MLB 2017 Preview: American league
Last week at The Muhlenberg Weekly, we previewed the National League in Major League Baseball’s recently begun 2017 season. This week, we’re taking a look at how things will play out in the American League over the next six months.
The Boston Rex Sox made one of the league’s most significant transactions this offseason, signing perennial Cy Young contender Chris Sale, previous of the White Sox. Sale brings a powerful lefty arm to a Boston rotation that already includes former Cy Young winner Rick Porcello, as well as David Price, another star lefty pitcher. The hitting will be equally as dominant, if not better. Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Xander Bogaerts are some of the best young players in MLB today. Betts has a great chance of winning AL MVP. It will be interesting to see whether third baseman Pablo Sandoval can bounce back from a 2016 season that saw him play a mere three games all year. In the bullpen, Craig Kimbrel remains one of the best at his craft in the 9th inning.
Baltimore has potentially the best combination of power hitters in its lineup, with Chris David and Mark Trumbo, the latter who led the majors in home runs last season. Manny Machado is a dual threat at the plate and with his glove and should be in contention to win his first AL MVP award. The only real concern with the Orioles is their pitching, which lacks a true ace. The rotation features Gausman, Jimenez, Bundy, and Miley- all are quality arms, but none truly have that dominating stuff on a consistent start-to-start basis. Adam Jones is another veteran on this club that should lead the Birds into the playoffs, most likely as a Wild Card team.
Toronto lost in the ALDS last October and this offseason they lost one of their biggest power threats in free agency. The departure of Edwin Encarnacion will hurt the Jays, but José Bautista remains in the lineup and he will continue to be a formidable power source for a team that has been among the league leaders in total home runs over the past several seasons. Troy Tulowitzki may not be the player he once was with the Rockies, but he still is one of the more talented shortstops in MLB. However, avoiding a major injury has always been troublesome for Tulo. I’m really confident in what Marco Estrada can provide to Toronto’s pitching staff. He began to prove himself in last year’s playoffs, and again this year during the World Baseball Classic. Despite being listed as fourth in the team’s rotation, he has the ability to rise up to the top two during the season.
In New York, gone are the days of Jeter, A-Rod, and Teixeira, but a new wave of young stars has emerged that will make the Yankees a dangerous team at the plate. Gary Sanchez almost won Rookie of the Year last season, and he didn’t even play half a full season. Aaron Judge is still considered a top prospect for the team, and he’ll be a source of power in the middle part of the lineup. Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury are seasoned veterans, but they still each possess a good power and speed combination, while playing solid outfield defense as well. The pitching staff has a high ceiling, but also it has the capability to hit a low floor. Tanaka is the clear number one here, but who else will step up? CC Sabathia is a shell of his former self. Luis Severino struggled mightily last year in his second season in the bigs. Michael Pineda never really lived up the hype once he was traded from Seattle in 2012. On the bright side, Aroldis Chapman is back after half a season with the Cubs. He’s still a top closer in baseball.
Tampa Bay doesn’t have too much to be excited about this season. However, Kevin Kiermaier is one of the most defensively competent players in the entire league. His glove has been critical to the Rays’ success over the past few seasons. I think Brad Miller will do big things at second base. He’s coming off a year in which he hit career-high 30 home runs, and I don’t see that as just a fluke year. Chris Archer had a down year on the mound in 2015, but I believe that he’ll return to his normal, Cy-Young capable form this year. He’s one of the more underrated arms in baseball. It seems as if Evan Longoria has been on the Rays forever. He’s more than capable of producing at least 20 home runs and 80 runs batted in for the middle of the lineup.
Cleveland is by far and away the best team in the American League this season. Even after falling just short of a World Series title, they still managed to get so much better during the offseason. Adding Edwin Encarnacion brings one of the best power hitters in MLB to a lineup that already featured the likes of Santana, Lindor, and Gomes. Michael Brantley, perhaps the team’s top hitter, was injured for much of last season, so having him back will do wonders for this team. Lindor is arguably the best shortstop in the league today- he is the ideal combination of a great bat, a great glove, and supreme athleticism. The pitching staff is dominant, 1 through 5- Kluber, Carrasco, Salazar, Bauer, and Tomlin. Andrew Miller is a shutdown closer- also arguably the best at his position. Everything is lined up to go right for the Indians in 2017. A 100-win season would not be a surprise.
Kansas City still has a great lineup featuring Hosmer, Gordon, Moustakas, Escobar, Cain, and Perez. But the pitching is a far cry from what it was during the Royals’ two World Series trips in 2014 and 2015. Danny Duffy leads the rotation, but in reality he does not have the stuff to be a number one on a pitching staff. Wade Davis, the team’s former lights-out closer, is gone as well. I’ve always been a big fan of Eric Hosmer, and he’s coming of a career-high year in home runs and RBIs. He’s a much-needed source of offense in the middle of this lineup. After a setback year last season, Kansas City may sneak into the playoffs once again as a wild card team, but they are nowhere near the level of the talent that Cleveland has. A division title in 2017 is not very realistic for the Royals this year.
