Blue Jays American League East Recap: Stumbling out of the Gate

Orioles Flying High
4-1

The Orioles took no time in silencing doubters about their credibility this season. Their young rotation has performed excellently, allowing one of Baseball’s best bullpens to take control of the later portion of the game. Baltimore has not looked lost without 2016 staff ace Chris Tillman, who is still out for an undetermined time frame. Despite a new look rotation, their offense is about what it was last year, and the Jays felt the sting of the Mark Trumbo resigning day one. Despite a hot start to the season, the Offense was decidedly lacking from their early season form last year. For them to hang in with a tough division, they’ll need their offense to keep pace well into the season.

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The Orioles biggest question will still be how their new rotation holds up to the ongoing grind of a baseball season. They’ll need their rotation to continue to perform as admirably as they did this past week. If their rotation begins to falter, even their mighty bullpen won’t be able to reverse their fortunes to for too long.

Final Takeaway:

The Orioles picked up where they left off last year, and to little surprise have been on fire since day one. Of course, it helps that Zach Britton finally got his call from the bullpen.

Stunning Tampa Bay
5-2

The Tampa Bay Rays quickly got off to a bad start last year and was never able to recover. Coming into the season it was expected they’d more or less do the same. The Rays did just the opposite handing both the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays series losses. This success is due largely to their rotation being the force it was supposed to be a season ago. The Rays got outstanding outings from Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi. With a good bullpen behind them, the Rays look like a team that can compete.

Tampa’s big issue last season was consistency. When their rotation was on fire, their bats were on ice, and vice versa. The Rays will need their rotation to continue to perform at the level their young arms are capable of. As well as receiving the offense to put up enough support to get their rotation late into the game. From there, the relief corps can do the rest.

Final Takeaway:

The Rays may have begun the season the odd man out in a tight division, but with stuff they put up this week, it might be the Rays to watch out for.

Bored in Boston
3-2

The heir apparent to the American League East failed to dazzle in the first week of play. The Red Sox find themselves sandwiched in the middle of the division. Their young stars are quite capable of leading their offense to victory, but their heralded rotation was definitely lacking a punch. Chris Sale looked like his dominant self, but both Rick Porcello and Steven Wright looked like the players of yesteryear and not the dominant arms they were last year. With David Price out, for the time being, the back end of their rotation will need to step up to bring the Red Sox the crown placed on them this offseason.

The Red Sox have the young talent to push Boston into the top of the league, but the loss of David Ortiz has made a definite impact on the potency of their offense. The Red Sox will need their rotation to take the reigns and lead the team to success.

Final Takeaway:

The Red Sox failed to make much of an impact, positive or negative the first week in the season. But after a week of play, the teams greatest strength looked like a weakness.

Yankees Face Uncertainty
2-4

The Yankees showed late last year the power of their youth. After thinning out the heard and releasing a handful of veterans the Yankees embraced the power of their rich and deep farm system. The Yankees figure to be one of the very best teams in baseball once the young stars take flight. Until then the Yankees seem destined to struggle with mediocrity. New York already had questions about their rotation before ace Masahiro Tanaka was shelled by the Rays on opening day, and the rotation has been inconsistent since then. The Yankees have one of the best tandem relief options with Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman, but need to be in the game for them to be effective.

The offense that was on display late last season has been seen in glimpses this year. However, with an unfortunate injury to star slugger Gary Sanchez the Bombers could be without one of their most vital pieces for an extended period of time. With First Baseman Greg Bird on the shelf as well, the Yankees may have to wait a little longer for their young stars to become superstars.

Final Takeaway:

The Yankees will be a team to beat. Whether it’s this year, or another year down the line is still anyone’s guess.

Next: Josh Donaldson Leaves Game with Injury