Who Will Win the Rigid AL East?
It seems like every year we have this discussion about the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. This season, both teams are so evenly-matched. The race for the AL East should be very exciting to watch right into September. Let’s break down the lineups starting pitchers and bullpens.
Both lineups are very explosive with Boston averaging 5.4 runs per game last season, which was 1st in MLB and the Yankees were 2nd at 5.2 rpg., and of course, the Yankees broke the record for most home runs in a season with 266. The Sox did not make any adjustments to the lineup during the offseason. JD Martinez had an unbelievable year with a .330 average 45 long balls and 135 RBIs and was the difference maker in the lineup, especially helping out Mookie Betts. It’s unlikely that Betts and Martinez put up the same numbers as they did last season. Also, Jackie Bradley Jr did heat up towards the end of the season. The catcher position for Boston is the big concern. The Yankees added ex-Rockie DJ LeMahieu and Blue Jays SS Troy Tulowitzki to help the infield depth, with Didi Gregorius out until at least July. The Yankees do not know what they are going to get over at first base; will Luke Voit be able to carry all the momentum of that red hot ending-to-the-year, or will Greg Bird be able to fix his swing and get his job back. Both lineups are going to be tops in the league again, but I give the Yankees a slight edge with Giancarlo Stanton being more consistent and a healthy Aaron Judge.
For starting pitchers, the Yankees re-signed J.A. Happ and CC Sabitha and traded for Seattle’s left hander James Paxton. At times last year, the Yankees rotation was very inconsistent and the bullpen would have to bail them out. Having J.A. Happ for a full season after going 7 and 0, acquiring James Paxton and trading away Sonny Gray, New York’s starting five is better this season, and Luis Servino will have a better ending to the season after such a promising start in 2018. The Sox were in the top five for runs allowed, and again did not make any improvements. They re-signed Nathan Eovaldi, who pitched well for them down the stretch. They also return ace Chris Sale, who is in his final year of his contract, and is still one of the top pitchers in the game. David Price is also back, after pitching well in ALCS and World Series, now if only he can figure out a way to pitch well against the Yankees. I give the Red Sox the edge with all five guys coming back and being fifth in runs allowed.
New York had the best bullpen in baseball last year, and are even better this year. The Yankees lost David Robertson, but they added Adam Ottavino from Colorado, and brought back Zack Britton. Aroldis Chapman is healthy now, after playing through a knee injury, a season ago. Chad Green and Dellin Betances were very effective in the back end of the pen and do not forget about Jonathan Holder and Tommy Kahnle. For the Red Sox, their bullpen got worse, as closer Craig Kimbrel did not re-sign (as of this writing) and he was their best guy out of the bullpen. Boston struggled to even get to Craig Kimbrel, and they did not sign anyone to take his place. The Yankees have a huge advantage in the battle of the bullpens.
I pick the New York Yankees to win the AL East this season because of their pen and the great lineup they have.
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