The Boston Red Sox’ reign atop the AL East standings was halted at three straight seasons after the New York Yankees went on to win 103 games to finish seven-games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays. Linemakers at online sportsbooks have high hopes for both the Yankees and Rays for the abbreviated 60-game 2020 regular season, but the same can’t be said for the Red Sox. Maybe it has to do with the whole Carlos Beltran debacle. Maybe it has to do with overall personnel. Either way, the AL East is expected to be a two-horse race between New York and Tampa Bay with the loser likely in the mix for a wild-card slot. But is it that cut and dry? Does the young upstart Toronto Blue Jays have enough in the tank to make a run in a shortened season? Maybe the Orioles shock the world! Let’s take a look at the futures odds to win the division and see how all members of the AL East stack up.
AL East Betting Odds
New York Yankees -305
Tampa Bay Rays +350
Boston Red Sox +800
Toronto Blue Jays +2700
Baltimore Orioles +25000
New York Yankees -305
Can you believe it’s been a decade since the Yankees last won a World Series? If Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Giancarlo Stanton figure out how to stay healthy, there might not be anything the rest of the league can do to slow New York down over the course of the next couple months. The Bronx Bombers’ batting lineup is stacked! One to nine, there isn’t a single easy out and that’s destined to take a toll on all the AL and NL East pitchers forced to run up against them on a gamely basis. That’s with DJ LeMahieu in the lineup after the second baseman recently tested positive for COVID-19. Even if unable to return the first few weeks of the season, the offense has more than enough power within it to make up for his absence. Adding Gerrit Cole as the starting staff’s ace to go along with a topnotch bullpen headed by Aroldis Chapman makes it even tougher to envision any team in the division preventing NY from winning successive division pennants. Tagged with one of the highest season win totals in the league, the Yankees should be able to do as they please; provided the injury bug takes July and August off.
Tampa Bay Rays +350
Backed by a young up and coming pitching staff and the ability to counter opponent’s moves on the mound up and down the roster, the Rays look as if their shoe-ins to get back to the playoffs in back-to-back years. This is a team that won 96 games a season ago to obliterate its 84.5-game season win total. It did so by way owning one of the best pitching staffs in the Bigs as well as a defense that committed the 8th fewest errors in the game. Where it lacked however was in the hitting department where by ranking middle of the pack in most pertinent scoring categories. Though likely not everyday players, the moves made to bring Manuel Margot, Hunter Renfro and Jose Martinez in should pay-off in the quest to improve the teams’ offensive punch. Backed by arguably the best outfield in MLB, Charlie Morton, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow comprise a trio that nobody will want to square off against in the playoffs. Tampa Bay’s “MO” is to get the most out of very little, and that should once again be the case in 2020 as it battles the Yanks for AL East supremacy.
Boston Red Sox +800
At the cost of losing arguably one of the best players in baseball after jettisoning Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Alex Verdugo and a couple prospects, the Red Sox still have a shot at securing a wild-card in hopes of getting back to the postseason. If that were to occur, it would be because Boston’s offense is still stacked with Andrew Benintendi, Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez setting the table for the middle of the order that still includes potent sticks like Mitch Moreland, Michael Chavis and the aforementioned Verdugo. The Red Sox likely won’t be competing for the division pennant this season, but could once again in short order with all that money saved accruing interest from not resigning Betts. Hopefully that money is spent on starting pitching since the rotation won’t be striking any fear into opposing offenses with guys like Nathan Eovaldi, Eduardo Rodriguez, Martin Perez, Ryan Weber and Brian Johnson holding down the fort. Heal up quick Chris Sale!
Toronto Blue Jays +2700
With just two playoff appearances dating back to 1993, the Blue Jays still don’t look to have the weaponry needed to compete with the upper echelon teams for the American League crown. However, baby steps have been made with the sons of three former All Stars in Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Cavan Biggio and Dante Bichette making an impact in their first taste of playing in the league last season. Upper management shored up the roster, mainly the starting pitching, by inking veterans Hyun-Jin Ryu, Tanner Roark and Chase Anderson in hopes of giving the pitching staff a much-needed shot in the arm. There is some punch in the lineup as well. Leftfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is a star on the rise, while Travis Shaw, Randall Grichuk and Teoscar Hernandez have also been known to put a charge into the ball. At best the Blue Jays outlast the Red Sox for third in the division standings, but they won’t go down quietly.
Baltimore Orioles +25000
Remember when the O’s were routinely challenging for the AL East crown? That almost feels like eons ago, but it last went to the playoffs in 2016. Since then, the franchise has put forth 75-87, 47-115 and 54-108 campaigns. It likely would’ve lost another 100+ games this season if not for the coronavirus wreaking havoc. There isn’t a team with a lower win total entering the 60-game season. There also isn’t a team with lesser known talent on it than that of the Orioles. That said, it does have some youngsters that could be great down the road with John Means, Anthony Santander, Renato Nunez and Hanser Alberto showing well in a forgetful 2019 season. Still, it won’t amount to much though there could be some spots to back them as big dogs since oddsmakers are sure to inflate their betting lines game in and game out.
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