AL Central overunder
The Twins have the highest win total in the AL Central while the Tigers have one of the lowest in the entire Major League according to the oddsmakers. How many games will the Indians win and will their total be enough to challenge for a title or a playoff spot in the AL?
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 We got the Tigers, Royals, Indians, Twins and White Sox.
00:03 Yep, we're talking about the AL Central win total.
00:06 Here with me to discuss is Cleveland baseball insider Matt Lodi and Sports Illustrated's
00:12 gambling analyst Ben Heisler.
00:14 Matt, I'll go to you first.
00:16 Let's talk about the Indians win total this year.
00:18 What are you projecting them for the shortened 2020 season?
00:22 Well, the starting rotation is obviously the strength of this ball club, along with the
00:26 infield, Carlos Santana, Francisco Lindor, Cesar Hernandez and Jose Ramirez.
00:32 Those four guys are going to have to contribute in a big way for this team to be good.
00:36 I look right now, anywhere between 35 and 38 wins, I think this team does have what
00:41 it takes to be very good.
00:43 And I think also the fact that they're playing somewhat of a soft schedule.
00:46 They've got all those games against the AL Central, and they're also playing the National
00:50 League Central, which is, of course, the toughest division over on the senior circuit.
00:54 So I think the Indians could potentially be close to that 40 win mark.
00:57 I think right now, though, you're looking about 35 to 38.
01:00 They've also got to avoid injuries.
01:02 That's another big key.
01:03 Last year, their pitching staff got hit hard with it, and they still managed to win 90
01:07 plus games.
01:08 So I think if this team can manage 37, 38 wins, they'll be right in the hunt of a playoff
01:12 spot.
01:13 Ben, let me go over to you for some of your best bets out of the AL Central.
01:17 Who are you eyeing up?
01:19 Yeah, this is a bit of a weird conundrum to be in, considering the Detroit Tigers were
01:23 the worst team in baseball a season ago.
01:25 But I like their over because their over total bill is so low.
01:28 It's just 21 and a half games.
01:31 If you hit that 22 over a 60 game sample, averaging that out to 162 games, that still
01:36 is around 58, 59 wins.
01:37 It still amounts to 100 lost season, but they're going to be better this year.
01:41 I certainly think Matthew Boyd at the top of the rotation is a solid option.
01:45 Jordan Zimmerman can get hot for a little bit.
01:47 Spencer Turnbull could take a step in the right direction.
01:49 I just think that number is a tad bit too low in such a small stretch.
01:53 As for a team that I like the under on, it's the Minnesota Twins who won that division
01:56 a season ago.
01:57 They had a 96 win season in 2019.
02:00 Really strong team.
02:01 Rocco Baldelli is a terrific manager, but I see some regression coming this year.
02:05 Their pitching was outstanding a season ago.
02:06 Their hitting was amongst the best in baseball.
02:08 And I just think in a shortened sample, 34 and a half games just feels a tad bit too
02:12 high.
02:13 That's the third highest win total behind only the Yankees and the Houston Astros.
02:17 So Cleveland's going to be one of those teams.
02:18 Give it at the heels.
02:19 The White Sox are going to be better.
02:20 I just think it's going to be a tough matchup for them.
02:22 All right.
02:23 We got the over on the Tigers, the over on the Indians, and the under on the Twins.
02:29 Ben and Matt, thank you guys for that insight.
02:31 We have plenty more MLB win totals.
02:34 You can get all of our gambling advice by going to si.com/gambling.
02:38 [BLANK_AUDIO]