MLB win totals: AL Central over or under according to Vegas

Caesars Sports Book has posted the 2020 MLB win totals. Today, we’ll analyze each AL Central team’s lean towards the over/under.

Caesars Sports Book has released MLB win totals for the 2020 season. We’re taking a look at them, division by division, assessing which clubs will win more games than Vegas expects, and which clubs will win fewer games. We covered the American League West already, now it’s time to shine light on the AL Central. You can view the full list of MLB win totals here.

Minnesota Twins

Win Total: 90.5

Prediction: Over

The Twins are returning basically the same roster that won 101 games a season ago. All of their top offensive producers are back, which means they’ll continue to play the long ball game as well as any team in baseball. Their collective 307 home runs in 2019 led MLB, etching out the Bronx Bombers by a single round-tripper. They have the potential to top that number in 2020.

They did lose power by watching 2B Jonathan Schoop and 1B C.J. Cron join the Tigers this offseason; however, 3B Josh Donaldson is a very powerful addition, as he’s coming off a season in which he launched 37 homers with the Braves. He’ll have a lot of fun with the short left-field porch at Target Field. Donaldson will take over at third while Miguel Sano is slotted to be the Twins’ new first baseman. Those two provide serious thump, as do Nelson Cruz, Max Kepler, Eddie Rosario, and Mitch Garver.

Starting pitching is a tad hazy. Jake Odorizzi and Jose Berrios remain at the top of the rotation, but Minnesota lost Kyle Gibson to free agency and Michael Pineda to a 60-game suspension as a result of a PED violation. Veterans Rich Hill and Homer Bailey are slotted third and fourth in the rotation, and 25-year-old right-hander Randy Dobnak is the caboose. A repeat season from Odorizzi and vintage Rich Hill are needed to ensure the Twins are contenders.

Of course, they have an outstanding bullpen trio to lean on in Taylor Rogers, Tyler Duffey, and Trevor May. They also completed a deal with the Dodgers for Kenta Maeda, an experienced right-hander who can flex as a starter and a reliever.

The Twins will not take a step back in 2020. They have more than enough going their way to guarantee more than 90 wins.

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.

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.