Hi everyone, thank you for checking out the AL East Predictions. Now we are onto what I expect to be a very competitive division this season. The AL Central, you ready to do this?
5th: Tigers 59-103
Best Prop Bet: Under 69.5 Wins (Healthy Wager)
Projected Lineup
- LF Robbie Grossman
- 3B Jeimer Candelario
- SS Will Castro
- DH Miguel Cabrera
- 2B Jonathan Schoop
- RF Nomar Mazara
- C Wilson Ramos
- 1B Renato Nunez
- CF Jacoby Jones
Starting Rotation
- Matt Boyd
- Jose Urena
- Spencer Turnbull
- Julio Teheran
- Tarik Skubal
Bullpen
CL: Bryan Garcia
Setup: Gregory Soto
Setup: Joe Jimenez
Setup: Buck Farmer
Overview: The Tigers are a young team in transition and there are some interesting mix of youth and veterans on this team but overall this is going to be a long summer in the land of motor vehicles. The lineup could be decent with the pop potential of Jonathan Schoop, Nomar Mazara, Wilson Ramos and the star potential of Will Castro. But the rotation and bullpen may arguably be the weakest in the game. One of the Tigers promising young pitchers Spencer Turnbull is likely not going to be back by opening day which makes the rotation even thinner. There is a ceiling that if things fall right the Tigers will score a lot of runs and win somewhere around 70 games. But I have the under all day as I see the Tigers trading some veterans at the deadline and continuing to build around Will Castro, Tarik Skubal and eventually top prospect Spencer Torkelson. Good news for the Tiger fans is this division is always transitioning so in a couple of years they could be back, be patient Mo Town.
4th: Royals 70-92
Best Prop Bet: Under 73.5 Wins (Medium Wager)
Projected Lineup
- CF Whit Merrifield
- LF Andrew Benintendi
- SS Adalberto Mondesi
- 1B Carlos Santana
- C Salvador Perez
- DH Jorge Soler
- 3B Hunter Dozier
- 2B Nicky Lopez
- RF Michael Taylor
Starting Rotation
- Brad Keller
- Danny Duffy
- Brady Singer
- Mike Minor
- Kris Bubic
Bullpen
CL: Greg Holland
Setup: Josh Staumont
Setup: Scott Barlow
Setup: Jake Junis
Overview: The Royals are maybe another year or so away from making the leap to playoff contenders. If the Royals were in a different division I may even consider having them higher up but I think they are a year away regardless. The lineup could be fun to watch with Whit Merrifield, Andrew Benintendi and Adalberto Mondesi up top. Expect those three to be thorns on the basepaths. Plus some good pop in the middle of the lineup with Carlos Santana, the ever underrated Salvador Perez, Jorge Soler and Hunter Dozier, the Royals are going to be potentially above league average offensively. The issue with the Royals is the unknown at pitching. Danny Duffy and Brad Keller are solid at the top of the rotation, but after those two it’s slim pickings (unless Mike Minor turns into 2019 Mike Minor instead of most of his career Mike Minor). The bullpen is okay but hoping that Greg Holland and Wade Davis can turn back the clock to 2015 is a tough ask. Daniel Lynch, Jackson Kowar and Kyle Isbel could all be up in the big leagues this year to bring some added enthusiasm. The future is bright in K.C and if things fall right that bright future could be as early as 2022.
3rd: Indians 86-76
Best Prop Bet: Over 81.5 Wins (Healthy Bet)
Projected Lineup
- 2B Cesar Hernandez
- LF Eddie Rosario
- 3B Jose Ramirez
- DH Franmil Reyes
- RF Josh Naylor
- 1B Jake Bauers
- C Roberto Perez
- SS Andres Gimenez
- CF Bradley Zimmer
Starting Rotation
- Shane Bieber
- Zach Plesac
- Triston McKenzie
- Aaron Civale
- Cal Quantrill
Bullpen
CL: James Karinchak
Setup: Nick Wittgren
Setup: Emmanuel Clase
Setup: Adam Plutko
Overview: Many have fallen out of favor with the Cleveland baseball team after the departure of Francisco Lindor but I’m going to go against many of the public here. The run prevention will still be there with the other Biebs and Zach Plesac anchoring the rotation. The bullpen is also solid with the trio of James Karinchak, Nick Wittgren and Emmanuel Clase in the back end. What will doom the Cleveland baseball team down the stretch is that the bottom end of the lineup does have a lot of outs. But the top four of the lineup with the rarely strikes out Cesar Hernandez, two of the best hitters in the game Eddie Rosario, Jose Ramirez, and could hit 50 homeruns if things fall right Franmil Reyes, the top of the lineup is as good as it gets. There is a scenario where Cleveland wins this division and I think they will be there until late August and in the playoff hunt until the last weekend of the season. With their budget however, my guess is as good as yours if they tear it down and start a new after this season. Unknown times in the land of Wild Thing Ricky Vaughn.
