2019 MLB season: American League East preview
By David Hill
As the 2019 MLB season is getting closer, it is time to take a look around the game. To begin, we preview the American League East.
Heading into the 2019 MLB season, the American League East appears to be defined in two very distinct classes. There are the haves, with the defending World Series champion Red Sox, the retooled Yankees, and the surprising Rays. Then, there are the have-nots, encompassing the Blue Jays and the historically awful Orioles.
Those levels are really not that much different than where the AL East was at the end of the 2018 campaign. The Red Sox had emerged from the three way battle with the division crown, while the Yankees were one of the best Wild Card teams in recent history. Tampa Bay, despite 90 wins, found themselves on the outside of the postseason, even though their win total would have been enough to reach the playoffs in most years.
Obviously, there can be surprises. Few expected the Rays to be a contending franchise last year, especially given the injuries to their rotation. Heading into 2019, the AL East once again appears to have very defined expectations. But, as they say, the games are not played on paper.
What should we expect in the American League East for the 2019 MLB season? Here is our divisional preview.