MLB: Which division leaders will stay on top?
By Phil Akre
American League East: New York Yankees (32-22)
Where did this team come from? After looking to rebuild with a mix of veterans and young talent, the Yankees came into the year as nothing more than fringe Wild Card contenders.
Well, they’ve completed flipped that narrative, as the team owns the American League’s second best record.
Aaron Judge, a Rookie of the Year and MVP candidate, is one of the reasons for the team’s impressive start. Luis Severino and Michael Pineda have been revelations for the starting staff, making up for Masahiro Tanaka‘s awful start.
The question remains: Can they hold off the suddenly hot Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox, the preseason favorites to win the division? That remains to be seen.
If the youngsters can keep it up, along with steady production from veterans like Matt Holliday and Brett Gardner, what’s stopping them from winning the East?
It will all come down to one thing: the strength of the starting staff.
If this team continues to roll come the trade deadline, they might add a top-flight starter. If they do, the road to the AL East crown could be a smooth one.