A.L. Central division preview

Detroit Tigers

2013 record: 93-69, first place (lost to Boston in ALCS).

Hot spots: A recent rash of major injuries – albeit not to the team’s top players – left the Tigers scrambling. Outfielder Andy Dirks is expected to miss the first couple months of the season while recovering from a back injury, and shortstop Jose Iglesias will likely be out even longer with stress fractures in his legs. Detroit will also be without reliever Bruce Rondon because of elbow surgery.

Outlook: The Tigers are probably still the favorites to win a fourth straight A.L. Central title, but it’s been an unsettling spring training. In addition to the injuries, pitcher Max Scherzer’s stalled contract talks – he’s a free agent after this season – add to the sense of uncertainty about the team’s future. As long as Scherzer, pitcher Justin Verlander and A.L. MVP Miguel Cabrera are healthy, however, Brad Ausmus will have plenty to work with in his managerial debut. Detroit still has perhaps the game’s best starting rotation, and after three straight appearances in the ALCS – and a pennant in 2012 – Detroit is still very much a threat to win it all.

Cleveland Indians

2013 record: 92-70, second place (A.L. wild card).

Hot spots: With Asdrubal Cabrera’s contract up at the end of this season, he needs to bounce back from a sub-par 2013 to have a future in Cleveland – or anywhere. He hit .031 points below his career average last season, when he missed time with a leg injury.

Outlook: “Unfinished Business” is the theme in 2014 as the Indians intend to go deeper in the playoffs after losing in the wild-card game to Tampa Bay. Terry Francona did a masterful job in his first season, guiding his team through some difficult stretches while instilling a belief in his players that they can beat anyone. Replacing pitchers Ubaldo Jimenez and Scott Kazmir – who combined for 23 wins – will be a key.

Kansas City Royals

2013 record: 86-76, third place.

Hot spots: RHP James Shields is in a contract year, so the Royals are counting on a big season from him. The veteran right-hander will anchor a rotation that swapped out Ervin Santana for Jason Vargas and welcomes Yordano Ventura, a hard-throwing youngster whom the franchise views as a future ace.

Outlook: Kansas City returned most of its key players from last season with the mindset that youngsters such as 1B Eric Hosmer, 3B Mike Moustakas and SS Alcides Escobar are still getting better. General manager Dayton Moore also filled two glaring holes by trading for OF Norichika Aoki and signing 2B Omar Infante, vastly improving the top of the batting order.

Minnesota Twins

2013 record: 66-96, fourth place.

Hot spots: First base. For the first time in his career, Joe Mauer is moving from being a full-time catcher to a full-time first baseman, supplanting buddy Justin Morneau. The Twins made the move to try to address health concerns that came from their star player going through the grind of catching. Now it’s up to Mauer to maintain his stellar batting average while adding a little more to his power numbers to help the Twins offense. The starting rotation is another key area. The Twins had the worst rotation in the majors last season, but spent big money to bring in Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes.

Outlook: Not promising. The Twins have lost more than 90 games for three straight seasons. The franchise is waiting for star prospects Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano and Alex Meyer to mature and make an impact. But Buxton, a five-tool center fielder, is probably a year away and Sano, a power-hitting 3B, will miss the season after having Tommy John surgery. Improvements to the rotation should keep them from losing 95 games again.

Chicago White Sox

2013 record: 63-99, fifth place.

Hot spots: Which John Danks are the White Sox getting this season? The guy who once won 15 games or the one who struggled coming back from a shoulder injury last season? Nate Jones, a candidate for the closer job, got a late start missed much of the early going in camp because of a strained glute and RHP Matt Lindstrom’s been bothered by an oblique injury.

Outlook: The White Sox believe they can make a quick turnaround after collapsing last season. Several factors will determine if that actually happens. One is 1B Jose Abreu. The White Sox are counting on the Cuban slugger, who signed for six years and $68 million, to boost an offense that scored the fewest runs in the American League and hit only 148 homers. They’re also counting on the back end of the rotation to hold its ground. They’re solid at the top with Chris Sale and Joe Quintana, but beyond that, there are some question marks. Landing Masahiro Tanaka might have helped, but the White Sox came up short in their bid for the Japanese star.