Bet Team Twins to Win the AL Central Following the MLB Trade Deadline
By Peter Dewey
Get Target Field ready to go for the playoffs, because the Minnesota Twins are looking to make a playoff push.
The Twins are in first place in the AL Central, holding a short lead over the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox, and they improved drastically at this year’s trade deadline.
Minnesota added three pitchers, relievers Jorge Lopez (All-Star) and Michael Fulmer as well as starter Tyler Mahle. They significantly outperformed their competition in the AL Central at the deadline.
State of the AL Central at the Trade Deadline (trades that impacted the MLB rosters):
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) August 2, 2022
Twins: Added RHP Tyler Mahle, RHP Michael Fulmer, RHP Jorge López
White Sox: Added LHP Jake Diekman, lost C Reese McGuire
Guardians: Did not add
Despite the moves, the Twins aren’t the favorites to win the AL Central, as oddsmakers believe the Chicago White Sox (two games back) will eventually take the division.
Odds to Win the AL Central (DraftKings Sportsbook)
- Chicago White Sox: +135
- Minnesota Twins: +145
- Cleveland Guardians: +275
- Kansas City Royals: +100000
- Detroit Tigers: +100000
The Twins are behind the White Sox in the odds, yet Chicago has a negative run differential this season and still has to leapfrog the Guardians.
The big knock on the Twins is the fact that they are 20th in ERA this season, but Lopez, Fulmer and Mahle should help turn the pitching staff into a strength. Lopez is the biggest get, as he’s been lights out this season posting a 1.68 ERA and 19 saves.
Chicago has been super inconsistent all season long, and the Guardians seemed content to stay put heading into the deadline. You have to give Minnesota respect for taking some risk to make a playoff push, and I think the Twins are a serious value at this price, especially since they’ve led the division for most of the 2022 season.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.