The AL East may be the toughest division in MLB, with four of the five teams – the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays, and Boston Red Sox – being legitimate contenders.
The NL West may have the greatest concentration of talent, player development, and scouting, as it hosts the Los Angeles Dodgers, the San Francisco Giants, and the San Diego Padres.
The closest division, however, may very well be the AL Central.
“Every AL Central team may argue — credibly — that it has a legitimate chance to win the division. The 1st-place #Twins have 8 losses. The other four teams have 9. Parity reigns. I expect it will be that way all season. @MLBNetwork,” MLB Network’s Jon Morosi tweeted on Tuesday.
Every AL Central team may argue — credibly — that it has a legitimate chance to win the division. The 1st-place #Twins have 8 losses. The other four teams have 9. Parity reigns. I expect it will be that way all season. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) April 26, 2022
While there is some parity in theory, at least right now, the logical expectation is that the Chicago White Sox – currently 6-9 and 1.5 games behind the Minnesota Twins – eventually take the lead and run away with the division.
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However, that is definitely not set in stone.
Last year, the White Sox took the division with a comfortable cushion, but that may not be the case in 2022.
The Twins have a much-improved roster and a healthy star (so far) in Byron Buxton.
A healthy Buxton may contend with Cleveland Guardians’ slugger Jose Ramirez for the best player in the division.
Speaking of the Guardians, they are looking quite interesting, with a couple of youngsters breaking out to help Ramirez carry the offense: Steven Kwan and Owen Miller.
That, with a strong staff, gives them a chance.
The Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals will likely depend on the progress of some key prospects, like Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene, and Bobby Witt Jr., but in a best-case scenario, they can also dream with a playoff berth.
Things are looking very interesting, and exciting, in the AL Central.
Everybody seems to have a chance, and that’s very good for baseball.
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