Trent Reinsmith
Not that long ago the New York Yankees looked like they would end the 2022 Major League Baseball Season with the best record in the American League East, the American League and overall. Those days have passed. Today, the Yankees don’t look like they will have the best record in the AL and they seem to be in danger of slipping from the top spot in the AL East.
In May, the Yankees had a .722 winning percentage. Today, New York’s winning percentage has dipped to .600, which is still respectable, but nowhere near where it once was.
With 140 games played as of this moment, the Yankees are feeling heat from the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Orioles, who were sellers at the 2022 MLB trade deadline, are still hanging around in the AL East mix.
Before we look at how the American League East will play out in 2022, check out our guide on World Series Betting, as well as the best sites for betting on MLB in 2022.
2022 American League East picks
| To Win MLB 2022 American League East |  |  |  |  |
| New York Yankees | -900 | -900 | -800 | -900 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | +900 | +1000 | +1000 | +900 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | +1200 | +1000 | +1000 | +930 |
| Baltimore Orioles | TBA | +30000 | TBA | +50000 |
New York Yankees Outlook
In early July, the New York Yankees had a 15.5 game lead over the second place team in the AL East. As we hit mid-September, that lead has fallen to 4.5 games. With that, the team that looked like it would breeze to the World Series title is in real danger of not winning the American League East.
Without the hitting of Aaron Judge, who remains a bright spot for the struggling Yankees, the team might have already fallen out of the top spot in the AL East. Judge has a .307 average, 55 home runs, 120 RBI’s, 154 hits an OBP of .412 and an OPS of 1.095 on the year.
The Yankees (84-56)have some tough games ahead as they play the Brewers, Blue Jays and Orioles to close out the season. On a positive note, the team also has series against the Red Sox, Pirates and Rangers.
Tampa Bay Rays Outlook
The Tampa Bay Rays have done a lot with a great deal less than the New York Yankees. Tampa Bay’s payroll of $91 million is a fraction of New York’s massive $253. In addition, the team has lost more than 2,000 man games to injuries, which puts the Rays second to the Cincinnati Reds in that statistic.
Despite the odds being against them, Tampa Bay is making a charge to the top of the AL East. They have moved from 15.5 games out of first in July to 12 games back in August to just 4.5 games out as of today.
Tampa Bay’s pitching has been superb during the past two months with an MLB best 2.47 ERA.
The Rays are 8-2 in their past 10 games.
Toronto Blue Jays Outlook
This year was looked at as the year the Toronto Blue Jays would make a serious run. At this point in the season it looks as if the team will finish the 2022 MLB season with about the same record they had in 2021, which was 91-71. Team management won’t be happy about that.
One thing the team can take away from the 2022 MLB campaign is that they are finishing the season strong. Toronto has gone 17-6 since August 17.
Toronto is not out of the running just yet, but they need to keep playing the way they have over the past month if they want to have a chance to win the AL East. That’s a lot to ask from a team that has been inconsistent.
Our pick: Yankees
Two months ago I would have said the Yankees were a lock to win the AL East and while I still think they will finish at the top of the division, I’m not as confident as I once was. The Yankees are the pick, but there is some value in the betting the Rays and/or the Blue Jays in the AL East.
See below a list of reliable sportsbooks and choose the best one for you.
