With the start of the 2019 season rapidly approaching, I believe it’s time that we give you the ultimate breakdown of each division and predict their position in the standings come season’s end. It’s hard to predict record, so we’ll just give you their placement in the standings. Of course, this is coming from a fan’s perspective and what we think it could look like, not what it will. Today, we focus on the American League East and the New York Yankees:
New York Yankees
2018 record: 100-62, 2nd in AL East, 1st Wild Card
Projected Lineup:
LF Brett Gardner
RF Aaron Judge
DH Giancarlo Stanton
CF Aaron Hicks
3B Miguel Andujar
2B Gleyber Torres
SS Troy Tulowitzki
C Gary Sanchez
1B Luke Voit
Starting Rotation:
RH Luis Severino
LH James Paxton
RH Masahiro Tanaka
LH J.A. Happ
LH CC Sabathia
RH Jonathan Loaisiga
Key Bullpen Pieces:
LH Aroldis Chapman
RH Dellin Betances
RH Adam Ottavino
LH Zack Britton
RH Chad Green
Key Bench Pieces:
2B D.J. LeMahieu
1B Greg Bird
The Yankees have, arguably, one of the best offenses in baseball with Judge, Stanton, Torres, Andujar and Hicks. The loss of Didi Gregorius at the start of the year isn’t ideal, but they have Tulowitzki to fill in. Although Tulo missed all of 2018 due to injury, he will still prove to be a vital piece to the Yankees for the season. Judge is, without question, the backbone of this offense. He missed time in 2018 due to a wrist injury, but still was able to hit .278 with 27 home runs and a .528 SLG in 413 at bats. He’s entering the year fully healthy and ready to repeat his 2017 Rookie of the Year and MVP caliber season. If you ask me, Judge will be right back in to MVP conversation in 2019. The 1B battle between Greg Bird and Luke Voit looks like it will boil over into the regular season since both made the Opening Day roster. From what I’ve heard and read, we may see Stanton playing some LF to start the year with Bird and Voit taking over at 1B and DH. Ultimately, I see Voit taking over full time with Bird either converting to the left-handed hitter off the bench or to AAA.
The rotation for many is the big question for the Yanks. They have their ace in Severino, who pitched to a 3.39 ERA and 220 strikeouts in 32 starts last year-the only Yankee starter to start 30 or more games. They acquired Paxton from the Mariners, re-signed Happ, and still have Tanaka, who also had a pretty good year last year. The Yankees will then have to decide who slides into that number 5 spot-the young arms or Loaisiga or Luis Cessa or give Sabathia the job in what will be his final season. Personally, I don’t believe the rotation is as bad as some think. Is it overpowering? Not at all but it’s definitely not the worst in the league. Besides, with how good the Yankees bullpen is expected to be, you only need an above average starting rotation.
Chapman, Britton, Betances, Ottavino, Green. These are five guys that make up the best bullpen in baseball. What else is there to say? The numbers and their stuff speak for themselves. The Ottavino signing was the biggest for the Yanks this offseason. 2.43 ERA, 0.991 WHIP and 112 strikeouts in 75 games in 2018. Let’s also not forget Ottavino is a New York guy who grew up a Yankees fan and personally, I always feel like when a player goes to play for his childhood team, the outcome is always a good one.
It seems that due to some injury issues, the Yankees may not get off the greatest of starts, but overall I think with the offense, quality starting pitching and a lights out bullpen, New York will be in a great position to win is first division title since 2012.
2019 prediction: 1st in AL East
