MLB: Five Players Who Will Decide What Team is the AL Central Champion
After shellacking the Chicago White Sox 12-6 on Tuesday night, the Minnesota Twins have moved into first place in the AL Central by one game. White Sox came back in Game 2, winning 6-1 behind a superb outing by John Danks to tie up the division.
Both teams are hot, with the Twins winning 12 and the White Sox winning 11 of the teams' last 16 games. White Sox have gone 40-16 since June 8th, overcoming a horrendous start to get to this point, while the Twins have gone 19-11 since the All-Star break without one of, if not their best, hitters.
It looks as though the race in the AL Central will once again come down to the final week of the season, and perhaps another 163rd game is in order.
For the Detroit Tigers, the season is all but over, as the team went from leading the division a day before the All-Star break to sitting 10 games back in third place thanks to a 5-22 record since then.
For the most part we know what we are getting from the players on the White Sox and Twins; however, there are players on both squads who can fluctuate either way and will eventually make or break their team's chances of getting to the postseason.
Today we will take a look at five players who could decide the AL Central.
Edwin Jackson
1 of 5
The White Sox acquired Edwin Jackson at the trade deadline in exchange for right-handed pitcher Daniel Hudson and lefty David Holmberg.
The 26-year-old Jackson comes over from the National League sporting a 5.16 ERA, allowing 141 hits and 60 walks in 134.1 innings pitched, striking out 104 batters.
He has made two starts with the White Sox, allowing 15 hits, two walks and one earned run in 13 innings pitched. One start was against the Baltimore Orioles and the other was against the Detroit Tigers.
The hit total is a little high, but since he has given up just one earned run and two walks, they would be considered scattered. However, sooner or later those hits will turn into runs.
Jackson will need to be solid down the stretch for the White Sox, especially since the baseball world is counting down the innings until Freddy Garcia permanently implodes.
In his last four starts, Garcia has given up 15 earned runs on eight walks, 26 hits and four home runs in 16.1 innings pitched.
Jason Kubel
2 of 5
There is no hiding it.
Jason Kubel kills the White Sox.
In 63 games against the White Sox, Kubel is hitting .307 with 17 home runs, 59 RBI, 41 runs and an OBP of .353. With eight games remaining against the White Sox, he could come in handy.
Look no further than last night as evidence: Kubel went 2-for-2 with a home run, four runs, two RBI and three walks. White Sox pitchers intentionally walked Kubel with two outs and a man on second. Michael Cuddyer followed with a two-run triple. Later in the game, when the Sox pitched around Kubel with two outs, Cuddyer followed with a two-out, two-run homer.
You can't hide from this Twins lineup, even without Morneau.
Kubel is currently hitting .270 with 16 home runs, 70 RBI, 50 runs and an OBP of .350.
In the team's latest run, in which they've won 12 of 15, Kubel is 17-for-55 with five home runs, 19 RBI, 12 runs and seven walks.
He will be a key player not only against the White Sox, but in the Twins chase of a playoff spot as well.
Delmon Young
3 of 5
Delmon Young is the other Twin who has caught fire, sustaining the team's hot streak. It would finally seem the Twins have gotten the potential out of Young the baseball world has been preaching for years.
When something is new, however, the question on everyone's mind is, "When will it end?"
Young is currently hitting .320 with 14 home runs, 84 RBI, 54 runs, four stolen bases and an OBP of .350. Put those numbers together with a rocket arm in right field and you have yourself a weapon.
Young hit .434 with six home runs, 30 RBI, 17 runs and a .455 OBP in July.
To say Young is on fire is an understatement.
For a guy who has underachieved for so long, when will it end is the question on the mind of Twins fans.
Carlos Quentin
4 of 5
Carlos Quentin was batting .211 with an OBP of .312 with five home runs and 26 RBI when the month of May ended and the White Sox were 22-28.
Combined in June and July Quentin hit .262 with a .360 OBP and added 15 home runs, 41 RBI and 27 runs.
The White Sox went 36-17 in June and July.
Although the White Sox have won 10 of their last 15, they are currently in a three-game losing streak and have lost four of their last five.
During the skid, Quentin is 2-for-19 with two runs, two home runs and five RBI. After a 1-for-15 showing in Baltimore, he was dropped to seventh in the order from his usual fifth spot.
Quentin is making his hits count, but he needs more of them to help get the White Sox to the playoffs.
Justin Morneau
5 of 5
Justin Morneau hasn't played in over a month for the Twins, officially hitting the 15-day disabled list on July 8 with a concussion.
Hitting .345 with 18 home runs, 56 RBI, 53 runs and an OBP of .437, Morneau was an MVP candidate. Although you probably can no longer make a case for him as MVP, he can certainly help push the Twins to a more important title.
Morneau reportedly worked out at Target Field yesterday (Aug. 10). Morneau was supposed to take live batting practice in Chicago during this three-game series, but changed plans and stayed in Minnesota. No one is calling the move a setback, but since he will not be evaluated until Friday, his timetable for return will most likely be moved back.
The Twins are 19-10 since Morneau went on the disabled list.
Imagine what the Twins will do if you introduce Morneau to the scorching hot duo of Jason Kubel and Delmon Young.
