NL & AL Central Preview

So yesterday we started our preview of the 2013 Major League Baseball season and yesterday we looked at the western divisions in baseball. today we continue with the predictions and we look at the Central division. First we look at the AL Central and then the NL Central. With the American League, there were a few changes made in the division, but there is still some separation between the top tear teams and the lower level teams in that Central. So here now are how I see the American and National League Central is going to play out in 2013.

Last year the Detroit Tigers were the class of the AL Central winning the division with an 88-74 record. Right behind them were the 85-77 Chicago White Sox. Those two were the only teams in the division to finish above 500 last year. Kansas City finished with 72 wins, then came Cleveland with 68 wins, and finally Minnesota with 66 wins. This season, to a degree, is going to be a different look to how the Central will play out. Here is how I see the AL Central finishing this season.

1. Detroit Tigers
-Last year the Tigers won not only the Central division but the American League Pennant as well. With an 88-74 record, Detroit rolled through the AL playoffs but came in cold to the World Series and were swept by the Giants. Detroit has made a few changes from last years ball club. Alex Avilas is still the starting catcher and Victor Martinez is back as the backup catcher and 1st baseman but will be used mostly as a Designated Hitter. Last year's infield is still in tact, with Infante and Peralta up the middle, and the best one two punch in the middle of the batting order in the division with Prince and reigning MVP Miguel Cabrera. Biggest change made to the Tigers from last year's club is the outfield. Starting in the outfield this year looks like Tori Hunter, Austin Jackson, and Andy Danks.  Detroit has by far the best pitching staff in the division, capped off by Justin Verlander. Phil Coke has been added to an already good bullpen and Bruce Rondon is set to close. Detroit is still too good a ball club to falter, and they will win the Central for the 2nd year in a row.

2. Cleveland Indians
-Last year Cleveland finished 4th in the Central with a 68-94 record which put them in fourth place in the division last season. The team this year looks a little re-tooled from last, as the club lost Shin-Soo Choo to free agency. Cleveland made up for it and then some by adding two big bats to the lineup in the form of Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn. So it makes a pretty good outfield with Bourn Drew Stubbs and Michael Brantley. Carlos Santana returns behind the plate again and joins an infield loaded with Swisher, Jason Kipnis, Lonnie Chisenhall, and Asdrubal Cabrera. Plus throw in Mark Renyolds as the DH and Mike Aviles coming off the bench, the Tribe are going to be a tough team offensively. Indian's pitching staff is a decent one all right. Joe Smith Vinnie Pestano and Rich Hill will be called apon a lot to get the ball to closer Chris Perez. Ubaldo Jimenez, Brett Meyers, and Scott Kazmir will be heading up the starting rotation. Now all three of those guys are not as good as they have been in years past but they can still hold there own and bring the Indians back to respectability.

3. Chicago White Sox
-Last year Chicago was the only other team besides the Tigers to finish above 500 at 85-77. Chicago still knows how to hit and still have a good offensive ball club. Adam Dunn will be the DH but as he has most of his career, he still has problems with the strikeout. Tyler Flowers will now take over as the everyday catcher with A. J. Pierzynski signing to play with the Rangers. Alexei Rameriez will be expected once again to leadoff. With Dunn hitting in the middle of the lineup, he has a bit of protection around him in the form of Paul Konerko and Alex Rios. Chicago still has pop in their bats but it doesn't seem as lethal as it has last year. Jake Pevy and Gavin Floyd are the studs of this White Sox pitching staff, which on paper has downgraded from what they had last year. Chicago still has a good ball club and will be around 500 but they will slip to 3rd in the division this year.

4. Kansas City Royals
-Last year Kansas City finished 3rd in the Central with a 72-90 record and this year it looks a tad bit better but not by much. The Royals kept the exact same outfield in tact from last season with Alex Gordon, Lorenzo Cain, and Jeff Francoeur with Jarrod Dyson coming off the bench. Salvador Perez seems to have taken hold of the everday catcher job and will be the rock behind the plate, while Mike Moustakas will be the anchor of the offense. James Shields is once again the stud of the pitching staff, which may be one of the weakest in the American League. Lack of offense and lack of pitching will keep the Royals down for another year. They are getting better but this year isn't it.

5, Minnesota Twins
-Last year the Twins finished in last place in the Central with a 66-96 record. Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau carried the offense of the Twins and will be looked to carry it again this season. Ryan Doumit and Josh Willingham are also expected to help plug away at the production this year. If you're a Twins fan there isn't much else to look forward to for offense from the team this year. Pitching isn't any better in Minnesota. Vance Worley and Mike Pelfrey are there best arms and that's really about it. Minnesota will be in the basement again this season.

So that is how I see the AL Central playing out. Now lets look at how things will turn out in the National League Central.

