AL Central Winner Odds: The Twins Soon to be Champs of the AL Central Division

The Minnesota Twins have clinched their ninth AL Central Divisional title in franchise history. The Twins were leaders of the division for over 95% of the season and rarely had as much weakness as the rest of the teams in the AL Central. They are a team that will be a serious competitor for the ALCS title. Keep a watch out for WSN’s weekly World Series updates as we give odds and best bets until a champion is crowned.

AL Central Winner Odds

Odds for the AL Central Winner are no longer available.

AL Central Winner - Our Pick

With time running out on most of the teams in the AL Central, it is likely that the Minnesota Twins are going to be the winners of the division. The only exception is if the Cleveland Guardians or Detroit Tigers make a miraculous run. An even bigger surprise would be a nearly impossible run from the Chicago White Sox.

Minnesota Twins 

Another week, another six-game lead for the Minnesota Twins (72-66) in the AL Central. The Twins are the only team in the division with an above .500% as well as the team in the division to be in the positive of runs scored and runs against.

The Twins didn't have the best week last week as they went 3-3 but not in the expected set of games. Minnesota was 1-2 versus their AL Central rivals in the Cleveland Guardians at home and then went on the road versus a tough Texas Rangers team and won 2-1 in a series.

Before Monday's big 20-6 victory over the Guardians, the Twins didn't have the best performances over their divisional rivals as they went 4-6. This past week was no exception as the Twins didn't perform to the expectations that a divisional leader should over their other teams.

In the six games played last week, the Twins had averaged 5.5 runs, 9.0 hits, 1.7 home runs, 5.3 RBIs, 4.3 walks, 10.2 strikeouts, 1.2 stolen bases, a batting average of .256, an on-base percentage of .342 and a slugging percentage of .431. They had more impressive numbers in the series against the Rangers. Minnesota had a home run in five of the six games during the week with one game being three against Cleveland and one game being three against Texas.

The Twins are becoming a more efficient and confident batting team late in the season, which is just in time to gain a rhythm for the postseason if they finish the division strong.

Cleveland Guardians 

The closer to the end of the 2023 MLB Season gets for the Cleveland Guardians (66-72), the closer it gets to the feeling of a wasted opportunity for the reigning division champs. There have been many times this season that the Guardians could've taken the lead permanently over the Twins but failed to develop a rhythm. The Guardians took the lead from the Guardians right at the 2023 MLB All-Star Break before quickly giving it back to the Twins.

Last week is an example of the Guardians being able to show they are worthy of being the competent leaders of the AL Central and contending well in the postseason. Cleveland defeated its AL Central rival in the Minnesota Twins in two of the three games. Going into the weekend, the Guardians hosted the Tampa Bay Rays, who have been hit hard with injuries. The Guardians took two of those three games in the series.

The Guardians found some success at the plate last week in their six games. Cleveland averaged 4.5 runs, 8.5 hits, 4.2 RBIs, 2.5 walks, 8.2 strikeouts, 1.3 stolen bases, a batting average of .241, an on-base percentage of .290 and a slugging percentage of .354.

In the pitching game, the Guardians allowed an average of 8.5 hits, 4.7 runs, 3.5 walks, delivered an average of 9.2 strikeouts, and an ERA of 4.02.

There is officially less than a month left until the 2023 MLB Postseason where the AL Central will be decided. As of now, it is looking tight for the Guardians to make a move, but they have shown they can win.

Detroit Tigers 

The Detroit Tigers (63-74) took as big of a hit in the odds for the AL Central Division as they ever have before this week. The Tigers are not far from the top of the division, but at the rate of their play in the batting, fielding and pitching game, the Tigers are not going to catch the Minnesota Twins or the Cleveland Guardians. It is going to take some serious improvements on the field to be serious in the AL Central.

Last week saw the good and the bad in the seven games played. The Tigers went 4-3 last week, starting with a 1-3 series home loss to the New York Yankees and then a three-game road series sweep over their AL Central rivals in the Chicago White Sox.

The Tigers started the week with three consecutive losses to the Yankees as their batting unit struggled significantly. They only accounted for one run in the first two losses to the Yankees before scoring only two in the third loss. Their pitching and fielding held up in the fourth and final game as the Tigers won 4-3 in ten innings.

Detroit swept Chicago in three games two of the games with tough defensive battles while the middle matchup was a dominating 10-0 win.

There is a chance that the Tigers can make a serious run towards the top of the AL Central as their remaining schedule features another home series versus the White Sox, at the depleted Los Angeles Angels, four games at the Oakland Athletics, the Kansas City Royals, and the Cleveland Guardians. It is a hard long shot, but there is a chance.

Chicago White Sox 

A team that has an even bigger long shot for the title of the AL Central Division are the Chicago White Sox (53-85). It has been a disastrous season for the White Sox as they have already made significant changes to the front office.

There are two teams eliminated from postseason play (one of them being in the division). The next projected team from the AL is going to be the White Sox unless they make the perfect run to end the 2023 MLB Regular Season.

The White Sox didn't make a case for a perfect run last week as they predictably lost well over a majority of their games played. The White Sox only won one of their six games played last week with the one game being a surprise 10-5 win at the Baltimore Orioles. Chicago lost its first game against Baltimore 9-0 followed by a 9-3 loss. The White Sox then was swept by the Detroit Tigers to end the disastrous week.

In the six games played last week, the White Sox averaged 2.8 runs, 7.7 hits, 0.7 home runs, 2.8 RBIs, 1.8 walks, 6.8 strikeouts, a batting average of 235, an on-base percentage of .274 and a slugging percentage of .347.

In the pitching game, the White Sox allowed an average of 6.7 runs, 11.3 hits, 4.3 walks, 0.7 home runs, delivered 7.5 strikeouts, and ERA of 6.75.

The White Sox will not be winning games with horrible performances like this. It will not be long until Chicago is likely the third team from the AL eliminated from postseason play.

Kansas City Royals 

At the bottom of the barrel in the AL Central Division, the Kansas City Royals (43-96) have shown time and time why are they one of the worst teams in the MLB this season. The Royals became the second team this season to be eliminated from postseason play as well as contend for the AL Central Division. The Royals have only one more win than the Oakland Athletics, a team that has been historically terrible before their move to Las Vegas.

Last week, the Royals had accounted for an overall record of 1-5. Their lone win was a 13-2 home win over the Boston Red Sox, which might say more about the Red Sox than the Royals.

Kansas City started the week getting swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates at home. The Royals only scored four runs in the three games versus the Pirates with the first game being a 5-0 shutout loss.

The Royals got a shocking 13-2 win over the Red Sox at home to start the new series. Kansas City, then, lost 9-5 at home to the Red Sox after the blowout win. They ended the week with a 7-3 loss to the Red Sox.

The Royals have been up and down throughout the 2023 MLB Season in their efficiency at the plate, fielding, and pitching game, but it rarely at the same time of play. There is officially nothing left for the Royals to play for, other than to be the spoiler and make the season difficult for their AL Central Divisional rivals.

How to Place a Futures Bet on the AL Central Division

Users can place bets on DraftKings by clicking on the link here. WSN has an instruction guide on how to make proper. Profits and credits are rewarded by how successful a user makes on a team’s future and how likely they are to win the AL Central. If a user places a bet on the lower odds like the Guardians, Twins, or the White Sox, the more likely they are to be successful. If a user places the future divisional odds on the Royals or the Tigers, the less likely they are going to win, but the more winnings a user will get if the pick is correct at the end of the season.