2nd: Twins 87-75
Best Prop Bet: To Miss Playoffs +125 (Small Wager)
Projected Lineup
- RF Max Kepler
- 2B Luis Arraez
- 3B Josh Donaldson
- DH Nelson Cruz
- 1B Miguel Sano
- RF Alex Kirilloff
- CF Byron Buxton
- C Ryan Jeffers
- SS Andrelton Simmons
Starting Rotation
- Jose Berrios
- Kenta Maeda
- Michael Pineda
- Matt Shoemaker
- J.A Happ
Bullpen
CL: Taylor Rogers
Setup: Alex Colome
Setup: Tyler Duffey
Setup: Cody Stashak
Overview: I’m going to get a lot of hate mail from Twins fans for picking them to miss the playoffs. I will be stuck in South Dakota as my vehicle will be unable to penetrate state lines. But I will attempt to make an explanation to why I am picking Minnesota to miss the playoffs. The pitching is the strength of this baseball team. The rotation is solid but not spectacular and the bullpen is very solid as well. The run prevention will be there on most nights. My issue is the middle of the lineup may hit 120 jacks (Josh Donaldson, never aging Nelson Cruz and Miguel Sano are going to launch some baseballs this summer) but there is a lot of outs in this lineup. Believe it or not their best overall hitter for average is Andrelton Simmons at the bottom of the lineup. This lineup is certainly your typical 2021 baseball team, lots of homeruns and strikeouts. If Jose Berrios is awesome (very possible), Michael Pineda and Matt Shoemaker stays healthy (not as likely but possible) the Twins could win 95 games and be a contender. I will go with the Twins will be solid and in the hunt all year but be the first team out of the playoffs as the Blue Jays just edge them out in the standings at seasons end.
1st: White Sox 93-69 (2nd playoff seed)
Best Prop Bet: Win AL Pennant +425 (small wager)
Projected Lineup
- SS Tim Anderson
- RF Adam Eaton
- C Yasmani Grandal
- 1B Jose Abreu
- LF Eloy Jimenez
- 3B Yoan Moncada
- CF Luis Robert
- DH Zack Collins
- 2B Nick Madrigal
Starting Rotation
- Luis Giolito
- Dallas Keuchel
- Lance Lynn
- Carlos Rodon
- Dylan Cease
Bullpen
CL: Liam Hendriks
Setup: Evan Marshall
Setup: Aaron Dummer
Setup: Reynaldo Lopez
Overview: When I was doing my research for this season I was stating the White Sox as my darkhorse. Well with them being the overwhelming favorite to win this division I guess Vegas is on the same boat as me so darkhorse they are not, they are just good. This is the best White Sox team since they won the whole thing in 2005. The lineup has two of the best young players in the game (Jimenez, Moncada), the ever underrated Abreu, and one of the more exciting players to watch in baseball in Tim Anderson. The rotation is arguably the best in the American League with the addition of Lance Lynn (who has been under the radar awesome for two years now) to go with a rising star in Lucas Giolito and the always solid Dallas Keuchel. The bullpen is maybe the weakness of the team (mainly middle relief) but with the addition of one of the best relievers in the game in Liam Hendriks. Once the game hits the 9th inning it’s almost certainly game over. Be excited in the South side this year, this may be the most rounded team in the AL. The South siders will give the Yankees a run for their money for the best record in the AL in 2021.