Red Sox: 2 Pretenders and 2 Contenders in the AL East
We're two months into the 2023 MLB season and the stacked AL East is the division to watch with a combined record of 135-88 and a winning percentage of .605. The AL East is one of the toughest divisions in baseball as the only division with all five teams above .500.
In 2022, the MLB opted to expand the playoff field from 10 teams in each conference to 12 teams gifting six playoff teams per conference. Despite the recent change to the playoff format three of the playoff seeds will be given to the teams atop their division leaving the margin of error within the AL East critical considering there will only be room for three teams within the conference to stamp a ticket to the postseason.
Let's take a dive into the future of the AL East this season and predict which teams will be contenders and pretenders within the toughest division in all of baseball.
Contender 1. Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay has been off to a historic start to the 2023 season with a 32-12 record. The Rays have been dominant on both sides of the ball leading the MLB in pitching and hitting. Tampa has an OBP of .859 and a team ERA of 3.38 and holding and holds the lowest opposing batting average in the league at .215,
From top to bottom the Rays have been built to contend within the American League and recent history is only an indicator of the potential for this team moving forward. In the last four seasons, the team has made the playoffs including a World Series appearance in 2020.
Tampa has been on the bases often this season with four of their starters slashing for over .300 with key players such as Wander Franco, Harold Ramirez, and Randy Arozarena combining for a total of 23 home runs, 77 RBI, and 86 hits. Shane McClanahan has stolen the eyes of many while looking commanding on the mound for a 2.34 ERA and a perfect 7-0 record while punching out 61 batters on the year.
Despite being one of the lowest teams for payroll, Tampa has continued to develop talent and emerge as a front-runner within the conference. The Rays are 10-7 in divisional matchups with a 3.5 game lead lead in the AL East.
Being able to control the standings and dominate within the division will help the Tampa Bay Rays to roll into the playoffs for a 5th consecutive season.
Contender 2. New York Yankees
The Yanks are off to a head-scratching start to the season hovering over .500 and just simply not meeting early expectations. With a laundry list of injuries, the team has been battling through the season with a game-by-game approach.
New York is somehow last within the AL East with a record of 26-20 but should find comfort in key players that are expected to be back soon for the team. Just 45 games into the season the team is missing Giancarlo Stanton, Luis Severino, Jonathan Loaisiga, Frankie Montas, Carlos Rodon, and just recently got back their 2022 AL MVP Aaron Judge.
Key injuries have slowed down the team but have not slowed down the team's 'Ace' Gerrit Cole who has been a dominant and consistent tool for the team bolstering a 5-0 record, 68 strikeouts, and a 1.09 WHIP rate on the year. Cole has been able to hold it down on the mound for the team even with key holes and injuries in the starting rotation.
Even with the injuries listed at hand the roster for the Yankees is complete enough for the team to contend within the division and for a playoff spot. With the front office always eager to make a push anticipate Brian Cashman and company to pull the trigger and make a few deals later in the season.
Ultimately don't expect the Yankees to stand pat during the trade deadline and expect the roster to fill out once key players return from the IL. The Yankees should be back in contention for yet another year in their quest for the 28th title.
Pretender 1. Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore has been a blooming product that has been exciting to watch. With emerging stars budding from every position, it seems like the Orioles have finally taken the right steps towards the future within their organization. Players like Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Cedric Mullins have been the core pieces in the turnaround for the O's.
The Birds have one of the youngest starting rosters in the MLB and have been able to storm into the season early with a flourishing 28-16 record. If age is any barometer to speed, the Birds are the third-best team when stealing with a collective 41 stolen bases and an OBP of .330 on the season.
While the O's have been electric on the bases and have caught the attention of many within the MLB, the team lacks a prominent ace within its rotation. It seems as if the Orioles always boast onto the scene and collapes as the year moves on, with a young and inexperienced team mixed within question marks on the mound, expect the O's to miss the playoffs this season.
Pretender 2. Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox have been able to spring together some impressive wins this season. The Sox have been scratched and clawed their way to a 24-20 record this season. The Sox have been resilient with ten comeback wins including three walk-off wins in 2023.
Despite the team's heroics, Boston has struggled within the division with a record of 7-7 in the AL East and still has 12 divisional matchups left on the season. One of the biggest question marks for the Red Sox has been finding consistency on the mound where they rank in the bottom half of the league with a team ERA of 5.00.
Although the team has been able to capture many come-from-behind wins this season, the bats will only be able to provide so much for the team moving forward. With tougher matchups down the stretch and not much confidence in the starting rotation, bank the Red Sox to be watching the playoffs from home come October.
Honorable mention: Toronto Blue Jays
It feels like every season we anticipate the Blue Jays to make a deep playoff run similar to their 2016 season, but the Jays have missed the playoffs four times in the last six years. However, this year seems a bit different with the team keeping pace in the hottest division in baseball with a 25-19 record.
The Jays' young phenom Vladimir Guerrero Jr has done a great job of providing offense for the team this season with a slash line of .312/.385/.516, seven home runs, and 26 RBI. Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassit have been a tremendous one-two punch for the Jays combing for 125 strikeouts, seven wins, and a shutout.
Toronto ranks in the top half of the league in terms of pitching this year with a ERA of 3.93 on the mound, 12 combined saves coming from the bullpen and 398 punch-outs ranking seventh in the league for strikeouts.
With the Blue Jays ranking in the top half of the league for pitching and hitting expect these notions to stand as a great stepping stone towards the Blue Jays to reach the post season and could possible be the year the Jays make a deep push.