AL Central Preview: Tigers open as favorites while the White Sox try to climb out of the basement
The Detroit Tigers and two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal have their sights set on winning the AL Central for the first time since 2014. The Chicago White Sox would love to simply get out of the division's basement. As for the AL Central's other three teams — the Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Guardians and Minnesota Twins — a wide range of outcomes seem possible.
The Guardians have won two straight division titles and are going for a third despite one of the lowest payrolls in baseball. Here's a look at one of baseball's most unpredictable divisions heading into opening day. How they project 1.
) Detroit Tigers. The Tigers lost the AL Central to the Guardians after a brutal September collapse but got their revenge in the playoffs, beating the Guardians two games to one in the AL Wild Card Series. They would go on to play the Seattle Mariners tough in the AL Division Series before losing the best-of-five series in five games.
Detroit is aiming to go deeper in the postseason this year, led by Skubal, who returns as the team's ace. A balanced lineup features Riley Greene, Gleyber Torres, Kerry Carpenter and Spencer Torkelson while top prospect Kevin McGonigle has had a good camp and could open as the team's starting shortstop. The Tigers beefed up their pitching staff during the offseason, adding Framber Valdez from the Astros, while 43-year-old Justin Verlander returns to the franchise where he spent his first 13 big league seasons.
2. ) Kansas City Royals. The Royals were unable to follow their divisional playoff berth in 2024 with a return to the playoffs last year, but they still finished 82-80 after an abysmal start.
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