2025 MLB Predictions: Royals Top AL Central Playoff Teams

Despite these two teams being underdogs to the Minnesota Twins within the division, my MLB predictions suggest the favorite will fall short of expectations.

Detroit has an elite rotation, a sneaky bullpen and an improving lineup, making the Tigers a dangerous team. Meanwhile, the Royals have the division’s best player and a strong pitching staff, and the team’s momentum is on the rise.

Let’s break down why these two underdog teams are playoff-bound in 2025.

2 AL Central Playoff Predictions

1. Detroit Tigers (+110): A Rotation Built for October

The Detroit Tigers barely snuck into the playoffs last year after a ridiculous second-half run, and now they enter 2025 with legit expectations. Detroit has the arms to compete, but the bats need to step up if they want to secure a Wild Card spot again.

With their elite pitching staff, the Tigers are a strong bet online at +110 to make the postseason. Their bats might not light up scoreboards, but their arms will carry them to a Wild Card spot.

Tarik Skubal, ankle-breaking curveball. pic.twitter.com/5m3ZabB63s

— Evan Petzold (@EvanPetzold) March 3, 2025

Why The Tigers Will Make the Playoffs

1. Tarik Skubal is THAT guy – The reigning AL Cy Young winner dominated last season, leading the AL in ERA and strikeouts. He’s a legit ace and should keep them in almost every game he starts. He’s the favorite in AL Cy Young odds at +400.
2. Rotation Depth Matters – Adding Jack Flaherty and Alex Cobb behind Skubal gives Detroit one of the best top-three rotations in the league. And keep an eye on Jackson Jobe, a top-10 MLB prospect who could provide a second-half boost.
3. The Bullpen is Sneaky-Good – Jason Foley, Tyler Holton and newcomers Tommy Kahnle and John Brebbia round out a reliable relief corps.
4. The Offense is Improving (Kind of) – Gleyber Torres adds veteran presence to a lineup that features Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter, but they need Spencer Torkelson to finally break out.

What Could Go Wrong?

The lineup still isn’t great. Per MLB stats, the Tigers ranked 24th last season with a .234 team batting average. If Torkelson continues to struggle and they don’t get enough power production, the offense could be a problem in a division with some sneaky good pitching.

Bet on Tigers to make 2025 MLB Playoffs (+110)

2. Kansas City Royals (+130): AL Central Contenders

The Royals are not messing around anymore. After winning a playoff series last year, they made moves to ensure they’re not a one-hit wonder. With Bobby Witt Jr. leading the charge, Kansas City is ready to take over the AL Central. The MLB futures odds on Witt to win AL MVP honors are +450, behind only Aaron Judge.

At +300 odds, the Kansas City Royals are a fantastic bet to win the AL Central crown. They have the best player in the division, a strong rotation and enough firepower to win 88+ games and punch their ticket to October.

Why They’ll Make the Playoffs

1. Bobby Witt Jr. is a Legit Superstar – Witt led MLB in hits, won a Gold Glove and finished second in AL MVP voting last year. He’s the best player in the division, and that matters.
2. Elite Starting Pitching – Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha give KC a playoff-caliber top three. Ragans could win a Cy Young, and Lugo was a finalist last year.
3. A More Balanced Lineup – Adding Jonathan India gives them much-needed on-base ability, and Vinnie Pasquantino is a solid middle-of-the-order bat. If Jac Caglianone gets called up, look out.
4. A Strengthened Bullpen – Carlos Estévez and Lucas Erceg give the Royals reliable late-game arms, something they badly needed last year.

“If I’m starting a franchise, I’m starting it with him.” – @markdero7

Bobby Witt Jr. is one of the most electric players in baseball ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/71WCGuhE24

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 18, 2025

What Could Go Wrong?

Their lineup depth is still questionable. If the bottom half of the order struggles, they’ll need their rotation and bullpen to be near perfect for this MLB pick to cash.

Bet on Royals to make 2025 MLB Playoffs (+130)

MLB Prediction: AL Central Sends Two Teams to the Playoffs

The AL Central will be a tight race, but I’m betting the Royals will win the division and the Tigers will grab a Wild Card spot.

• The Guardians (+110) could compete, but their offense is shaky and their bullpen was overworked last year.
• The Twins are too injury-prone and inconsistent.
• The White Sox (+4000)… just no.

If you’re betting on MLB odds, these two teams are your MLB best bets for October baseball.

Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.

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