The American League(AL) East has been nothing short of entertaining to start off the 2024 Major League Baseball(MLB) season. The two frontrunners, the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles, are currently two games apart with the Yankees sitting slightly ahead at 33-15, and the Orioles sitting at 29-15. The division is wide open as high caliber teams such as the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays are both off to a slow start. This season will be one to watch and here is how I think the standings will look after game 162.
- Yankees(106-56)
- Orioles(102-60)
- Rays(92-70)
- Blue Jays(87-75)
- Red Sox(80-82)
The Yankees, in my humble opinion, are the best team in this division. Now, they aren’t tremendously better, but they are slightly better than the Orioles. Both teams can hit, that is undeniable. The Yankees have superstar talents in right fielder Juan Soto and center fielder Aaron Judge. Those two are surrounded by three-time all-star first baseman Anthony Rizzo and rising star shortstop Anthony Volpe. Soto’s statline to start the year is ridiculous with a .311 batting average, 11 home runs and 37 runners batted in(RBI’s). Judge started off really slow, but since he got ejected on a May 4 game, he has heated up. His 10 games after the premature exit saw him hit .457 with five homers and seven RBI’s. He is back. That is big! Since that May 4 game, the Yankees are 11-2 and recently coming off a series where they only surrendered one run to the Twins. This brings me to the pitching side of the ball. This pitching staff has stepped up in the absence of 2023 Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole. The Yankees currently have a team earned run average(ERA) of 2.81(the best in baseball). Carlos Rodon has had a resurgent year and has returned to himself with a 3.27 ERA with 55.0 innings pitched and 55 strikeouts. The two big surprises in this rotation though are Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil. They are both pitching with ERA’s under three with Schmidt at 2.49 and Gil at 2.39. The bullpen includes relievers like Luke Weaver and Ian Hamilton who both have sub 3.50 ERA’s. The one thing the Yankees need is a new closer. Clay Holmes stats look great, but every game I watch him I am scared the game will end not in the Yankees favor. If the Yankees got a new closer, that would make them the clear favorites in the AL. When looking at this Yankees squad, with Gerrit Cole coming back, more time for the real Aaron Judge, and outfielder Jasson Domínguez returning soon, this team is on the verge of an unreal season.
Now, the Orioles are very very good. Led by a young core of catcher Adley Rutschman, shortstop Gunnar Henderson, and outfielder Colton Cowser, the future for this Orioles team is unmatched in the Major Leagues. Rutschman is batting .309 with nine homers and 28 RBI’s. Cowser is batting .277 with six homers and 23 RBI’s and Henderson is batting .270 with 15 homers and 31 RBI’s. The pitching side is led by Corbin Burnes who has a 2.56 ERA in 59.2 innings and 60 strikeouts. The bullpen with Craig Kimbrel and Yennier Cano is also solid.
The Yankees have more pitching currently and are still missing Gerrit Cole. Over the season, pitching wins you games. The Yankees, with a resurgent Carlos Rodon, a healthy Gerrit Cole, Marcus Stroman, and young stars Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil will dominate the mound. Both teams can hit, but the Yankees will pull ahead due to their pitching being better by a decent sized margin.
