As the incredible winning streaks in the AL Central have fizzled out, the outlook of the division is becoming more clear. In the first few weeks of August, the division looked like one of the best in the MLB. The Cleveland Indians had won 10 out of 11 games, Kansas City was even better, winning 17 out of 20, and the Detroit Tigers won 12 in a row.
Since these tears, all three teams have come down to earth. Detroit and Cleveland have lost six of their last 10 games and Kansas City is just 5-5. In reality, the teams in the Central Division are neither as good as they were playing in late July, nor as bad as they have been the last week. Though it has been considered one of the weakest divisions in baseball during recent seasons, the top three teams have played well in 2013.
Detroit is obviously the class of the division. Miguel Cabrera has ended the debate about who is the best hitter in the game today and is moving towards labeling himself one of the best ever. He continued to put on a show in the most recent series against Kansas City, when he followed a walk-off homerun in game four with a first-pitch homerun in his first at-bat in game five. It doesn't make sense to pitch to Cabrera anymore, as he can do major damage in any situation but isn't a threat on the base paths if you walk him.
It is slightly more difficult to walk Cabrera in recent games, as Prince Fielder has finally started to perk up again. Following the announcement that he would be divorcing his wife, the slugger has started to hit the ball out of the park. He broke the ice with a first-inning bomb to right-center field in the first inning on Thursday, and added a double and a game-tying homerun on Saturday night. Despite his slow start to August, if Fielder is indeed beginning to turn things around, the Tigers lineup will become even more formidable.
On the other side of the ball, new shortstop Jose Iglesias has brought a new level of energy to an already-exciting Detroit team. Iglesias is even better than advertised at shortstop. His range to either side allows him to get to balls up the middle and make up for injured-Miguel Cabrera's decreased range at third base. Getting to the ball is one thing, but what sets Iglesias apart from other great defenders is his lightning-fast exchange. The young shortstop gets the ball out of the glove faster than anyone else in the game, and follows it up by showcasing a strong and accurate throwing arm. His defense at shortstop has made this Tigers team much better, and his bat is perking up after back-to-back multi-hit games to end the series against the Royals.
What makes the Tigers especially dangerous is the starting pitching staff that has virtually no weakness. Max Scherzer is starting to distance himself from the rest of the American League in the Cy Young race after picking up his 18th win of the season Sunday afternoon. Doug Fister and Anibal Sanchez have continued to be two of the steadiest starters in the MLB, while Justin Verlander has been stronger in August. In three starts this month, Verlander has looked more like his former self, pitching a total of 23 innings. Rick Porcello has quietly given up three or less runs in eight straight starts and lowered his ERA to 4.33. If the pitching continues to dominate as it has since the All-star break, the Tigers will run away with the AL Central.
Kansas City proved how good they really are during the five-game series in Detroit this week, giving themselves a chance to win every single game but falling short in Sunday's rubber match. The Royals looked ready to make a serious charge at the division-leading Tigers after sweeping a doubleheader, but failed to win the final two games of the set.
Speed is the biggest part of Kansas City's game. Royals runners were all over the base paths during the series in Detroit, and were perfect in nine stolen base attempts. The outfielders can cover as much ground as any other threesome in the league, something they showcased in the spacious outfield of Comerica Park. The additions of Justin Maxwell, Emilio Bonifacio and Jamey Carroll have added to that speed and range, and Kansas City has become one of the most exciting teams to watch in the American League.
James Shields leads a very strong Kansas City pitching staff and has been better than General Manager Dayton Moore could have asked for after trading Wil Meyers to acquire him. Ervin Santana has been one of the best surprises in the American League this year, boasting a 3.19 ERA. Bruce Chen is 6/6 in quality starts and Greg Holland anchors the most electric bullpen in the country with his 34 saves. With strong pitching like the Royals have, the team can realistically hope to stay in the playoff race through September.
Though the Cleveland Indians appeared to be buried after getting swept by Detroit at home in a four-game series, they have bounced back nicely in their last six games, winning four of those contests and cutting the division lead down to six entering Sunday. Cleveland has thus far avoided the second-half collapse that has haunted them for the past two seasons, and sits just 3.5 games out of the second wildcard spot.
Jason Kipnis has done virtually everything for the offense this season, leading the team in batting average, hits, home runs, RBI, OBP and stolen bases. The all-star is leading an offense that has gets strong contributions from Carlos Santana, Michael Bourn and Michael Brantley. The glaring problem with Cleveland's offense is the lack of power, which wasn't helped by the exit of Mark Reynolds, who failed to break out of a prolonged slump. After the loss of Reynolds, the Indians are left with only one player, Kipnis, with at least 15 home runs. With the exception of backup catcher Yan Gomes, no Cleveland hitters are batting .300, so they count on speed to produce many of their runs.
The difference in Cleveland this season has been stronger starting pitching. Justin Masterson has bounced back from a down season and pitched like an ace for the Indians. Meanwhile, Ubaldo Jimenez has had his best season in the American League and Corey Kluber and Zach McAllister have given the Indians something to look forward to in the future. The bullpen has been a bit shakier behind the struggles of Chris Perez and Vinnie Pestano, but the Indians have continued to win close games late anyways.
The Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins have continued to be scrappy, but they are both well into the rebuilding stages. Chicago picked up Avisail Garcia when they dealt Jake Peavy to the Boston Red Sox, and he has already been called up and tested in the big leagues. Minnesota has been quiet besides shipping Carroll to Kansas City, and haven't been much to talk about this year.
With around 40 games remaining in the season, the AL Central is one of the more entertaining divisions to watch. Detroit currently boasts the best record in the American League, and Cleveland and Kansas City are battling for playoff spots. As we inch closer and closer to October, don't be surprised to see things tighten up in the wildcard race as the Tigers battle Boston for a top seed.
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