Top 3 factors to determine who wins Al Central

On Mar 23, 2023

Oct 14, 2022; Bronx, New York, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber (57) pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning in game two of the ALDS for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Hope springs eternal. It’s true for every club playing in Arizona and Florida, ramping up for a grinding 162-game season (thanks to a normal schedule not truncated by an owners’ lockout this year).

For the Guardians, they’re entering what appears to be a three-team race with the Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox in the American League Central. The Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals are still working through extended rebuilds. After all, Bobby Witt Jr. is only one man.

With Major League Baseball’s new, more balanced schedule, the Guardians will play these teams less often than they had in the past. The AL Central has tended to be a lighter group in recent years, allowing for the contenders to beat up on teams within the division, but that won’t be the case in 2023, which could impact the Wild Card race.

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But as for the Central, the Guardians enter as the reigning division champs coming off of a 92-win season that few outside of their own clubhouse thought they’d put together. Here’s a look at the biggest factors that could determine whether they repeat as champs or fall short to the Twins or White Sox in 2023.

The Guardians lineup: Young, contact-based hitters are adjusting to league’s adjustments in 2023

One of the biggest storylines of the Guardians’ 2022 season was their contact-first, old-school lineup that reversed the recent league-wide trend built on power and the three true outcomes (home runs, walks, strikeouts). Led by Steven Kwan, who perfectly embodied that style of play while taking over the leadoff spot as the season progressed, the Guardians were able to ground teams down with a series of difficult outs and another top-6 MVP finish from Jose Ramirez.