Minnesota Twins vs AL Central: Starting Pitching
Chicago White Sox: Chris Sale is a strikeout machine and should lead the White Sox. After that is where things get a little questionable for the Sox.
Cleveland Indians: Perhaps the strongest aspect of the team and the single most important piece to their contention. The Indians were tops in strikeouts by the starting staff.
Detroit Tigers: A historically strong staff struggled mightily last year with injuries and inconsistency following the losses of Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello. The Tigers hope to rebound in 2016.
Kansas City Royals: The champs had a much stronger bullpen than starting rotation but still found a way to win games and keep the team in it until the end.
1. Cleveland Indians
Was there ever any doubt on this one? The Indians’ starters had 969 strikeouts last season, topping their 2014 mark of 946.
Led by former Cy Young winner Corey Kluber who will anchor the rotation, the Indians will feature three starters who could easily surpass 200 strikeouts while their last two starters bringing a few question marks regarding their experience, or lack there off.
It’s fitting to see the Indians be the team with the best pitching staff in the Central because in order to compete their starters will need to carry the team as their offense ranked 18th in runs scored.
Still, even if the Indians struggle to provide run support, the simple idea of a team with three starters striking out at least 200 batters should be enough to strike fear in their opponents.
Next: Tigers, White Sox