American League East
Per usual, the Yankees and Red Sox steal the show in the AL East. The separation between these two teams and the rest of the division is unfair, as the rest of the division isn’ that bad. Fans may be sick of the attention and credit the AL East gets; however; you can’t intelligently argue against this division in 2018.
New York Yankees
When you think New York Yankees, you think “WOW.” A heart of the order that consists of Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, and Didi Gregorious playing half their games at tiny Yankee Stadium…that’s just not fair. World Series expectations surround the Yanks as well. Offense is an unlikely issue for New York, nor is the bullpen.
Though, their starting pitching lacks depth; therefore, they cannot afford any serious injuries. Something tells me anything the Yankees lack come mid-season, they’ll buy come late July.
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox are walking side-by-side with the Yankees. It’s safe to say the greatest rivalry in sports has been renewed. Boston sports a lethal lineup that can hit from top to bottom. Power was an issue last season, but it will not be an issue in 2018. J.D. Martinez will hit his fair share of homers, and watch out for a power surge from Xander Bogaerts.
The Sox have some early injuries to their rotation, but Chris Sale and David Price are healthy. They’ll get Eduardo Rodriguez and Drew Pomeranz back soon enough.
There is a lot to play out once the regular season begins, yet, as we stand today, the Red Sox appear to be a complete team than the New York Yankees.
Toronto Blue Jays
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Toronto could compete for a wildcard spot if they play to their full capabilities. This means Justin Smoak will have to match what he did last season, Troy Tulowitzki will have to play like he did in Colorado, and Josh Donaldson will have to contend for MVP honors. The Jays will also need Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez to be healthy.
One thing the Blue Jays do have is an elite closer. If they can take the lead into the 9th, Roberto Osuna will secure the victory.
Baltimore Orioles
Same story different year for the Orioles. They have tons of pop, but pitching is their Achilles Heel. If they can absorb outstanding seasons from Kevin Gausman and Dylan Bundy, then they may have a shot at the wildcard.
More likely than not, this is the last hoorah for Baltimore, as Manny Machado is on his way out next offseason, at the very latest.
Next: Fantasy baseball duds to avoid
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays tanked. They will compete with the Miami Marlins for the worst record in MLB, as well as the lowest attendance in 2018. Add each team to the list of horrible Florida professional sports teams.