MLB: American League Postseason Predictions

With the National League having won the past two World Series titles over the Texas Rangers (St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants), it seems as though the balance of power could be shifting back towards the American League after a busy offseason headlined by Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder crossing over from the Senior Circuit.

While one American League division race seems to already be chiseled into stone, the two others have all the makings of repeating last year’s epic finishes that we witnessed on the last day of the season.

Throw in the fact that Bud Selig flexed a little muscle by giving each league two Wild Card participants that will duel it out Russian roulette-style, and this could go down as a another season for the ages.

Here are my predictions for each division winner, the two Wild Card teams and the American League representative for the World Series in 2012.

American League Central

Getting the easiest of the forecasts out of the way, it is safe to say that the Detroit Tigers are poised to repeat as Central champs.

After winning the division last season by 15 games with 95 wins, the Tigers bring back the bulk of their roster with one major addition. Prince Fielder signed a free-agent contract to play first base after Victor Martinez went down with a season-ending ACL injury.

This led to another major change, with Miguel Cabrera moving over to the hot corner to make room for Fielder. Although Detroit might feature the worst defensive infield in all of baseball, there is no doubt that they will put a lot of runs on the board.

Throw in Justin Verlander coming off a career year and having Doug Fister (acquired via a trade last year with the Seattle Mariners) in the starting rotation for an entire season, and it is entirely possible that we will see a bigger number in the win column in 2012.

No other team in the division finished above .500 last season, and none of them did much in the way of improving, other than relying on the natural progression of their youth. Detroit can go out and simply do its job with little external pressure, helping ease its new players into their roles.

While the Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox or Cleveland Indians don’t have much hope of competing, the Kansas City Royals are the team to watch in this division.

The Royals feature one the best offenses in the game, headlined by sophomore Eric Hosmer, and their young bullpen is very underrated, even with the loss of closer Joakim Soria.

Do they have enough to backdoor a division title away from Detroit? Probably not. But if their starting pitching can simply be average, Kansas City could see its first taste of the postseason since 1985 with the addition of the extra Wild Card slot.

American League West

Although the rivalry between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox is going nowhere anytime soon, the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels are doing their best to be the preeminent twosome in all of Major League Baseball for the foreseeable future.

While offense certainly wins games, the West will be won with pitching, thus giving the slight edge to the Angels to win the division in 2012.

The offseason acquisition of starting pitcher C.J. Wilson (formerly of the Texas Rangers) solidified an already outstanding rotation featuring Jered Weaver, Dan Haren and Ervin Santana.

Being able to throw four front-line arms at their opponents will make it very tough for any team to beat them. Backing up those pitchers with the offseason signing of first baseman Albert Pujols could lead the Angels to well over 100 wins.

The games between the Angels and Rangers will definitely be fun to watch, but they will have the luxury of padding their win totals by beating up on a couple of bottom feeders in the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics.

Although the A’s won the Yoenis Cespedes sweepstakes, and the Mariners look like they got the better end of the Michael Pineda/Jesus Montero trade with the Yankees, neither team has a chance in this top-heavy division.

American League East

Considered the best division in Major League Baseball by most, the American League East has it all. History, star power and intriguing prospects will only add to the flare that this division brings on a yearly basis.

Similar to how the West will be won, look no further than the starting pitching of the Tampa Bay Rays to set the pace on the opposite coast.

The Rays are the American League version of the San Francisco Giants with their bevy of front-line arms and collection of throwbacks on the field.

David Price headlines a starting rotation that also features James Shields, last year’s rookie of the year, Jeremy Hellickson, and this year’s favorite to win the award, Matt Moore. And do not underestimate the return of first baseman Carlos Pena to help protect MVP candidate Evan Longoria in the lineup.

This Rays group is no longer considered a surprise team and is actually pretty experienced from top to bottom when it comes to winning and reaching the postseason.

However, it won’t be an easy path to the division crown for the Rays with the likes of perennial powers New York and Boston and this season’s dark horse, the Toronto Blue Jays, in the mix. Those teams have enough question marks in their starting rotations, with new management or out in the field to give the Rays the edge.

Not to mention they will get 18 games against the Baltimore Orioles to boot.

American League Wild Card

The addition of the extra Wild Card team will provide an interesting twist to the postseason. However, this season it will not offer up an opportunity for a surprise team to have a chance at a World Series title.

The two best teams in the American League reside out West, and since the Angels are set to win the division, it is only fitting that the first Wild Card slot is taken by the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers' offense is just too good—as evidenced by two consecutive World Series appearances—for them not to make it to the postseason. With the one-game opening round, their offense might just be able to carry them on another extended run through the playoffs.

Top to bottom, the American League East is the best division in baseball. Therefore, it would be very bizarre to have a postseason that doesn't include either the Yankees or Red Sox.

Although their pitching always comes into the season with question marks, the Yankees feature just enough talent on the mound to get them into the playoffs. With their combination of offense and experience being second to none, it will make them a tough out no matter what.

American League World Series Representative

The top-heavy American League will provide us with an exciting ride, but the team with the least holes usually prevails.

The additions of Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson, coupled with the return of Kendrys Morales, make the Angels one of the most complete teams that we have seen in quite some time.

Although the American League will play like a gauntlet with the likes of Detroit, Tampa Bay, Texas and New York, none of those teams can match up player for player with Los Angeles.

With their deep pitching staff, solid defense and well-rounded offense, the Angels should stamp their ticket to represent the American League in the 2012 World Series.