For fans or bettors that keep a close eye on MLB World Series odds, it became pretty clear that there was one division that was better than all the rest this season. The American League Division was supposed to be loaded with great teams in 2022, and that’s exactly what played out during the regular season.
The AL East was able to put three teams into the MLB Playoffs, which means that two of the three AL Wild Card teams came from this division. What makes this even more impressive is the fact that these teams spent the majority of the season beating up on one another.
Even though a number of teams in this division were having special seasons, it was the New York Yankees that set the pace from the beginning of the year on. New York entered the 2022 season with some of the best odds to win the World Series, and they wasted little time in exerting their dominance over the division.
Aaron Judge was largely responsible for the play of the Yankees this season as he belted 62 home runs to become the AL home run king in what should be an MVP season. The Yankees just continue to hit home runs at a ridiculous clip.
New York actually started to cool off a bit in the second half of the year, but they were just way too far ahead in the standings for it to really matter. The Yankees didn’t end up with the best overall record in the American League, but they still got to have home-field advantage in the first round.
The Yankees are the winningest team in baseball history when it comes to World Series championships, and they have a team worthy of winning a title this season.
Rays, Blue Jays Kept Pressure On
While the Yankees were in first place for the entirety of the season, the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays kept the pressure on throughout the year. Tampa Bay was getting the job done with great starting pitching, while the Blue Jays were putting on a show on offense.
The Rays have continued to be one of the best teams in baseball, despite getting the job done without spending money. Tampa Bay will likely use the same approach heading into the 2023 season, and they are going to be a tough team to deal with.
Toronto had an interesting 2022 season as they fired their manager after getting off to a slow start. That offense then started belting home runs at a record clip, and they simply powered their way into the postseason.
Baltimore is Coming
The most impressive team in the AL East Division during the 2022 season might have been the team that ultimately failed to keep up. The Baltimore Orioles put on an absolute show for a two-month stretch over the summer, and they were in the mix until the final weeks of the season.
Baltimore has been acquiring young talent over the last few seasons, and that talent was on full display this summer. Baltimore might not have been a playoff team in 2022, but they are coming fast.
Red Sox Are in Trouble
The Boston Red Sox have won three World Series championships since the start of this century, and one of them was recent. Boston entered the 2022 season with hopes of being a playoff team, and they always seem to be ready to battle the Yankees.
The 2022 season was a forgettable one for the Red Sox as a number of things went wrong throughout the year. Boston was forced to deal with some injuries to some of the biggest stars, but they also had a number of players fail to live up to expectations.
It now appears as if star shortstop Xander Bogaerts is going to leave the team in free agency, and that is going to leave a huge hole on offense.
