MLB Spring Training has games live on MLB.com and streaming on the MLB.TV website for 2015 and this week the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals are battling it out at Roger Dean Stadium and the game will be broadcast on the MLB Network starting up past 1:05 pm ET as the two playoff teams from last year in the AL and NL square off.
The Tigers and the Cardinals are coming into the season expecting to make the playoffs again and they could be favorites in their respective central division races. There are a number of good teams in both divisions, but the Cards and the Tigers have been as consistent as anyone over the past few years. The Tigers come into the game after a loss against the Marlins and they will next play against the Nationals on the Grapefruit League schedule.
The Tigers were one of the most consistent teams in baseball last season, ranking in first or second across the board on offense. The team was second in runs scored and first in batting average and they also were second in on base percentage. The team lost Max Scherzer in free agency, but they added David Price last year and kept him and they also traded for Yoenis Cespedes in a deal with the Red Sox.
The Cardinals offense was not as good as in past years last season, ranking 23rd in runs scored, but the team feels optimistic about bouncing back for 2015. The team comes in after a tie with the Twins and they next will play on the road against the Marlins after matching up with the Tigers. The Cardinals pitching could have some injury issues this year with Adam Wainwright, but the team is deep and they have young prospects that could step up as well.
The team comes in after ranking 11th in ERA last season and they were also in the top 10 in quality starts, WHIP and batting average as well. The AL is mostly wide open this season and that gives the Tigers a good chance of winning the division. The team won it last year, but it was the Royals who made it to the World Series and while Kansas City should be good again, the Tigers come in as the favorites and the Indians also could be much better along with the White Sox.
The Central division has the Cardinals coming in as the favorites along with the Pirates, but the Cubs have as much young talent as anyone in the league while the Brewers are looking to bounce back from last year. The Cardinals are going to rely on strong pitching once again and they are looking for the bats to bounce back as well.
Check here for the MLB Spring Training live coverage and schedule.
