye on this season; at 26 years old, he may be due for a breakout season that made him such a highly regarded prospect.

American League Central MLB Pick: White Sox | Bet Chicago White Sox To Win AL Central
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Season

Second Place | Cleveland Guardians

If we are being completely honest, Cleveland won the Central Division last season by being the only team that wasn’t borderline terrible. Their pitching is tremendous, and they could repeat as division champs this season if that staff proves that those numbers were not a fluke. In the case of Shane Beiber, you can put some faith in his season, considering he is a Cy Young award winner. Are we to believe that Triston McKenzie is as phenomenal as he pitched last season? He likely needs another year of elite results before making a believer of most people.

The lineup has question marks as Jose Ramirez is the only truly known commodity. Josh Bell and Mike Zunino provide some power, but their consistency is always a question. The pitching is going to keep this club in most games, but someone other than Ramirez needs to put together a quality season for this club to compete with the Twins.

American League Central MLB Pick: Cleveland | Bet Cleveland Guardians To Win AL Central
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

First Place | Minnesota Twins

Carlos Correa finally landed back in Minnesota after a tumultuous offseason in which his health ended up costing him tens of millions of dollars, twice. His return to Minnesota gives the Twins plenty of star power in a division full of teams that lack it. Correa, combined with Byron Buxton, gives Minnesota the best 1-2 punch in the Central and should lead them to the title.

Of course, those aspirations could be derailed if this rotation falters. Tyler Mahle was not quite the player the Twins had hoped for when they acquired him, and Sonny Gray is past his prime. Mahle is the most likely pitcher to step up into the “ace” talk, but Joe Ryan could be the gem here if he is able to replicate last season’s early performance. This rotation may possibly strike gold with Kenta Maeda as well if he is indeed ready to return from injury.

American League Central MLB Pick: Twins | Bet Minnesota Twins To Win AL Central
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

I have read enough, I need to place my bet now. What to do?