Detroit Tigers: Five Bold Predictions for AL Central

Sep 16, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28) pitches during the second inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The American League Central has a chance to be the most competitive and wide open division races in baseball this season.

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The Cleveland Indians are the fan favorite, the Chicago White Sox are the most improved team, but the Kansas City Royals are the defending American League Champions and the Detroit Tigers are the four-time division champions. As for the Minnesota Twins … well they’re the Twins.

With a division poised to be very competitive this season, there is no shortage of possible bold predictions.

Here are five bold predictions for the American League Central in 2015.

Mar 11, 2015; Surprise, AZ, USA; Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer (35) strikes out against the San Diego Padres in the fourth inning during a spring training game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Royals will win the division

It’s tough to get a read on the Kansas City Royals. They didn’t even win their division last season but steam rolled through the American League and finish 90 feet away from tying the Giants in the bottom of the ninth in Game 7 of the World Series.

The Royals will miss what ace James Shields gave the team in the locker room, setting the tone for the staff by logging 227 innings and posting a 3.21 ERA with 180 strikeouts, but the loss has been blown a little bit out of proportion. Shields was awful during the postseason, posting a 6.12 ERA, and Kansas City came within a game of winning the World Series despite that horrible ERA from their ace.

Kansas City also lost Billy Butler and Norichika Aoki, but the Royals signed Alex Rios and Kendrys Morales to replace them. The offense could be much better if first baseman Eric Hosmer improves.

The 25-year-old hit .270 with just nine home runs and 58 RBI in 2014 after he hit .302 with 17 home runs and 79 RBI in 2013. Hosmer turned it on in October, though, hitting .351, so if he could hit like that or closer to the way he did in 2013, the Royals offense will be much better.

Finally, the bullpen was the strength of the team last season and that is still in place. Greg Holland had a 1.44 ERA and 46 saves, Wade Davis allowed an incredible eight runs in 72 innings pitched and Kelvin Herrera also supported an ERA below 1.50. If those guys have stellar seasons again, the Royals will be as good as anyone in the division.

Mar 25, 2015; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias (1) mishandles a ground ball during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Miami Marlins at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Jose Iglesias wins gold glove

This really isn’t that bold of a prediction as long as the shortstop stays healthy. Detroit traded for Iglesias at the deadline of the 2013 season to upgrade their defense and provide depth, but after fellow shortstop Jhonny Peralta left in free agency before last year, Iglesias missed the entire 2014 season.

He had a few hiccups in March, which included taking a line drive off his shin during batting practice, but if Iglesias can play more than 130 games at shortstop this season, it is hard to predict anyone else will beat him out as the best defensive shortstop in the AL.

Mar 27, 2015; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija (29) throws in the first inning during a spring training game against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

White Sox win 10 more games than 2014 and still finish fourth

Chicago won 73 games in 2014, so it might be difficult to win 83, meaning they finish four games above .500, and still be behind three other teams in the division. Could four teams post winning records in the AL Central during 2015?

For the purposes of our bold predictions, why not? Chicago added power hitting Adam LaRoche to be their DH, Jeff Samardzija to be the No. 2 starter behind Chris Sale and David Robertson as the team’s closer.

In the AL East last season, Tampa Bay finished in fourth place with 77 wins, just five away from a winning record while Baltimore won the division with 96 victories. It, however, won’t take 96 victories to win the AL Central this season; 90 wins is probably enough with those other six victories perhaps going to the fourth place team in this division.

What an exciting race it would be if four teams end up separated by just seven games.

Sep 27, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier (2) receives congratulations from first baseman Joe Mauer (7) after he hits a home run in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Twins will not finish last

April Fool’s. The Twins will finish last.

Next: Detroit Tigers to ditch Comerica Park; new stadium coming in 2020