New York Yankees or Toronto Blue Jays? Who has best AL East lineup?

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 28: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees hits his 61st home run of the season in the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on September 28, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Judge has now tied Roger Maris for the American League record. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 28: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees hits his 61st home run of the season in the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on September 28, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Judge has now tied Roger Maris for the American League record. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – AUGUST 20: Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles bats against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 20, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – AUGUST 20: Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles bats against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 20, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

2023 Baltimore Orioles projected lineup and wRC+

CF Mullins 110

C Rutschman 133

SS Henderson 129

RF Santander 119

1B Mountcastle 121

3B Urías 110

DH Stowers 110

LF Hays 109

2B Frazier 99

Team average — 115.6

Note: While the Orioles (projected to go 80-82) are drawing more potential postseason attention this offseason than the Red Sox, the number show the teams are not all that far apart when it comes to average wRC+. While Baltimore has just one player under 100 and the Red Sox have two, Boston is much more top-heavy than the Orioles (two players with 138 each and two more in the 120-range versus Baltimore having just one above 130 and two above 120).

2023 Tampa Bay Rays projected lineup and wRC+

1B Díaz 135

SS Franco 132

LF Arozarena 126

2B Lowe 131

DH Ramírez 110

RF Margot 102

3B Paredes 128

C Bethancourt 101

CF Sirí 100

Team average — 118.3

Note: Notice that the Rays (projected to post an 86-76 record) do not have a player below 100 on the list, helping push them past both the Orioles and Red Sox in our rankings. Wander Franco could be the key to the Rays living up to those numbers this season.