This is part 2 of the MLB preview. Today I am covering the American League. If you haven’t read my recent National League preview here is the article. Part 3, the Awards and Postseason Predictions will be out tomorrow.

American League East

1. New York Yankees

Last Season’s Record: 100-62, 2nd in AL East

2019 Projection: 105-57 (+5)

Despite winning 100 games last season, the New York Yankees did not win their division as the Boston Red Sox had one of the best seasons by a baseball team in the last 15 seasons. Entering 2019, this is the year the Bronx Bombers need to put up or shut up. They clearly have one of the most talented teams not only in the American League but also in all of baseball. If they fail to win it all this season, it will a massive failure for the Yankees.

2. Boston Red Sox

Last Season’s Record: 108-54, 1st in AL East

2019 Projection: 103-59 (-5)

With a majority of their core from last season’s World Championship back, the Red Sox are seen by many to repeat in 2019. The issue is that they aren’t going to win as many games as they did last season, that is just the nature of the beast when it comes to teams who win as many games as they did last season. They should be in contention for the division even with the Yankees looking stronger.

3. Tampa Bay Rays

Last Season’s Record: 90-72, 3rd in AL East

2019 Projection: 83-79 (-7)

The fact the Rays pulled a 90 win season last year when nobody expected them to go anywhere is very impressive. While you shouldn’t expect them to put up that win total this season, fans should be optimistic about the young core they’re assembling. Do not be surprised if the Rays are in contention late into the season.

4. Toronto Blue Jays

Last Season’s Record: 73-89, 4th in AL East

2019 Projection: 71-91 (-2)

When are the Jays going to realize that it is time to embrace the youth and call up Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette? It is not 2015, heck it’s not even 2016 anymore for you guys. Stop thinking of yourselves as contenders and embrace the youth if you want any semblance of a direction for your organization!

5. Baltimore Orioles

Last Season’s Record: 47-115, 5th in AL East

2019 Projection: 45-119 (-2)

This team is a disaster. Sure, they blew up the team at last year’s deadline for a bunch of prospects, but this only happened because management kicked the can for two consecutive offseasons because they thought they were still contenders with an aging core and a god-awful pitching rotation. The next few seasons are going to be rough for Baltimore, but let’s hope that the new regime has a direction that they will stick to and bring the Orioles back to relevance in the AL.

American League Central

1. Cleveland Indians

Last Season’s Record: 91-71, 1st in AL Central

2019 Projection: 93-69 (+2)

While I am not crazy on Cleveland, especially with star Francisco Lindor expected to miss at least the first few weeks of the regular season, I still feel they’re the best team in the AL Central with a pitching rotation that other GMs die to have, but I don’t see a deep playoff run from them due to the top talent throughout the rest of the league.

2. Chicago White Sox

Last Season’s Record: 62-100, 4th in AL Central

2019 Projection: 75-87 (+13)

While I don’t see them as a playoff team yet, the young core looks promising. However, the only way the White Sox win games this year is that their young guys continue to grow in a positive trajectory, especially their young starting pitchers. Jose Abreu cannot carry this team by himself.

3. Minnesota Twins

Last Season’s Record: 78-84, 2nd in AL Central

2019 Projection: 74-88 (-4)

This team simply isn’t very good. Their young players have struggled to develop, their pitching has struggled to stay healthy, and the team looks like it is headed into another rebuilding project if guys like Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano cannot figure out how to hit consistently. This team either looks like the 2017 team or the 2018 team.

4. Detroit Tigers

Last Season’s Record: 64-98, 3rd in AL Central

2019 Projection: 63-99 (-1)

The Tigers are still rebuilding and really the only things to look forward to are Nick Castellanos and Miguel Cabrera this season. Hopefully, some of the young players can show significant strides and speed up this lengthy rebuild by the Tigers.

5. Kansas City Royals

Last Season’s Record: 58-104, 5th in AL Central

2019 Projection: 58-104 (–)

This team is going to struggle and they really don’t have a ton of major league talent to trade for young prospects. It is going to be up to GM Dayton Moore to do what he did to build the team into a World Champion in 2015, draft, and draft well. It is going to be a long couple of years for the Royals.

American League West

1. Houston Astros

Last Season’s Record: 103-59, 1st in AL West

2019 Projection: 100-62 (-3)

This is a really good team and should be in contention for another World Championship run. Their pitching is by far the best in the American League statistically and the next wave of young prospects look really promising. The only way the Astros don’t win this division is either a great late season collapse or poor production from their offense.

2. Oakland Athletics

Last Season’s Record: 97-65, 2nd in AL West

2019 Projection: 90-72 (-7)

The A’s are a fun team to watch, don’t get that wrong, but the lack of starting pitching compared to Houston is going to hurt them significantly this season. Unless they add a quality arm or arms to pair with Sean Manaea, this team isn’t going to overthrow Houston for the division title and make a deep playoff run.

3. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Last Season’s Record: 80-82, 4th in AL West

2019 Projection: 83-79 (+3)

When are the Angels going to stop wasting the career of Mike Trout? The made the right move to move on from Mike Schoisa as manager, but they still need their team to at least give a care when it comes to winning ballgames. Only two more years until free agency Mike, it’ll be here before you know it.

4. Texas Rangers

Last Season’s Record: 67-95, 5th in AL West

2019 Projection: 70-92 (+3)

What happened to this team? Did losing to the Blue Jays ruin their competitive spirit? If more than anything, they really don’t have a lot of talent. Their stars are past their prime, the young guys have failed to develop into good hitters, and their pitching has failed to be at least somewhat good for part of the season. The best thing Texas can do is rebuild through the draft and try to put a competitive team on the field in a few years after some lengthy rebuilding.

5. Seattle Mariners

Last Season’s Record: 89-73, 3rd in AL West

2019 Projection: 63-99 (-26)

Yes, this team lost many of of their players, but it was time to blow up the core after multiple failures in the second half of the season. However, the future looks bright as the Mariners have acquired many solid prospects and with proper development, they could be back to contending in a few years, but right now they need to continue to focus on growing the farm system.

This is the end of the American League preview. Come back tomorrow for the playoff and awards predictions.