10 Questions After Two Weeks in the AL Central

1. Is Cleveland’s offense really this bad?

Cleveland is hitting .198/.275/.369 (78 wRC+) over their first 12 games. José Ramírez has been exactly average with a 100 wRC+ while Eddie Rosario (113) and Franmil Reyes (122) are carrying the weight. Cleveland ranks dead last in the American League in OBP (.275) and fWAR (0.2). The first three spots in their batting order rank last in MLB in wRC+ (72). It’s unlikely a lineup with Ramírez, Rosario and Reyes will be this bad, but they clearly lack depth.

2. Will Shane Bieber win back-to-back Cy Young awards?

Despite their offensive struggles, Cleveland still has a 7-5 record, thanks in no small part to one of the best pitchers in the world. Bieber dismantled the White Sox Tuesday en route to a nine inning, 11-strikeout gem. The 25-year-old right-hander owns a 2.11 ERA and 42% strikeout rate after three starts. His command is immaculate, his aura is mesmerizing and his arm is special. Bieber will be a tough matchup all year.

3. Are the White Sox a pitching team now?

The White Sox took a major blow when they lost Eloy Jiménez (torn pectoral) before Opening Day. Jiménez was projected by ZiPS to lead the team in OPS and home runs. The offense has a respectable 105 wRC+ thus far, slightly above league average. The pitching staff has been fantastic. Chicago ranks first in MLB in fWAR (2.9) and FIP (2.92). This team could threaten in an unexpected way: by shutting you down.

4. Could Detroit be more than just a pushover?

The A.J. Hinch-led Tigers are showing some fight early. Top pitching prospect Casey Mize put together a tremendous start this week, assisting the Tigers in a sweep of the Astros in Houston. Akil Baddoo is slugging .839 and the team is enjoying strong starts from Jeimer Candelario (145 wRC+) and Wilson Ramos (180). They could be pesky, based on early returns.

5. Will the Twins ever be healthy?

One of the main weaknesses of the Twins’ roster is the abundance of players with long injury histories. Byron Buxton, Josh Donaldson, Luis Arraez, and Nelson Cruz have all had varying aliments through the first two weeks of the season. Will this lineup ever be full strength for a prolonged period? What are the implications if the answer is no?

6. Are the Royals back?

Kansas City was a popular pick to break out this year and for decent reason. The lineup is headlined by Salvador Pérez, Whit Merrifield, and Jorge Soler. The rotation has had some positive early returns, as Brady Singer is humming upper-90s heat and Jakob Junis has been pristine. Questions remain about depth and the bullpen, but this team hasn’t disappointed the believers thus far.

7. Could Byron Buxton make an MVP case?

Buxton entered play Friday leading the AL in fWAR (1.2) despite missing the last three games (tight hamstring). Buxton’s immense talent has been on full display and it’s hard not to see him as one of the most prolific power hitters in baseball at the moment. He’s slugging .575 since 2019 and looks more comfortable than ever at the plate. Refer to question five if wondering what could hold him back.

8. Was 2019 an outlier for Yoán Moncada?

The White Sox third baseman was great two seasons ago, slashing .315/.367/.548 with 25 homers and 34 doubles in 132 games. Even with that fantastic season, Moncada’s career OPS sits at .777, 10% above league average. He’s hitting .219 with a .680 OPS over his last 285 plate appearances. His real identity is key to how high the Sox fly in 2021 and beyond.

9. Which bullpen reigns supreme in the division?

The AL Central is loaded with great relievers. Josh Staumont throws 102 mph in Kansas City, Michael Kopech isn’t far behind in Chicago and Emmanuel Clase and James Karinchak in Cleveland may be the best relief duo in the league. There have been a few explosions here and there, but this is a special crop of bullpens.

10. How many teams will be in the hunt? And for how long?

Many view the AL Central as a two-horse race between Chicago and Minnesota, but what if it’s really a three-team race? Or four for a while? It’ll be interesting to see how Kansas City and Cleveland match up and which club emerges. There’s no shortage of intrigue in what was once an incredibly boring division.

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