This is the fifth of six divisional previews from Impact 89FM, stay tuned for the rest of the previews throughout the opening week of the MLB season.
The American League Central, home to the 2015 World Series Champion Kansas City Royals. The Royals will try to defend their trophy, but they will have to beat out the likes of the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox, who both made a number of notable moves at the trade deadline and in the offseason.
Zachary Swiecicki, Zach Barnes, and Will Thiede talk about what could be the most competitive division in baseball. Impact 89FM is located in Michigan, so they do go in-depth on the Tigers (7:28) as well.
After winning the Central four years in a row, Detroit fell to last place in one of the weakest years for the division. The entire 2015 division standings are below.
Team
W
L
W-L%
GB
Kansas City Royals
95
67
0.586
—
Minnesota Twins
83
79
0.512
12.0
Cleveland Indians
81
80
0.503
13.5
Chicago White Sox
76
86
0.469
19.0
Detroit Tigers
74
87
0.460
20.5
This year’s AL Central is anyone’s for the taking.
Our 2016 AL Central Projected Standings.
*American League lineups will be include the designated hitter*
1. Detroit Tigers
Rotation
1
Justin Verlander
2
Anibal Sanchez
3
Jordan Zimmerman
4
Mike Pelfrey
5
Shane Greene
Opening Day Lineup
2B
Ian Kinsler
LF
Justin Upton
1B
Miguel Cabrera
DH
Victor Martinez
RF
J.D. Martinez
3B
Nick Castellanos
C
James McCann
SS
Jose Iglesias
CF
Anthony Gose
2. Kansas Royals
Rotation
1
Edinson Volquez
2
Chris Young
3
Kris Medlen
4
Yordano Ventura
5
Ian Kennedy
Opening Day Lineup
SS
Alcides Escobar
3B
Mike Moustakas
CF
Lorenzo Cain
1B
Eric Hosmer
DH
Kendrys Morales
LF
Alex Gordon
C
Salvador Perez
2B
Omar Infante
RF
Reymond Fuentes
3. Chicago White Sox
Rotation
1
Chris Sale
2
Jose Quintana
3
Carlos Rodon
4
Matt Latos
5
John Danks
Opening Day Lineup
RF
Adam Eaton
SS
Jimmy Rollins
1B
Jose Abreu
3B
Todd Frazier
LF
Melky Cabrera
DH
Avisail Garcia
2B
Brett Lawrie
C
Dioner Navarro
CF
Austin Jackson
4. Cleveland Indians
Rotation
1
Corey Kluber
2
Carlos Carrasco
3
Danny Salazar
4
Cody Anderson
5
Josh Tomlin
Opening Day Lineup
CF
Rajai Davis
2B
Jason Kipnis
SS
Francisco Lindor
1B
Mike Napoli
DH
Carlos Santana
C
Yan Gomes
LF
Marlon Byrd
3B
Juan Uribe
RF
Collin Cowgill
5. Minnesota Twins
Rotation
1
Ervin Santana
2
Kyle Gibson
3
Phil Hughes
4
Tommy Milone
5
Ricky Nolasco
Opening Day Lineup
2B
Brian Dozier
1B
Joe Mauer
RF
Miguel Sano
3B
Trevor Plouffe
LF
Eddie Rosario
DH
Byung Ho Park
SS
Eduardo Escobar
C
Kurt Suzuki
CF
Byron Buxton