Detroit has been a playoff-contending team for seemingly the entire decade, and this year will be no different. Miguel Cabrera is still a top five player in all of baseball and can definitely win the MVP award in 2017. Nick Castellanos has emerged as one of the best young third baseman in the league. His glove is especially phenomenal. Victor Martinez continues to be successful as the designated hitter, and can be counted on for at least 20 home runs each year. The pitching rotation has a really good top three: Verlander, Fulmer, and Zimmermann. I’m especially excited to see what Fulmer can do this season after a very impressive rookie campaign in 2016. The middle infield of Iglesias and Kinsler is one of the best of its kind in the majors as well. Detroit will be battling for a playoff berth come the final week of the season.
Minnesota had an extremely disappointing 2016 season, but they’ll bounce back this year. Byron Buxton is a true five-tool player, but hasn’t really had the opportunity to prove himself over the course of a full season. Brian Dozier can hit the long ball at any time- he’s one of the league’s best second baseman at doing so. Joe Mauer has been a Twin for over a decade, and although he’s no longer the player he once was from 2006-2013, he’s still a serviceable bat in the Twins lineup. The pitching rotation is reason for concern with this team. Ervin Santana is Minnesota’s ace, but only because the rest of the rotation is not too talented. Expect an improvement from last year’s abysmal 59-103 record, but expectations should be kept in check- this is not a playoff team by any means.
The White Sox have two of MLB’s best corner infielders, with Jose Abreu at first base and Todd Frazier at third base. But the rest of the hitting is just not there yet for Chicago. Veteran outfielder Melky Cabrera can hit some home runs, but he’s past his prime. The pitching staff has some big games- Quintana, Holland, Shields- but all have performed below their typical selves- especially Shields, who completely collapsed after a trade from San Diego. I think Avisail Garcia may garner his first All Star appearance this year. He’s always been a quality outfielder for the ChiSox.
Houston was predicted by Sports Illustrated, in 2014, to win the World Series this season. And they may have been right. After a lengthy rebuilding process that saw Houston compile multiple 100-loss seasons, the Astros are in prime position to win it all this year. They have one of the best middle infields in the league, with Carlos Correa at shortstop and José Altuve at second base. George Springer is one of the best young outfielders in the game as well. Veterans Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran were added to the lineup this offseason, and should supplement all this young talent very nicely. The pitching staff is led by former Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel. The rest of the rotation is somewhat unpredictable, but Lance McCullers Jr. is an intriguing young arm in the middle of the rotation.
Texas lost in the ALDS last season, but they will be more than capable of advancing farther in the postseason in 2017. They have two true aces in the pitching rotation- Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish. Adrian Beltre is one of the oldest players in MLB, but he’s still remained one of the best hitters in the league. There is more power in this lineup too, with Choo and Napoli being the biggest bats. Carlos Gomez was a star a few years ago with Milwaukee, so it will be interesting to see whether he can regain that All Star form once again. Jonathan Lucroy is one the best dual threat catchers in baseball. He should put up big numbers in his first full season as a Ranger.
The bottom of the AL West is really unpredictable. Seattle, Anaheim, and Oakland all are bound for well-below sub .500 seasons. It’s just a matter of who finishes 3rd, 4th, and 5th. Seattle has a surefire ace pitcher in Felix Hernandez, and Oakland has a very talented Sonny Gray, but Anaheim definitely can’t say the same about its rotation. Of course though the Angels have Mike Trout, who has established himself as the best overall player in all of MLB. He’s the favorite to win his 3rd AL MVP award in the past four seasons. Unfortunately for the Angels, his talent will not be enough to overcome his team’s severe lack of pitching. In Seattle, Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager are two of the best players at their respective positions, but the rest of the lineup is mostly disappointing. Yovani Gallardo has moved all the way down into the fourth spot in the Mariners rotation, yet he used to be an ace with Milwaukee. Perhaps he can become the player he was just several years ago. Oakland has a very poor offense this season, and that is no reference to its Moneyball strategy. Looking at Oakland’s roster, its best player appears to be Khris Davis. He has the talent to produce around 30 home runs this year, but that’s if everything goes right. That said, he has a low floor as well. Yonder Alonso can provide some power too, but he’s been inconsistent throughout the past several years. I could see the bottom of this division finishing as Seattle in 3rd, Anaheim in 4th, and Oakland in 5th. But again, that can easily be flipped around, because neither of these three teams are going to be contending for the playoffs this season.
Many experts are picking Cleveland to return to the World Series this year. I was tempted to say the same as well, but repeating is a very difficult task. I have Boston representing the American League in this year’s World Series. Having Rick Porcello, Chris Sale, and David Price all in the same pitching rotation is scary good. And when the offense has a player like Mookie Betts who is one of the favorites to win the AL MVP award in 2017, it’s tough to pick against this team. Pitching wins championships, and the Red Sox surely have that, and much more.