You didn’t actually think the AL East would be down this year did you?
Four of the East’s five teams (Red Sox, Rays, Orioles, Yankees) have 50 or more wins heading into the All-Star break. Boston leads with their 57-37 record, but Tampa Bay has quickly become the hottest team in baseball with their eight-game winning streak. The Rays are 9-1 in their last ten and have moved to 3.5 games behind the Red Sox.
This is the third time in Rays’ franchise history that they have recorded their 50th win on or before their 90th game of the season. Both previous seasons (2008 and 2010), Tampa Bay won the AL East.
Our beloved Orioles find themselves in third place at 51-42, 5.5 back of Boston after going just 4-6 in their last ten games. Right now the Orioles are 2 games back of a Wild Card spot, behind the Texas Rangers (53-39) and those pesky Rays (53-40). The Yankees are right on their heels at 50-42.
The Birds wrap up the first half of the season against the last place Toronto Blue Jays (44-47) who have also lost six of their last ten. The O’s are 27-19 at Camden Yards, while the Jays are just 19-26 outside of friendly Canada this season.
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This is the reason that a significant number of free agent pitchers looking to “pad their stats” in order to get their “next big pay day” don’t want anything to do with the AL East.
Lee and Greinke to name two.
They’d rather go to th NL and basically get a free inning (pitcher typically bats 3 times over the course of a game), bigger ball parks, etc.
Open your eyes.