The AL Central is seen as one of the weakest divisions in the American League, and it’s hard to find any ground to deliver MLB predictions about what might happen in 2026. With no clear contending teams and two franchises deep into rebuilding processes, the AL Central looks like a wild card ahead of the new season starting on March 25.
Here are three AL Central predictions for the upcoming 2026 MLB season.
Why the Kansas City Royals Will Win the AL Central in 2026
The Tigers and Royals are the two teams with the best odds to win the AL Central in the 2026 season, and it would be completely unfair to count out Kansas City from the race for the pennant.
The Royals have an incredible collection of offensive talent, headlined by MVP candidate Bobby Witt Jr., and they also have a competent pitching staff to complement that impressive lineup. The Royals are angling for a third straight winning season, but they should take it one step further and be in the race for the AL Central crown.
Undoubtedly, Witt is the heart and soul of this team, and even if he doesn’t repeat his numbers from the 2024 season, he’ll still be an elite hitter and is coming off back-to-back seasons in which he led the league in hits.
But there’s more to like when it comes to the Royals. Vinnie Pasquantino should hit around 30 homers if he stays healthy, Salvador Perez is a mainstay at catcher, and Maikel Garcia is one of the most underrated players in today’s baseball.
But one player who could make or break the Royals’ season is Jac Caglianone. If the slugger figures things out, and no evidence suggests he won’t after seeing his ability to adjust in previous levels, then the Royals could have the best offense in the division.
Since neither the Guardians nor the Tigers (Tarik Skubal aside) are particularly dominant in the pitching department, a strong offense could be everything the Royals need to win the division.
Will the Detroit Tigers Trade Tarik Skubal Before the 2026 Deadline?
Skubal will be a free agent in the winter after the 2026 season, and if the arbitration negotiations between both parties in the offseason are a sign of what’s to come, there’s almost a 0% chance of seeing Skubal re-signing with Detroit.
The star hurler will be a free agent before the 2027 campaign, and he has a realistic chance to sign the biggest contract in baseball history for a pitcher.
Thus, it’s interesting to see what the Tigers will do with Skubal as the season progresses. They can hang on to him until the end of the season to have the biggest possible chance to make a deep playoff run, but it wouldn’t be strange to see the Tigers fielding offers for the star hurler midway through the season and before the deadline.
Unless the Tigers are running away with the division and looking like a true contender in the AL, the Tigers would be wise to listen to offers for Skubal.
He’s a generational talent on the mound, and even half a season of him as a rental could command an impressive prospect package. Crazier things have happened, but don’t rule out the Tigers from pulling the trigger on a trade centered around the reigning AL Cy Young winner.
Why the Twins and White Sox Will Both Lose Over 95 Games
The Twins went 70-92 last season, while the White Sox posted a 60-102 record. Don’t be surprised if both teams hover around the 95-loss mark once again, as neither team did enough to improve dramatically over the winter.
The White Sox added a player who could become a star in Munetaka Murakami, and Colson Montgomery is an interesting player, but there’s not enough talent to see a marked improvement in this team outside of a marginal few wins.
The White Sox could avoid posting a fourth straight 100-loss season, but they’re still going to fall well below the .500 threshold as they continue their rebuilding season. There’s not enough talent across the roster to think the White Sox are even remotely close to being involved in the AL Wild Card race.
The Twins are an interesting case. They traded nearly all of their best players in a fire sale at the deadline in 2025, and everything looks uncertain for them in 2026 as well.
But after losing ace Pablo Lopez for the season due to Tommy John surgery, it’s hard to find too many reasons to be excited for the Twins. Byron Buxton is very good, but he can’t stay on the field.
Royce Lewis is wildly inconsistent, and it’s looking more and more likely that he’ll never reach his ceiling. Joe Ryan is a reliable arm, but he’s likely to be shipped to another team if the team enjoys a slow start.
With that in mind, the Twins look bound to be among the worst teams in the AL once again in 2026.
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