2024 Miami Marlins season preview: The 3 AL division winners and Wild Cards

AL CENTRAL

The Chicago White Sox are bad. So bad that their pitching is worse than that of the Oakland Athletics. I don't see anyone in that rotation making it on any other team. This is a last place team that's going to lose 100 games. Their offense has some good injury-prone bats in CF Luis Robert Jr. and DH Eloy Jimenez. Any extended absence for either will have them competing for worst team in the Majors.

The Cleveland Guardians have a solid rotation, but no proven ace. Shane Bieber has been in decline, Triston McKenzie is coming back after a major injury and Tanner Bibee can't be expected to be the ace already. The lineup is pretty weak and only the bullpen stands out as a strength,

The Detroit Tigers have a better rotation than Cleveland, though not one that a playoff tram typically has. Their bullpen is pretty weak and unreliable and I don't expect Alex Lange to hold on to the cloer's job all season. Their lineup is looking kind of weak too, but the youngsters taking steps forward could help make the difference.

The Kansas City Royals have a shaky bullpen, but a rotation that seems to be similar to Detroit's. I like Kansas City's lineup that might be the best in the division. C Salvador Perez, 1B Vinnie Pasquantino, RF Hunter Renfroe, LF MJ Melendez, SS Bobby Witt Jr. can all be 20+ HR bats.

The Minnesota Twins have the best rotation in the division, with the most upside. The best closer and a solid enough lineup. They're worse than last season, but still look like the best team in the division.

Projected finish:

1. MINNESOTA TWINS

2. DETROIT TIGERS

3. KANSAS CITY ROYALS

4. CLEVELAND GUARDIANS

5. CHICAGO WHITE SOX

NEXT: THE 3-TEAM RACE