Last year the National League Central produced two playoff teams in the Cincinnati Reds, who won the division with a 97-65 record, and the St. Louis Cardinals who got the wild card at 88-74. Coming in 3rd was the Milwaukee Brewers at 83-79. In fourth was the Pirates at 79-83 followed by the last place Chicago Cubs at 61-101 and bringing up the rear was the now gone Houston Astros at 55-107. With the Astros in the American League, it leaves this division wide open for anybody to finish last. So here is how I see the Central playing out this season.

1. Cincinnati Reds
- Last year the Reds won the Central with a 97-65 record, the 2nd best record in the National league right behind the Washington Nationals. The Reds infield is exactly the same as it was last year. Ryan Hanigan is back behind the plate, with Joey Votto at 1st, the best 2nd baseman in the Central in Brandon Phillips, Todd Frazier controlls the hot corner, and  Zack Cozart back at short. Shin-Soo Choo was added to the outfield with Ryan Ludwick and Jay Bruce. The only question mark I have with the Reds is the bench, and the fact that they really don't have one right now. If the Reds get hit with the injury bug, then they may be in trouble. Cincinnati has one of the more solid starting rotations in baseball with Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, Bronson Arroyo, Homer Bailey, and Mike Leake and Aroldis Chapman closing out games. The Reds are still the top dog in the central and will remain that way again this year, IF they can stay healthy.

2. St. Louis Cardinals
-Last year the Cardinals picked up the wild card with 88 wins and might have a chance again at that this year. Lance Berkman left via free agency to the American League. Yadier Molina and Matt Carpenter are the leaders on the Cardinals infield. The Cards outfield is the exact same as last year with John Jay, Carlos Beltran and Matt Holiday. St. Louis seems to have taken a step backwards with the loss of some of their offense from a year ago. Not really having much of a bench either will hurt their chances. With the pitching staff that St. Louis has they are going to be really tough to beat. Adam Wainwright, Jaime Garcia, Jake Westbrook, Lance Lynn, and Shelby Miller make for an intimidating starting rotation. Plus throw in Jason Motte closing games, the Cards are going to be a tough team. The only reason I have the Cards slipping a bit this year is due to the fact that the offense and bench of the Cards isn't as good as last year. They're still good but will come up just short.


3. Pittsburgh Pirates
-Last season the Pirates finished in 4th in the Central and finished under 500. This year its going to be a different story. Russell Martin adds a better bat to the lineup from behind the plate compared to what they had in Rod Barajas last year. Garrett Jones was added to play first base, thus moving a versatile Gabby Sanchez to the bench. The remainder of the infield still consists of Neil Walker, Pedro Alverez, and Clint Barnes. Starling Marte, Andrew McCutchen, and Travis Snider make up the outfield and are going to have to move on without the services of Nate McLouth. Pittsburgh has a solid bench which is what is going to help keep them up in the division. With a starting rotation that consists of A.J. Burnett, Wandy Rodriguez, James McDonald, Jonathan Sanchez, and Jeff Locke, the Pirates may surprise a few people with their pitching staff. Granted its not as good as that of the Cardinals or Reds, its still good enough to keep them, in the race. Pittsburgh's only question mark for me is can their bullpen hold up over the course of a 162 game season. Now it could go either way with the Cards and Pirates in 2nd this year. What the Cards lack in a bench the Pirates lack in bullpen. Pittsburgh is going to be good enough to finally break the streak and have a winning season.

4. Milwaukee Brewers
-last year Milwaukee finished in 3rd with an 83-79 record. There have been a few changes made in Brewer country. Jonathan Lucroy has taken over as the everyday catcher. Alex Gonzalez, Rickie Weeks, Aramis Ramirez, and Jean Segura make up the rest of the starting infield. As it looks like right now, with Cory Hart out for the first few months with the injury, it leaves the Brewers limited on their bench, which could hurt them over the course of the season. Ryan Braun and Carlos Gomez are still the anchors of the outfield with the wildcard in the form of Norichika Aoki to round out the Brewer outfield. Yovani Gallardo and Kyle Lohse are the workhorses and best pitchers in that Brewers rotation and John Axford will be closing games. That is what will be the downfall for the Brewers this year is the lack of pitching, especially compared to the rest of the division. Milwaukee has taken a down step this year and will fall to possibly below 500.

5. Chicago Cubs
-Last year the Cubs finished 61-101. Chicago had a revolving door at catcher but now it looks like Welington Castillo has taken hold of the everyday catching job. With Anthony Rizzo holding things down at the everyday first basebaseman, it gives the Cubs stability at the position. Everything else has stayed the same at the infield with Darwin Barney, Luis Valbuena, and Starlin Castro. Alfonso Soriano is the best bat in the outfield for the Cubs. Jeff Samardzija and Edwin Jackson are the top of the pitching staff and Carlos Marmol is the best pitcher out of the bullpen. Chicago still has too many holes to fill and will once again be an under 500 ball club.

So there you have it. That was my predictions for the American and National League Central divisions. Tomorrow we will have the AL and NL East preview!