Center League: Tigers take again it to AL Central

As history predicted, the Detroit Tigers are once more roughing up on their American League Central opponents, and they've also gotten a lick in already against the National League Central. So, they lead the Center League early, but the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals are hanging tough.

Miguel Cabrera is raking again for the Detroit Tigers, running a 1.150 OPS through games of April 19. (Cbl62/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license).

By BILL PETERSON

Big Leagues in Los Angeles

The Detroit Tigers have won the American League Central the last four years, and they've done it by cleaning up their opponents within the division.

From 2011 through 2014, the Tigers were 183-113 within the AL Central and 183-169 against all other clubs. The Tigers' winning percentage of .618 within the division during the last four years works out to 100 wins per 162 games, and they've never won more than 95 in any of these four seasons that each produced a division title.

So, it's no surprise that the Tigers are off to such a roaring start in whatever version of standings that we want to count. They're 10-2 already, producing in all aspects of the game. Through games of April 19, the Tigers are second across the Major Leagues in team OPS (.855), second in staff ERA (2.61) and second in defensive efficiency rating (.747). Everyone in the Tigers' starting lineup is OPS-plussing 110 or better, led by Miguel Cabrera at 261.

In their first 12 games, the Tigers (10-2) have scored seven or more runs in six of them, allowed one run or fewer in seven of them, and done both in three of them.

The Tigers will take a break from the central league early this week as the New York Yankees visit them in Detroit Monday through Thursday. The St. Louis Cardinals (8-3), right behind the Tigers in the Center League, also will take a respite early this week against the Washington Nationals.

Perhaps, then, the early part of this week is time for the Kansas City Royals to make a move. The Royals are 9-3 overall this year, but only 4-2 in the Center League, as the schedulers have pitted them in several early contests against the American League West (against which they are 5-1). Starting with three at home Monday through Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins, though, the Royals will stay in the AL Central for 20 consecutive games through May 10. Of those 20 games, six will be against the Tigers, with three in each club's home park.

Games of April 5

St. Louis 3, at Chicago (NL) 0.

Games of April 6

at Cincinnati 5, Pittsburgh 2.

at Detroit 4, Minnesota 0.

at Kansas City 10, Chicago (AL) 1.

Games of April 7

St. Louis at Chicago (NL), ppd.

Games of April 8

at Chicago (NL) 2, St. Louis 0.

at Detroit 11, Minnesota 0.

at Cincinnati 5, Pittsburgh 2 (11 innings).

at Kansas City 7, Chicago (AL) 5.

Games of April 9

at Cincinnati 3, Pittsburgh 2.

at Detroit 7, Minnesota 1.

at Kansas City 4, Chicago (AL) 1.

Games of April 10

Detroit 8, at Cleveland 4

Minnesota 6, at Chicago (AL) 0.

at Cincinnati 5, St. Louis 4.

Pittsburgh 6, at Milwaukee 2.

Games of April 11

St. Louis 4, at Cincinnati 1.

at Chicago (AL) 5, Minnesota 4.

Detroit 9, at Cleveland 6.

at Milwaukee 6, Pittsburgh 0.

Games of April 12

Detroit 8, at Cleveland 5.

St. Louis 7, at Cincinnati 5 (12 innings).

at Chicago (AL) 6, Minnesota 2.

Pittsburgh 10, at Milwaukee 2.

Games of April 13

at Chicago (NL) 7, Cincinnati 6.

at Pittsburgh 5, Detroit 4.

Milwaukee 5, at St. Louis 4.

Kansas City 12, at Minnesota 3.

Games of April 14

Detroit 2, at Pittsburgh 0.

Chicago (AL) 4, at Cleveland 1.

Cincinnati 3, at Chicago (NL) 2.

Games of April 15

at Cleveland 4, Chicago (AL) 2.

Detroit 1, at Pittsburgh 0.

at Chicago (NL) 5, Cincinnati 0.

at Minnesota 3, Kansas City 1.

at St. Louis 4, Milwaukee 2.

Games of April 16

at St. Louis 4, Milwaukee 0.

at Minnesota 8, Kansas City 5.

Games of April 17

at Detroit 2, Chicago (AL) 1.

at Pittsburgh 6, Milwaukee 3.

at Minnesota 3, Cleveland 2.

at St. Louis 6, Cincinnati 1.

Games of April 18

Chicago (AL) 12, at Detroit 3.

Cleveland 4, at Minnesota 2.

at St. Louis 5, Cincinnati 2.

at Pittsburgh 6, Milwaukee 2.

Games of April 19

at Detroit 9, Chicago (AL) 1.

at Pittsburgh 5, Milwaukee 2.

at Minnesota 7, Cleveland 2.

at St. Louis 2, Cincinnati 1.