2023 AL Central season preview

Capsule previews of the AL Central teams, listed in order of their 2022 finish:

CLEVELAND GUARDIANS

2022: 92-70, first place, lost to Yankees in ALDS

Manager: Terry Francona (11th season)

Opening Day: Thursday, at Seattle

He’s Here: 1B/DH Josh Bell, C Mike Zunino

He’s Outta Here: C Austin Hedges, OF/DH Franmil Reyes, RHP Bryan Shaw, C Luke Maile, 1B Bobby Bradley, INF Yu Chang, OF Nolan Jones, C Sandy Leon

Top Hitters: 3B José Ramírez (.280, 29 HRs, 126 RBIs, .869 OPS, AL-best 44 doubles), 2B Andrés Giménez (.297, 16, 69, .837 OPS, AL-high 25 HBP), LF Steven Kwan (.298, 6, 52, .373 OBP, 9.4 AB per K, third in AL Rookie of Year voting), SS Amed Rosario (.283, 11, 71, AL-high 9 triples), 1B/DH Josh Bell (.266, 17, 71, .784 OPS with Nationals and Padres)

Projected Rotation: RH Shane Bieber (13-8, 2.88 ERA, 198 Ks in 200 innings), RH Triston McKenzie (11-11, 2.96, 190 Ks), RH Cal Quantrill (15-5, 3.38; 9-0 at home in 19 starts), RH Zach Plesac (3-12, 4.31), RH Aaron Civale (5-6, 4.92)

Key Relievers: RH Emmanuel Clase (3-4, 1.36 ERA, MLB-leading 42 saves), RH Eli Morgan (5-3, 3.38, 13 walks in 66-1/3 innings), RH James Karinchak (2-0, 2.03, 3 saves, 62 Ks in 39 innings), LH Sam Hentges (3-2, 2.32, 57 appearances), RH Enyel De Los Santos (5-0, 3.04 in 50 games)

Outlook: In their first year as the Guardians, baseball’s youngest team rolled to a surprising division title, winning the AL Central by 11 games. They did it without a proven power hitter in a lineup that relied on patience at the plate, speed on the bases and timely hits. The club hopes signing the switch-hitting Bell will give the Guardians an infusion of extra-base pop. Bieber bounced back nicely following an injury-slowed season. Cleveland’s strong bullpen is a major weapon for Francona, who has finally recovered from some major health concerns. Expectations are to go farther in the postseason for a franchise that hasn’t won the World Series since 1948.