The 2018 major league baseball season is right around the corner and when it comes to the AL Central division, it seems to be Cleveland’s to lose. The Tribe are nearly every MLB experts selection to win the Central in 2018, and for good reason.

They have a solid line up that features shortstop Francisco Lindor, second baseman Jason Kipnis, and designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion. Those three alone can strike fear into any pitcher. Add to that they also have a solid pitching staff led by Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco, and on paper, it seems like another runaway divisional title for the Tribe.

However, if the favorites always won, there would be no reason to watch sports!

Tigers, White Sox will surprise

The detroit tigers are going to be awful in 2018, that is if you believe all of the MLB predictions floating around the internet. Sure, they have lost a ton of talent, but for the first time in nearly a decade, the Tigers are not one of the favorites to win the AL Central or the World Series - and that may not be a bad thing.

The young talent that includes Michael Fulmer, Dixon Machado, Mikie Mahtook and Jeimer Candelario, not to mention three very young and hot prospect pitchers in Franklin Perez, Beau Burrows, and Matt Manning. All three are too young to legally drink, however, they all may be part of the Tigers rotation before the 2020 season begins.

Unlike Brad Ausmus, Ron Gardenhire doesn’t have an All-Star lineup to work with. That won’t matter to Gardy one bit. Just like Sparky Anderson and Jim Leyland before him, Gardenhire doesn’t mince his words - the best players will stay and the worst will go, no matter who they are.

Like the Tigers, not much is expected from the Chicago White Sox in 2018, but don’t let that fool you.

The ChiSox will be a pesky bunch for many teams this season, especially if José Abreu, Avisail Garcia, and Matt Davidson mash like they are capable of.

Unlike any other sport, baseball is a long grind. The Tigers and White Sox may not be postseason bound, but they will play better than most expect.

Odds, predictions

The Cleveland Indians are the heavy favorites to win the AL Central, yet they are the most unwise to wager on.

According to Get More Sports, the Tribe is sitting at an unhealthy -650 to win the AL Central. Those odds are way too ugly to wager on. What that means in gambling terms is you have to wager $650 to win $100. That’s not the way to make money.

While the Tribe will most likely take the divisional crown, don’t bet on it. Take a chance with any of the rest of the division - especially considering we are talking about just five teams total and the other four teams not named, Cleveland has some nice odds! Remember, last season at this time no one was giving the Minnesota Twins any hype, yet they made the postseason in 2017 after losing over 100 games in 2016.

Here is a look at my predictions and the current odds to win the AL Central.

Divisional Odds

  • Cleveland -650
  • Minnesota +350
  • Chicago +3300
  • Kansas City +5000
  • Detroit +5000

AL Cenral Predicition

1. Cleveland

2. Minnesota

3. Detroit

4. Chicago

5. Kansas City
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED