Last season, the Boston Red Sox went from worst to best in the AL East, winning the toughest division in baseball on the way to a World Series title. This season, the Red Sox’ rivals the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays have rosters that are filled to the gills with top-end talent. In the meantime, the Orioles and Blue Jays are looking to be the Red Sox of last year and surprise with a strong season from the bottom of the pack.
This is the AL East, so nothing’s off the table. Read on for our betting preview of the MLB’s American League East.
[sc:MLBArticles ]AL East Division Preview
Boston Red Sox (+1,200)
2013 Season Record: 97-65
[sc:MLB240banner ]The departure of Jacoby Ellsbury, Stephen Drew and Jarrod Saltalamacchia leaves Boston with some holes in their line up. Last season, Boston was no. 1 in the majors in runs, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. Without Ellsbury, who was no. 1 in runs for Boston in 2013, the leadoff spot could now belong to Daniel Nava (.303 BA/12 HR/66 RBIs in 2013).
What’s more, the Red Sox seem confident in the stable of young talent that they will be promoting to the bigs this year to hit alongside vets like Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz, including Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Will Middlebrooks. Should there be any problem with the bats, the starting rotation is still intact with Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, John Lackey, Jake Peavy, and Felix Doubront working the mound. Boston’s 3.79 ERA was no. 6 in the American League last season.
Tampa Bay Rays (+1,400)
2013 Season Record: 92-71
The Rays remained competitive with their big-market rivals last season, reaching the ALDS against the Red Sox. Poised to make another serious run at a World Series title, the Rays bring back the pillars of last season’s offense that finished 11th in the majors in home runs and runs. Evan Longoria (.269 BA/32 HRs/88 RBIs in 2013) and James Loney (.299/13 HRs/75 RBIs in 2013) are expected to provide the spark on offense.
Having kept prized starter David Price (3.33 ERA/10-8 in 2013) despite trade talks, the Rays retain an imposing starting rotation that can rattle even the most expensive batting orders.
New York Yankees (+1,000)
2013 Season Record: 85-77
After seeing All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano leave for the Mariners, the Yankees’ front office shelled out a whopping $438 million dollars to sign Masahiro Tanaka, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, and Brian McCann. Tanaka is yet to prove himself in the majors but he is valued as a shot in the arm for the wilting rotation of the Yankees.
Meanwhile, Ellsbury, Beltran, and McCann add much-needed stability to an iffy lineup that is now missing Cano, Curtis Granderson, and Alex Rodriguez and the declining/declined Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter.
Baltimore Orioles (+2,000)
2013 Season Record: 85-77
Power is the name of the game for the Orioles this season. After signing Nelson Cruz (.266 BA/27 HRs/76 RBIs in 2013), Baltimore’s lineup now boasts what could be the Orioles’ version of the Bash Brothers in Cruz and Chris Davis. The Orioles belted 212 homers in 2013 –the most in the majors – with Davis crushing 53 homers and Adam Jones smacking 33.
Offense aside, the Orioles need their pitching staff to step up. The Orioles finished with a 4.57 ERA in 2013, fourth-worst in MLB. By acquiring Ubaldo Jimenez (3.30 ERA/13-9 in 2013), the Orioles have plugged some holes in the rotation, although Jimenez comes with some risks.
Toronto Blue Jays (+3,000)
2013 Season Record: 74-88
Like the Orioles, the Blue Jays have power to spare. The Blue Jays finished fourth in the majors last season with 185 long balls. Edwin Encarnacion hit 36 homers, Jose Bautista jacked up 28 despite missing time, and Adam Lind contributed 23 more. Overall, Toronto’s offense is nothing to scoff at.
What keeps the Blue Jays from being a contender in 2014 is their inept pitching. The front office failed to significantly change the starting rotation after the 2013 experiment of Josh Johnson and R.A. Dickey failed to prove effective for a team that ended 2013 14th in the AL in ERA. The Jays played just 43 games against teams with losing records last season, so they will need better than that to have any chance at succeeding amidst a tough schedule.
Swing for the fences with Top Bet’s MLB futures odds and get into the action this season.
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