Trending Upwards Or Downwards?: AL East
The American League East has remained a highly competitive division all season with every team looking to make it to the postseason. Since the All-Star Break, there has been a lot of momentum shifts between these five teams as some of them are getting hot at just the right time while others find themselves struggling to open the second half of the season.
Baltimore Orioles- Trending upwards
Courtesy of Orioles Twitter (@orioles) (Getty Images)
It’s no surprise that the Orioles are currently trending upwards after gaining sole possession of first place in the AL East. Baltimore has finally surpassed the Tampa Bays Rays, who have had a stranglehold on first in the division since the very start of the season. The Orioles squared off against the Rays in a four game series over the weekend and captured three of the four. This team now holds the best record in the American League and second best in all of baseball. The O’s have picked up right where they left off and don’t show any signs of slowing down.
Tampa Bay Rays- Trending downwards
Courtesy of Tampa Bay Rays Twitter (@RaysBaseball) (Getty Images)
With the Baltimore Orioles now leading the AL East, it means that the Tampa Bay Rays have fallen to second in the division. After Tampa Bay’s hot start to the season, they established themselves as the team to beat and as arguably the best team in baseball. The Rays have struggled recently to start the second half of the year, allowing Baltimore to close the gap. They went into a crucial four game series against the Orioles that would determine first place in the division but ended up dropping three of four. Tampa Bay still holds one of the best records in the league but they are not playing to the level in which they were in the first half. After relinquishing first place and allowing all other AL East teams to narrow the gap, the Rays are trending downwards.
Toronto Blue Jays- Staying the same
Courtesy of Blue Jays Twitter (@BlueJays) (Getty Images)
The Toronto Blue Jays have found themselves hovering around the middle of the AL East all season and that is where they currently find themselves. Toronto has played well enough to keep themselves consistently in playoff contention as they currently find themselves in a wildcard seed. Toronto is 4.5 games out of second place in the division and have 2 games in hand against fourth place. As long as Toronto can stay at the same level of play then they should find themselves still playing in October.
Boston Red Sox- Trending upwards
Courtesy of Red Sox Twitter (@redsox) (Getty Images)
Even before the season had begun, the Red Sox found themselves getting written off and were expected to finish last in the AL East. However, Boston has continued to fight all season and stay in the mix for a playoff spot. The Red Sox have found themselves both struggling in slumps and riding out hot streaks all season long but they are currently playing some of their best baseball, making sure nobody counts them out just yet. Boston is only two games out of third in the division as well as two games out of a wildcard spot. Their bats have come alive in the second half of the season as they are seeing big contributions from players such as Triston Casas, Rafael Devers, Masataka Yoshida, and Jarren Duran. This Red Sox team could very well prove all of the doubters wrong and end up in the postseason if they continue to stay hot.
New York Yankees- Trending downwards
Courtesy of Yankees Twitter (@Yankees) (Getty Images)
Although coming off of a sweep of the Kansas City Royals, the Yankees have really been struggling as of late. Ever since Aaron Judge got injured, it has been rough for New York. They currently find themselves last in the American League East, a place that nobody would’ve guessed to see the Yankees in. Before the sweep of the Royals, the Yankees had dropped five of their last six games. The Yankees were considered one of the favorites to come out of the American League before the season started but find themselves currently out of the postseason picture. The Yankees need to use the recent sweep as momentum to get out of this downwards spiral.
