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MLB Memorial Day check-in: Who is a contender and who is a pretender?

By Scott Roche

ATLANTA, GA - MAY 23: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves comes to bat during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Truist Park on May 23, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 23: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves comes to bat during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Truist Park on May 23, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 05: Manuel Margot #13, Jose Siri #22 and Randy Arozarena #56 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrate a win after during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 5, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 05: Manuel Margot #13, Jose Siri #22 and Randy Arozarena #56 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrate a win after during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 5, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

AL East contenders and pretenders

The Tampa Bay Rays are arguably the best team currently in the majors. They are a low-payroll team that continues to make low-risk, high-reward moves that pay off. Manager Kevin Cash is again one of the best in-game managers and decision-makers. They can pitch, hit and play defense, a very good combination to have.

If you have not caught on to the Baltimore Orioles, then it’s time to pay close attention. Catcher Adley Rutschman leads behind the plate and in the lineup, while their hitting and pitching are in the middle of the majors, but they can put up as many runs on a nightly basis as they give up. They did have a tough weekend against the Texas Rangers, losing two out of three after taking two out of three against the New York Yankees and sweeping the Toronto Blue Jays in the last week.

Speaking of the Yankees, they have battled their way through injuries, but they finally did cut ties with the struggling Aaron Hicks. Gerrit Cole has anchored the rotation and is in the early conversation for the AL Cy Young Award, while Aaron Judge is getting hot after hitting 62 home runs last season.

The two wild cards in the division are the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. The Red Sox offense is always going to keep them in games, but there are still questions surrounding their starting rotation and bullpen. The most disappointing team in the division without a doubt is the Blue Jays, who have struggled to put together consistent hitting and pitching.

Contenders: Tampa Bay, Baltimore, and New York

Pretenders: Boston and Toronto

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