Last Saturday we took a look at the race in the NL West, but let's change leagues and coasts today to look at the battle for the AL East crown.
The Yankees have more or less led the division since mid-June (with a few exceptions here and there), though the Rays have closed the gap this month and the two teams are now separated by just half-a-game. In fact, they've alternated that half-game lead for six days now. The Yanks have been done in by a stretch in which they've won just three of their last 11 games, though Tampa has gone 5-6 during that span and hasn't fully taken advantage.
Of course winning the AL East isn't crucial to either team's playoff hopes. Barring a spectacular collapse, both the Yanks and Rays will make the playoffs thanks to the Wild Card. The Twins are just one game back for the best record in baseball, so winning the East no longer guarantees home field advantage through the AL playoffs like we've assumed basically all season. A division title would be more about bragging rights than anything else.
The Red Sox are seven games out in AL East and are playing spoiler more than anything, but they do have six games left against New York and stranger things have happened. If nothing else, they could make things a little stressful for the teams up top over the next two-plus weeks.
Who will win the AL East?
Click here to vote in the poll, and here to view the results.
I’m surprised the voting is so close. The Rays have a cupcake schedule ahead — apart from the games against each other, they face LAA, SEA, BAL and KC, while the Yankees face BOS for 6, plus Toronto.
KC has a tendency to only play well against teams that have everything to lose, Baltimore has gotten good enough to play spoiler also. But Toronto always plays well against the Yankees it seems, Boston? meh
jays havent played badly against the rays this year either, decent record and a lot of close games.
yankeeswin the east, rays win the alcs
Seems like the pressure’s kind of off for both of these teams. I’m sure each of them would like to win the division, but whoever doesn’t will make the playoffs anyway. I agree with Zack; the Yankees probably win the division, but the Rays go to the World Series due to much better pitching and the desperation of a team that’s going to be dismantled at the end of the year.
The Al East will be decided in the 4 game series at Yankee Stadium… If the Yankees don’t win the series they don’t desereve the East
“A division title would be more about bragging rights than anything else.”
Well, a Wild Card can never get home field advantage, so it’s a slightly harder road to win the Wild Card and march through the playoffs. Chances of the Wild Card and AL East winner meeting in the ALCS are high, so taking the division might mean an extra game at home there.
However, it looks like the division winner will play Texas in a 5 game series, and that could be very dangerous if they throw Lee twice. Maybe being the Wild Card isn’t that bad of an idea.
Boston looks like a longshot for the playoffs, but they way they’ve played all year dealing with injuries, my vote for manager of the year hands downs- Francona
I love how everyone says the Rays pitching is so much better the Yankees. If you would actually look at the team ERAs of both teams the Rays are less then .10 of a run better then the Yankees and I believe the Yankees bullpen ERA is lower then the Rays. However any chance a non Yankee fan has to bash the Yankees they take full advantage of it. I’m pretty sure they’re were a lot of haters saying the Yankees wouldn’t win the World Series last year and what happened. That’s why they play on the field.
I’m a Yankee fan, but beyond CC, their rotation is shakey. They better hope Pettite comes back and shines! If he doesn’t, I don’t like their chances in the postseason…