2019 MLB Standings: American League East

With baseball season underway, bettors will want to get a handle on the standings of each of the six divisions. These include the American League East, American League Central, American League West, National League East, National League Central, and National League West. AL East features some of the most popular teams in the MLB, including the following:

• The Baltimore Orioles

• The Toronto Blue Jays

• The Tampa Bay Rays

• The Boston Red Sox

• The New York Yankees

MLB spring training kicks off in earnest in February 2019 and runs into early April. These exhibition-style games are designed to whip the teams into shape ahead of the regular MLB season. Baseball pitchers, catchers and hitters get to fine-tune their game ahead of the grueling baseball season.

Who is Leading the American League East Division?

Spring training provides the perfect window into the performance of MLB teams for the upcoming baseball season. However, bettors can benefit from evaluating the performance of individual teams by their standings in the previous season. The 2018 American League East Division culminated in the following rankings for the five competing teams:

• The Boston Red Sox – W 108 – L 54 – PCT .667

• The New York Yankees – W 100 – L 62 – PCT .617

• The Tampa Bay Rays – W 90 – L 72 – PCT .556

• The Toronto Blue Jays – W 73 – L 89 – PCT .451

• The Baltimore Orioles – W 47 – L 115 – PCT .290

The AL East Division featured three teams with positive run differentials including the Boston Red Sox at +229, the New York Yankees at +182, and the Tampa Bay Rays at +70. The run differentials are the difference between the runs scored versus the runs against each team.

What Do the Bookies Say about the American League East Division?

The American League features the American League East, the American League West, and the American League Central teams. The American League East features some of the best teams in the MLB, several of which are top contenders to progress through the MLB 2019 season and into the play-offs.

Evaluating each American League top performing team against one another provides some interesting statistics. For example, the Cleveland Indians led the way in the AL Central division with a .562 win/loss ratio, the Houston Astros led the NL West division with a .636 win/loss ratio, and the Boston Red Sox topped the AL East Division with a .667 win/loss ratio.

The Boston Red Sox have been credited with some of the most memorable performances in baseball over the years. Their results over the past three years have been notable:

• In 2016 The Boston Red Sox lost the ALDS to the Cleveland Indians (93-69)

• In 2017 The Boston Red Sox lost the ALDS to the Houston Astros (93-69)

• In 2018 The Boston Red Sox Won the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers (108-54)

The New York Yankees were a power team between 2009 and 2012, with the following record:

• In 2009, the New York Yankees won the World Series over the Philadelphia Phillies (103-59)

• In 2011, the New York Yankees lost the ALDS to the Detroit Tigers (97 -65)

• In 2012, the New York Yankees lost the ALCS to the Detroit Tigers (95-67)

*ALCS (American League Championship Series); ALDS (American League Division Series 1)

Bookies predictions for the Boston Red Sox are even more bullish. The Red Sox signed JD Martinez in 2018 and it changed the team’s make up dramatically. While David Ortiz was playing for the Boston Red Sox, they were an offensive force of note, and Martinez brought that fire back to the team. It's quite possible that the Red Sox will dominate the American League East Division in 2019, particularly with players like Darwinzon Hernandez in the reckoning. In 2018, the Boston Red Sox had an O/U win total of 92, and in 2019 their O/U win total is 94.5. They haven't had any key acquisitions for the season, and they have lost the likes of Ian Kinsler and Craig Kimbrel.

Bookies remain confident that the New York Yankees have a shot at a fantastic MLB season in  2019. The team has acquired notable players including Gio Gonzalez, Adam Ottavino, DJ LeMahieu, Troy Tulowitzki, and James Paxton. That being said, the Yankees have lost several players, some to injury, including Aaron Hicks, Didi Gregorius, and Luis Severino. The Yankees bullpen is strong, and includes the likes of Adam Ottavino and Zach Britton. Were it not for the injury situation hamstringing the Yankees, they would be hot favourites to take the lead in the American League. Leading bookmakers had the New York Yankees 2018 O/U win total at 94.5 and their 2019 O/U win total at 96.5.

Odds for the American League East Division Heading into the MLB 2019 Season

Leading New Jersey bookmaker 888sport has posted the following odds for the American League East for MLB 2019 (odds subject to change):

• The New York Yankees -118

• The Boston Red Sox +130

• The Tampa Bay Rays +1000

• The Toronto Blue Jays +3300

• The Baltimore Orioles +15,000

The aforementioned odds indicate that if a bettor places a $500 bet on the New York Yankees, a payout of $925 can result. A $1,000 bet on the Yankees results in an $1,850 payout. A $100 bet on the longshots in the American League East Division for MLB 2019, on the Baltimore Orioles, would pay $15,100.

Who Are the Impact Players in the American League East Division for the MLB 2019 Season?

The American League Cy Young award winners for MLB 2019 include the following players and odds (subject to change):

• Chris Sale – +300 (Boston Red Sox)

• Corey Kluber – +375 (Cleveland Indians)

• Luis Severino – +1000 (New York Yankees)

• Gerrit Cole – +1100 (Houston Astros)

• Justin Verlander – +1100 (Houston Astros)

The American League MVP award winners for MLB 2019 include the following players and odds (subject to change):

• Mike Trout – +180 (Los Angeles Angels)

• Mookie Betts – +600 (Boston Red Sox)

• Alex Bregman – +1000 (Houston Astros)

• Aaron Judge – +1000 (New York Yankees)

• J.D. Martinez – +1200 (Boston Red Sox)

• Jose Ramirez – +1600 (Cleveland Indians)

The American League Rookie of the year for MLB 2019 includes the following players and odds (subject to change):

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr – +125 (Toronto Blue Jays)

• Eloy Jimenez – +250 (Chicago White Sox)

• Yusei Kikuchi – +1000 (Seattle Mariners)

• Brent Honeywell – +1200 (Tampa Bay Rays)

• Christin Stewart – +2000 (Detroit Tigers)

The most home runs for MLB 2019 season include the following players and odds (subject to change):

• Giancarlo Stanton – +700 (New York Yankees)

• Aaron Judge – +1000 (New York Yankees)

• Khris Davis - +1200 (Oakland Athletics)

• Joey Gallo – +1200 (Texas Rangers)

• Bryce Harper – +1400 (Philadelphia Phillies)

• J.D. Martinez – +1600 (Boston Red Sox)

The most stolen bases for MLB 2019 season include the following players and odds (subject to change):

• Adalberto Mondesi – +300 (Kansas City Royals)

• Billy Hamilton – +400 (Kansas City Royals)

• Mallex Smith – +500 (Seattle Mariners)

• Trea Turner – +500 (Washington Nationals)

• Dee Gordon – +550 (Seattle Mariners)

• Jonathan Villar – +650 (Baltimore Orioles)

Now that spring training is out of the way, the regular season games begin. The top-ranking teams in the American League East Division include the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. These teams have a great shot at being contenders for the play-offs later in the season.