Minnesota Twins: Breaking Down the 2022 AL Central Rivals-Chicago
Minnesota Twins: AL Central Rival Projected Lineup
- C: Yasmani Grandal
- 1B: Jose Abreu
- 2B: Josh Harrison
- SS: Tim Anderson
- 3B: Yoan Moncada
- LF: Eloy Jimenez
- CF: Luis Robert
- RF: A.J. Pollock
- DH: Andrew Vaughn
The White Sox lineup is quite formidable. If Luis Robert, A.J. Pollock, Eloy Jimenez can stay healthy, that’s one of the best offensive groups in baseball. Jose Abreu and Yasmani Grandal have been remarkably consistent, even as they age. Tim Anderson is the engine for this offense though.
He’s a 20-20 threat, and if he’s playing well, the team is. Moncada, Harrison, and Vaughn round out the starters, but their bench is deep too. Gavin Sheets, Leury Garcia, Reese McGuire, Micker Adolfo, and Adam Engel are a solid bench, and with Jake Burger and Adam Haseley at the Top of the minors, there’s more help on the way.
As far as prospects go, Parise doesn’t see many arriving in 2022:
There is a good chance that Micker Adolfo makes his MLB debut soon if the Sox don’t trade him. Andrew Vaughn and Gavin Sheets are locks to make the team, so Jake Burger is the next best prospect that could see time. I’m not really expecting anyone else.
Minnesota Twins: AL Central Rival Projected Rotation and Bullpen
Rotation
- Lucas Giolito
- Dylan Cease
- Michael Kopech
- Dallas Keuchel
- Vince Velasquez
Bullpen
- Liam Hendriks
- Kendall Graveman
- Aaron Bummer
- Joe Kelly
- Ryan Burr
- Jose Ruiz
- Bennett Sousa
- Reynaldo Lopez
- Matt Foster
- Kyle Crick
When this team gets healthy Lance Lynn slots in as the second starter in the rotation, this team has what is probably the best pitching staff in the division. Lucas Giolito is a sure-fire ace, Lance Lynn would be an ace in most rotations, Dylan Cease is poised for a big year and taking the next step last year.
Michael Kopech has always had frontline potential, even though he’s very unproven. He’ll need to show his stuff right away with Lynn out. Dallas Keuchel is better than he showed last year, and Johnny Cueto or Vince Velasquez are solid back of the rotation guys while everyone heals up.
The bullpen is somehow stronger than last year, despite losing two very good relievers. Liam Hendriks is one of the best closers in baseball, and Graveman, Bummer, Kelly (once healthy), and Burr are a strong group in front of him. With that being said, losing Garrett Crochet for the year hurts. Here’s Parise’s thoughts on the team’s arms:
The teams biggest strength is its pitching when healthy. That was proven in 2021 and a lot of these guys will be another year better. The only pitching hole is the “long reliever” that was going to be Garrett Crochet. They will eat his innings by committee now that Michael Kopech is in the rotation.
Minnesota Twins: AL Central Rival 2022 Predictions
Let’s get right to it: unless the team gets hit with even more injuries, the Chicago White Sox should win this division. The Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers are going to be way better in 2022, but this is Chicago’s division to lose.
The best case scenario for the White Sox is easy to envision. Cease and Kopech take the expected big steps to join Giolito and Lynn as the most fearsome foursome in baseball. Keuchel rebounds to be a solid fifth starter. The bullpen doesn’t miss Crochet and the pitching group is the best in baseball.
The lineup is dominant and the young players stay healthy and the lineup is baseball’s best, leading the White Sox to 100 wins. They then march through a weaker American League before bringing home a World Series (or at least the AL Pennant).
Parise agrees: “The best case scenario for this team is that they win the World Series. It is hard to do that, but they are one of the best teams in the AL.” It’s also not hard to imagine the worst case scenario for this team, especially with the injuries that have already happened.
Lance Lynn doesn’t look like himself in his return, the vaunted outfield plays 162 games combined, and Kopech is injured facing a much larger workload. The back of the rotation overworks the bullpen, and a team with title aspirations wins 80-85 games and barely makes the playoffs (or misses them entirely.
The likely scenario is closer to the first. The Royals and Guardians are going to be murdered by this team, and though it’s not as easy as the AL West, it’s far easier than the AL East. The White Sox should win 95 games, the division and probably a playoff series or maybe two if everyone stays healthy. If the Twins plan to compete, the road to the division title runs through Chicago.
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