Despite not winning a World Series in 1948, the Cleveland Guardians have been in a sustained period of success unrivaled in their star-crossed history. In particular, the last two Fall Classics that Cleveland appeared in were painful. Those World Series appearances were seven-game heartbreakers to the Marlins in 1997 and the Cubs in 2016. Cleveland has made the baseball betting odds playoffs in five of the previous six seasons. Cleveland is coming off a 2022 American League Central championship even as it reduced payroll. But in the playoffs against the Yankees, Cleveland’s lacked enough to prevail.
2023 American League Central Division Odds
| Date: | Season Opens March 30, 2023 |
|---|
American League Central Division Championship Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Cleveland Guardians | +115 |
| Minnesota Twins | +180 |
| Chicago White Sox | +300 |
| Detroit Tigers | +3000 |
| Kansas City Royals | +3600 |
Cleveland is Proven Choice in the Central
Last season, the Guardians won 92 games. Yet all they had hitting free agency was a pair of replacement-level catchers and a 34-year-old reliever who has posted an ERA north of 5.00 in four of the past five years. But adding a catcher and upgrading at first base to allow Josh Naylor to become the full-time DH was the offseason sportsbook list for the Guardians. And they succeeded.
Certainly, Cleveland got a good one on the first base front in Josh Bell. He had a rough stretch with the Padres over the second half of 2022. But he has a good bat and enough glove to hold down the fort. And at $16.5 million with a player option for the same amount in 2024, they didn’t need to break the bank to get him. Additionally, Catcher Mike Zunino hit 33 home runs in 2021. However, he hit under .200 in 2019, 2020, and 2022. So there is more about his defense and veteran presence to help rookie Bo Naylor.
It is true that the Guardians were a pleasant surprise in 2022. And that leads to high expectations for 2023.
Minnesota Guns for Twin Killing
At the beginning of 2023, the Minnesota Twins land at the top of many MLB Power Rankings. Gamblers dream of what could be better than Carlos Correa playing all 162 games for Minnesota. Following an offseason where he was sure to leave only to return because two teams were concerned about his medicals. A clean bill of health for Correa in 2023 is the best thing baseball fans who enjoy irony could hope for. He, of course, also has the game-winning hit against the New York Mets in the World Series.
At the beginning of the offseason, it wouldn’t necessarily have been a shocking surprise if Correa returned to the Twins. Although the Giants were the favorite to land him. But with the Giants and Mets backing out on agreements and Correa returning to Minnesota, it’s a plus for the Twins. Still, those first greetings at spring training might feel a little awkward, though.
Already deep in outfielders, the Twins signed Joey Gallo to a low-risk, one-year deal. Also, they traded for Michael Taylor, who gives them insurance in center field for the injury-prone Byron Buxton.
Finally, fans and gamblers saw one of the biggest trades of the offseason. Most view the Twins as the winner in the Pablo Lopez-Luis Arraez. And Pablo Lopez is certainly a nice addition to the rotation if he can follow up last year’s career-high 180 innings.