by Scott Rickenbach
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024AL East Division Preview for MLB 2024
First number is the estimated projected wins per sportsbook odds while the second number is last season’s win total. This is followed by quick information on each team that likely impacts their season.
Baltimore Orioles – 90.5 projected wins. Last season 101 wins. Many were down on the Orioles coming into 2023 and saying they overachieved in 2022. In my season preview last year I referenced this and also stated I did not agree at all. Baltimore went on to have a huge season again! Now again they are being projected to regress but this still looks like the team to beat in the East and they added a key starting pitcher in Corbin Burnes. Overall, this Orioles team remains quite loaded with youth and talent.
Boston Red Sox – 77.5 projected wins. Last season 78 wins. Bad breaks continue for this once-proud Red Sox team. They signed Lucas Giolito this offseason and then found out their prized starting pitcher acquisition will end up missing this season due to injury. The Red Sox already have an injury issue in the bullpen too. Look for overs with this team in the right situations as Boston a decent lineup – particularly with some big sticks in the middle of the order. So with suspect pitching an issue again, this team could be involved in quite a few slugfest games.
New York Yankees – 91.5 projected wins. Last season 82 wins. It is already starting. Another season possibly impacted by significant injury issues. LeMahieu may not be back very soon, but will he be 100% or could this work into a longer-term thing? Also, Cole is a longer-term thing for sure and losing a key starting pitcher like that for at least a couple months (most likely) can really hurt a team’s season! I know the Yankees are projected to contend for the AL East title but this team so often underachieves!
Tampa Bay Rays – 84.5 projected wins. Last season 99 wins. As you can tell by their projected win total, this team has really regressed. They will likely struggle to reach a .500 season after winning nearly 100 games last season. Keep in mind, the Rays went only 48-41 their final 89 games of the season. Tyler Glasnow now is gone. Of course the team had the Wander Franco disaster last season and his huge production is now gone forever from MLB as he has huge legal problems in the Dominican Republic. The Rays still have a solid lineup but their pitching has taken massive long-term injury hits too in addition to losing Glasnow. McClanahan out for season and Springs and Rasmussen already set to miss significant time. This team, especially being in the tough AL East, looks like they will fall short of this projected win total this season.
Toronto Blue Jays – 86.5 projected wins. Last season 89 wins. The loss of Matt Chapman hurts this lineup and, of course, the AL East is considered by most to be the toughest division in baseball. This is still a solid bullpen and their starting rotation helped carry the team last season. Though strong through the first 3 guys in the rotation they drop off toward the back, especially with Mahoah struggling again this spring. Both he and Gausman are dealing with shoulder issues. It is a concerning start to the season with more injury issues.
First number is the estimated projected wins per sportsbook odds while the second number is last season’s win total. This is followed by quick information on each team that likely impacts their season.
Baltimore Orioles – 90.5 projected wins. Last season 101 wins. Many were down on the Orioles coming into 2023 and saying they overachieved in 2022. In my season preview last year I referenced this and also stated I did not agree at all. Baltimore went on to have a huge season again! Now again they are being projected to regress but this still looks like the team to beat in the East and they added a key starting pitcher in Corbin Burnes. Overall, this Orioles team remains quite loaded with youth and talent.
Boston Red Sox – 77.5 projected wins. Last season 78 wins. Bad breaks continue for this once-proud Red Sox team. They signed Lucas Giolito this offseason and then found out their prized starting pitcher acquisition will end up missing this season due to injury. The Red Sox already have an injury issue in the bullpen too. Look for overs with this team in the right situations as Boston a decent lineup – particularly with some big sticks in the middle of the order. So with suspect pitching an issue again, this team could be involved in quite a few slugfest games.
New York Yankees – 91.5 projected wins. Last season 82 wins. It is already starting. Another season possibly impacted by significant injury issues. LeMahieu may not be back very soon, but will he be 100% or could this work into a longer-term thing? Also, Cole is a longer-term thing for sure and losing a key starting pitcher like that for at least a couple months (most likely) can really hurt a team’s season! I know the Yankees are projected to contend for the AL East title but this team so often underachieves!
Tampa Bay Rays – 84.5 projected wins. Last season 99 wins. As you can tell by their projected win total, this team has really regressed. They will likely struggle to reach a .500 season after winning nearly 100 games last season. Keep in mind, the Rays went only 48-41 their final 89 games of the season. Tyler Glasnow now is gone. Of course the team had the Wander Franco disaster last season and his huge production is now gone forever from MLB as he has huge legal problems in the Dominican Republic. The Rays still have a solid lineup but their pitching has taken massive long-term injury hits too in addition to losing Glasnow. McClanahan out for season and Springs and Rasmussen already set to miss significant time. This team, especially being in the tough AL East, looks like they will fall short of this projected win total this season.
Toronto Blue Jays – 86.5 projected wins. Last season 89 wins. The loss of Matt Chapman hurts this lineup and, of course, the AL East is considered by most to be the toughest division in baseball. This is still a solid bullpen and their starting rotation helped carry the team last season. Though strong through the first 3 guys in the rotation they drop off toward the back, especially with Mahoah struggling again this spring. Both he and Gausman are dealing with shoulder issues. It is a concerning start to the season with more injury issues.
