MLB win totals: AL Central over or under according to Vegas
By Travis Koch
MLB win totals: AL Central over or under according to Vegas
Cleveland Indians
Win Total: 86
Prediction: Under
The Indians seem to have lost quite a bit of national interest after trading Trevor Bauer to the Reds and Corey Kluber to the Rangers. Those are big losses, though I wouldn’t go as far as to say neither are replaceable. After all, they won 93 games last year when getting only seven starts from Kluber. Bauer was certainly a workhorse, but he left Cleveland in July with a modest 9-8 record.
Point being, the Indians remain a force to be reckoned with. Mike Clevinger is a healthy season away from making a run at a Cy Young, and Shane Bieber could give him internal competition for the coveted award. Hopefully, Carlos Carrasco can return to full capability after battling leukemia last summer. Cleveland has a mighty 1-3 of a rotation if he can.
They didn’t lose much offensively. Superstar Francisco Lindor survived trade rumors, and all-stars Jose Ramirez and Carlos Santana still hold the infield corners. The addition of Cesar Hernandez at second base gives Cleveland a very strong infield, offensively and defensively.
Their offense is average, but it could contribute to a fine season if their pitching staff rounds out. However, with the Twins looking strong and the White Sox hyped for their first impressive season in a while, the Indians will have their hands full within the division. They won’t manage more than 85 wins. It will be interesting to see if Lindor reps blue and red after the trade deadline.
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Chicago White Sox
Win Total: 84.5
Prediction: Over
It sounds crazy, but the White Sox are fielding more anticipation than just about any team as the regular season nears. They pose one of the top offenses in baseball now that they’ve added the bats of Edwin Encarnacion, Yasmani Grandal, and Nomar Mazara. The Sox may challenge the Yankees and Twins for the home run title in the American League. They may also be the best “Sox” team in MLB this year.
They are going to hit, which means their ultimate success will be dictated by pitching. Their rotation is solid 1-5: Lucas Giolito, Dallas Keuchel, Gio Gonzalez, Dylan Cease, Reynaldo Lopez (as projected by MLB.com). The question is who among that list can pitch like a true ace?
Giolito pitched like an ace for the majority of 2019. Keuchel brings ace experience; he’s notched a sub-4.00 ERA in all but one of the past six seasons. Michael Kopech was not listed in the rotation, though he certainly has ace potential as Chicago’s #2 prospect. Look for him to really break the scene in 2020.
It’s difficult to pinpoint a scenario in which the White Sox underwhelm. Their lineup is intimidating top to bottom, arm talent is a luxury, and there’s an impressive balance of youth and veteran leadership throughout their roster. They may jump off the page this season by winning 90+ games.