Chicago White Sox still eyeing top spot in forgiving AL Central
Early in the season, I took a close look at every division in major-league baseball and determined the AL Central was the toughest group from top to bottom.
You had the defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals. The Minnesota Twins, who were the most surprising team (83-79) in the league last year. The Cleveland Indians, a team loaded with quality starting pitching. The Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox, who both made significant roster changes over the winter.
Early on, the Central looked strong. Now? Not so much.
The Twins are already out of contention, and the White Sox, Royals, Indians and Tigers have hardly looked like world beaters.
That's a major reason why the Sox, who have steadily faded following a 23-10 start, still have confidence they are in the race to stay.
"It's going to be a dogfight," White Sox starter Chris Sale said. "You look at every team, from top to bottom, they are grinders and we are right in the thick of it. It's not going to be easy. Nobody ever said it was going to be easy.
"We know what we have ahead of us. We know what we can do. We all have confidence going forward to do what we know we can do."
Minnesota is at the bottom of the division, and the Twins are already looking ahead to 2017.
The Central is a four-team race, and only 3½ games separated the first-place Indians and fourth-place Sox heading into Saturday's play.
Let's take a closer look at the strengths and weaknesses of all four teams:
Indians
Pros: If the starting rotation holds up, the Indians could very well win the division for the first time since 2007.
Danny Salazar led the AL in ERA heading into Saturday night's start against the White Sox and Josh Tomlin (8-1, 3.27 ERA) has been a big surprise.
After missing the month of May with a hamstring injury, Carlos Carrasco is back in the starting five and is gradually regaining his old form.
Cons: Michael Brantley is Cleveland's best all-around player when he's healthy, but the outfielder is still trying to make a full recovery from off-season shoulder surgery.
With Brantley out indefinitely and Marlon Byrd suspended for 162 games on June 1 after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, the Indians' outfield is a mess.
Royals
Pros: Much like the past few seasons, Kansas City is very likely going to win when holding the lead after seven innings.
Setup man Kelvin Herrera and closer Wade Davis are getting it done again this year, and Joakim Soria bounced back from a rough April to give the Royals' bullpen even more depth.
Cons: Eric Hosmer is an offensive weapon - just ask the White Sox - but injuries to Mike Moustakas and Alex Gordon are big concerns in K.C.
The rotation doesn't have to be great with such a strong bullpen, but volatile starting pitcher Yordano Ventura has become a troublesome distraction.
Tigers
Pros: Detroit has the Central's best offense, with Victor Martinez and Miguel Cabrera still doing damage while Ian Kinsler and the vastly improved Nick Castellanos are providing support.
Rookie starter Michael Fulmer has made a quick impact in the rotation and Jordan Zimmermann is off to a solid start after signing a five-year, $110 million contract during the off-season.
Cons: Over the winter, new general manager Al Avila (the father of Sox catcher Alex Avila) addressed the Tigers' biggest issue - the bullpen.
Avila added new closer Francisco Rodriguez and two established setup arms, Justin Wilson and Mark Lowe.
The bullpen still looks weak, as does new outfielder Justin Upton.
White Sox
Pros: Sale and Jose Quintana are the Central's best 1-2 starting tandem, although the offense continues to waste Quintana's quality outings.
Rookie shortstop Tim Anderson and Adam Eaton have looked good at the top of the lineup the past week.
Cons: Sale and Quintana are good, but the Sox need much more out of Carlos Rodon, James Shields and Miguel Gonzalez.
Todd Frazier was batting .128 with 20 strikeouts in 47 June at-bats heading into Saturday. If he's unable to get his swing back, the offense is in big trouble.