Around the AL East: Week 1

Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

The Tampa Bay Rays are leading the division after Week 1, posting a mediocre 4-3 record. They split their opening series against Toronto 2-2 and then claimed two games from the Texas Rangers during a week-long home stand.

Evan Longoria is off to a fast start, slashing .381/.500/.571/1.071 with a home run, four RBIs and five runs scored. Four different pitchers have recorded wins this week; Grant Balfour notched one save.

The Rays have remained largely injury free. Rookie phenom Wil Myers missed a game due to illness Starter Jeremy Hellickson remains out until May or June following elbow surgery

The Rays head out on the road this week with three games each against the Kansas City Royals and the Cincinnati Reds.

Stay up with Tampa Bay team news at Rays Colored Glasses.

At 3-3 and in second place in the division are the New York Yankees. The Bombers dropped two of three games to the Houston Astros, and then took two of three from Toronto. C.C . Sabathia was 1-1 on the week. Ivan Nova and Masahiro Tanaka each collected a win as well. David Robertson was two for two in save opportunities during Week 1. Tanaka pitched seven innings in his debut against the Blue Jays. He allowed two earned runs, struck out eight and walked no one.

The offensive leader for the week was Yangervis Solarte who slashed .471/.526/.706/1.232 with four doubles and five RBIs. Jacoby Ellsbury is batting .333 with three stolen bases.

The Yankees placed first baseman Marx Teixeira on the disabled list Friday with a right hamstring strain. Ellsbury had been hampered by a tight hamstring but has not missed time. Derek Jeter, in his farewell season, was plunked in his first plate appearance by the Astros’ Scott Feldman.

The Yankees home opener is this afternoon against Baltimore. Boston travels to the Bronx for a four-game series beginning Thursday.

Yanks Go Yard is the source for Yankees’ news and opinion.

The Toronto Blue Jays find themselves in the middle of the AL East standings with a 3-4 record. The Jays split their opening series 2-2 at Tampa Bay, then went 1-2 at home against the Yankees.

Melky Cabrera has been the hottest hitter for the Jays, with three home runs and a slash line of .323/.323/.613/.935. Jose Bautista has three home runs too.

R.A. Dickey and Drew Hutchinson are each 1-1 on the early season. Mark Buehrle had the most impressive start for the Jays though, going 8.2 scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts and one walk for a win against the Rays.

Jose Reyes managed just one at bat before heading to the 15-day disabled list (April 1). J.A. Happ was placed on the DL too, with a back injury (retroactive to March 26).

The Jays have their first off day today before hosting the Astros for three games and then heading to Baltimore for a weekend series.

Follow news and developments at Jays Journal.

The Baltimore Orioles are 2-4 on the season, posting 1-2 records against the Red Sox at home and on the road against the Detroit Tigers.

Chris Tillman has pitched well as the No. 1 starter. He has a win, nine strikeouts and a 2.31 ERA over 13.1 innings. Zach Britton notched the other Orioles’ win, in relief of Tillman.

Nelson Cruz hit home runs in his first two games as an Oriole. Matt Wieters has a home run and a slash line of .368/.368/.579/.947 so far.

Manny Machado, still recuperating from off-season knee surgery, was placed on the 15-day disabled list March 21. He is eligible to return to action but remains in Sarasota at the team’s spring training complex. Machado likely will not be game-ready until later this month.

The Orioles visit the Bronx for the Yankees’ opening series beginning today. After an off day Thursday, they host the Blue Jays for a weekend series at Camden Yards.

Catch all the Orioles news you need to know at Birds Watcher.

At 2-4, the World Champion Boston Red Sox find themselves looking up in the standings at the rest of their division rivals. The BoSox took two games from the Orioles in Baltimore but dropped a weekend series to the Milwaukee Brewers at Fenway Park.

Jon Lester  has pitched well enough to win both his starts on the season (14.1 innings, four earned runs, 14 strikeouts and two walks) but instead has two losses. The two Sox wins belong to John Lackey and Felix Doubront. Koji Uehara has one save.

Rookie Xander Bogaerts leads the team in hitting with a .381/.480/.476/.956 slash line. He has also scored four runs. Mike Napoli has two home runs and seven RBIs.

Craig Breslow is eligible to return to action for the 15-day disabled list. He has been rehabbing a shoulder injury at AAA Pawtucket. Shane Victorino (hamstring) went on the DL March 30. Will Middlebrooks was placed on the DL April 5 with a calf injury.

This week, the Red Sox host the Rangers for a three-game series at Fenway before traveling to New York for a four-game series against the Yankees.

Check in at BoSox Injection several times a day to follow all the Red Sox news and developments.