Watch CBS News

Baseball's Best Batteries By Division

Verlander, the Detroit ace, is arguably the best pitcher on the planet (AL MVP in 2011, AL Cy Young runner-up in 2012), and while there are concerns about his heavy usage to date, he's still in what should be his prime seasons. Don't be surprised if once again he offers up a sub-3.00 ERA to go with an innings total that's near the top of the league. He's the best pitcher in the division, at the very least.

As for Avila, the 26-year-old owns a career OPS+ of 114, and in each of the last two seasons he ranked in the AL top five for games caught and assists as a catcher. Yes, Joe Mauer is the best all-around backstop in the AL Central, but there's no Minnesota suitable hurler with which to pair him.

Click HERE for the full story from CBSSports.com

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.