MLB · 3 months ago

Debating the Future Wins of American League Central Teams

Sportsgrid Staff

Host · Writer

Debating the Future Wins of American League Central Teams

The American League Central Isn’t a Punchline Anymore — But Can It Deliver a 90-Win Duo?

For years, the American League Central has been the league’s backwater — overlooked, underwhelming, and mostly irrelevant come October. But 2025 has changed the script. The Detroit Tigers are in firm control. The Kansas City Royals are shocking skeptics. The Cleveland Guardians are steady. And the Minnesota Twins, thought to be buried in April, just posted a red-hot May.

But here’s the question bettors and fans alike are asking: Buy or sell — will the AL Central feature multiple 90-win teams?

Detroit Looks Like a Lock — But Who Follows?

Let’s go ahead and pencil in Detroit for 90+ wins. This young, athletic club has the pitching (hello, Tarik Skubal), a balanced offense, and a manager in A.J. Hinch pressing the right buttons. At 94 wins projected pace, they’d have to collapse hard not to get there.

Projected win total (as of late May): 92.5
Division betting odds: Tigers -140 to win AL Central
Key stretch: A 10-game run in June against sub-.500 AL East teams could pad their lead

Betting Insight: Detroit’s division futures are still playable, and they remain undervalued in game lines, especially at home. When Skubal starts, the under has hit in 7 of his 10 outings.

Kansas City’s Meteoric Rise Feels Real — But 90?

The Royals are the true revelation. Bobby Witt Jr. is a legit MVP candidate, and the rotation has been quietly efficient. Still, pushing toward 90 wins may be ambitious.

Projected record: 88-74
Team win total market: Over/Under 86.5
Division title odds: +250, with value diminishing by the day

Buy or Sell: Sell on 90 wins, but buy them as a wild card sleeper. The Royals are 6th in MLB in team OPS in May and continue to rake against lefties. A trade-deadline splash could swing things.

Betting Trend: KC has been a moneyline monster as underdogs — 13-7 when priced at +120 or more. Worth tracking if books don’t adjust fast enough.

Cleveland’s Ceiling Hinges on the Bats

The Guardians’ pitching remains elite — anchored by Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams — but offensive concerns persist. José Ramírez still lacks lineup protection, and run production comes in streaks.

Projected finish: 84-78
Win total trend: Slight uptick from preseason 81.5
Division outlook: Needs Tigers to stumble

Buy or Sell: Sell on 90, but buy on team Under in win total markets if they cool off. A team living on run prevention alone will face issues as the weather warms and slugging picks up.

Twins’ Resurrection Could Fizzle Again

Minnesota deserves credit. After a 10-18 April, the Twins went 19-9 in May, led by a resurgent Byron Buxton and a bullpen that found its identity. Still, consistency is the issue.

Current pace: 82 wins
Updated win total: 83.5
Offensive ranks: 9th in wRC+ since May 1, but 24th on the season

Buy or Sell: Sell on 90 wins, and maybe on 85. Minnesota has leaned on a thin pitching staff and the health of key stars. Regression is coming unless moves are made.

Betting Tip: Live-bet the Twins when trailing early — they’ve posted 11 comeback wins in the last 4 weeks.

Verdict: The Division’s Better, But Still Not Elite

The AL Central is no longer a laughingstock — but it’s not quite the AL East either. A 90-win trio? Unlikely. Detroit gets there, but KC stalls just short, and Cleveland/Minnesota remain mid-80s squads.

Buy: Detroit Over win total, KC as underdog ML plays
Sell: AL Central having multiple 90-win teams
Prop Watch: Skubal for AL Cy Young (+1000) and Witt Jr. for AL MVP (+750) offer strong midseason value

Bonus Prop — Can Judge Win the Triple Crown?

Let’s zoom out for one last futures angle: Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees is on a Triple Crown pace — leading the AL in average, and just behind in home runs and RBIs. He won’t hit 65 bombs, but he might just do something rarer.

Triple Crown Futures (DraftKings):