MLB Prewiew 2018 - AL EAST

11 days left until the start of the #OpeningDay I leave you the preview of the East Division of the American League

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

"Derik Hamilton/USA Today Sports"

The previous campaign left Baltimore in the basement of its division, so the executive vice president, Dan Duquette, along with manager Buck Showalter, decided to make a clean in his body of openers, being Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gaussman the only ones who will return to This new season.

The problem of Britton affects the whole structure of the bullpen, and the spring training began with that as the subject pending and urgent: to find a new taponero without destabilizing the roles of the other members of the bullpen.

Time passes and gradually a generation of very good players, without having been able to reach great heights.

Adam Jones, Jonathan Schoop, Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo accumulating calendars, and let their best years, and although Manny Machado still has the best to come, could this be his final season with the Orioles, before becoming a free agent.

BOSTON REDSOX

Alex Cora now will do the same with the Red Sox, who have an offensive without rest for the pitcher, full of TNT with people, which has already proved its quality with the team as Mookie Betts, Dustin Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez, Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr., Andrew Benintendi and company, the more the arrival now official J.D. Martinez, who makes that Boston has a comprehensive and balanced team in the field, in addition to a bench with a lot of depth.

The more complicated the new helmsman of the team will, without a doubt, be able to manage their pitching to arrive in good shape at the end of the season and the postseason.

Chris Leaves had a great season last year, but for August, already came with little fuel in the tank. After having registered 1.04 of effectiveness in July, was 4.38 in August and 3.72 in September, something that was yet to come, because John Farrell abuse of your opener from the home, thanks in large part to another major challenge will have Alex Cora: set the jumper in the bullpen to take you to Craig Kimbrel, a task that will be anything but easy.

There is an urgent need to remedy that situation, the Red Sox rotation has a lot of quality with David Price, Rick Porcello, Drew Pomeranz, who if left behind the inconsistency, can lead to Boston to be the best team, not only in their division, but of all the American League.

The Red Sox will have a very entertaining battle with the Yankees in the East of the young circuit, but Alex Cora has everything to tilt the balance in his favor, and begin a successful career as a manager in the Major Leagues.

NEW YORK YANKEES

"Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports"

At the beginning of 2018, Judge averages 50 home runs per 162 games in his career, Sanchez 44 49 and Stanton, stay healthy, and with the support of other gunboats important as Didi Gregorius (25 HR last year), Greg Bird, Aaron Hicks and Company, the records of all time could be seriously threatened.

There is no doubt as to this offensive, which surely will be charged to the team during the regular calendar so that it is in the playoffs, but we'll see how it is behaving the pitching of the equipment with a view to the postseason.

The rotation presents a stunning blend of experience and youth. In its 37 years, CC Sabathia will be the veteran of the group, but no longer the "As" of the rotation, a place that will be up to the Dominican Luis Severino, of 24 years of age. Masahiro Tanaka (29), Sonny Gray (27) and Jordan Montgomery (25) complement this group that will have the support of a solid bullpen, headed by Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances and David Robertson.

The big question is in the manager. This group of players was a victory for the World Series last year under the command of Joe Girardi that, after a decade as helmsman, was relieved by Aaron Boone.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Josh Donaldson #20

These two great absences (Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion) will have to be resolved by the rest of the lineup, which does not seem to have so many weaknesses. The Dominican Teoscar Hernandez arrived in Houston last year and hit 8 home runs in September, so we will see it every day in the line up, accompanying Josh Donaldson, Justin Smoak, Troy Tulowitzki, Kendrys Morales and Kevin Pillar, a good alignment.

But it is the pitching the doubts despite the fact that the directive has been adding important pieces for the pitching staff is taking shape. The most recent of them, the Mexican Jaime Garcia, who comes to join in this group to their fellow countrymen Marco Estrada and Roberto Osuna. The tamaulipeco comes from one of the most difficult seasons of his career, because at a given moment, linked three consecutive openings, with three different teams.

TAMPA BAY RAYS

Chris Archer the as.

Not only does the offense need to get on base more, but the defense needs to improve. Last year, Tampa Bay finished ninth in errors. Wilson Ramos, who missed significant time because of an ACL tear, will be ready to start behind the plate for Opening Day. In 2016, before getting injured, Ramos hit .307 with 22 home runs, and was named an All Star for the National League.

Logan Morrison’s career season, an OPS of .868, means his time is probably done on the low payroll Rays. This means an opening at first base, as well as 30+ home runs off the books. Brad Miller, who missed around 1/3 of the season because of time on the DL, looks to be in line to start at first, at least until Tampa makes a move. Keep in mind, Miller hit 30 home runs in 2016.

Evan Longoria not suiting up for the Rays already feels weird, but life goes on. Matt Duffy, who missed all of 2017 after two Achilles surgeries, looks to be in place to take over the hot corner. Up the middle, we have Adeiny Hechavarria or possibly Christian Arroyo at SS, and plenty of options, not great ones, at second. At any point, Tampa Bay could use Daniel Robertson, Joey Wendle, Michal Johnson, and Ryan Schimpf.

As part of the Longoria trade, longtime outfielder Denard Span will have a shot to compete for a spot in an outfield that consists of Kiermaier, Souza Jr., and Mallex Smith. Corey Dickerson will also get sometime in LF, but will mostly remain as the starting DH. In all honestly, Dickerson has great range, finishing 2nd in range factor/9 innings for leftfielders.