Tag

Al East

All articles tagged with #al east

Orioles Return Home Aiming to Upset Surging Yankees
sports7 days ago

Orioles Return Home Aiming to Upset Surging Yankees

Baltimore comes back to Camden Yards with momentum after taking 3 of 4 from the Rays and hopes to carry it into a three-game set with the AL East–leading Yankees, who remain playoff-bound but are dealing with injuries to Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger and rely on a power-heavy lineup despite weak batting averages. The Yankees’ strength is elite pitching and a strong bullpen, while the Orioles must capitalize on timely hitting and solid starting pitching. Game 1 features Rodón against Baz, Game 2 has Bassitt returning from the IL in a to-be-determined matchup (with a potential Will Warren filling in if Max Fried remains out), and Game 3 pits Gerrit Cole against Kyle Bradish, a matchup Cole has historically owned against Baltimore. The series could hinge on whether Baltimore can slow the Yankees’ power and generate enough offense to back their pitching.

Bellinger Hamstring Test Sparks Yankees Update, Plus AL East News
baseball1 month ago

Bellinger Hamstring Test Sparks Yankees Update, Plus AL East News

Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger exited Sunday's game with a hamstring tightness and will undergo tests; if he misses time, Spencer Jones could rejoin the big-league club and Max Schuemann could see added left-field work. In AL East updates, Ranger Suarez is expected to be activated by the Red Sox for Sunday’s start against the Blue Jays, Chris Bassitt threw a bullpen session as he recovers from back surgery, Samuel Basallo is being rested to calm right shoulder inflammation, and Steven Matz was activated by the Rays after a month out with an ankle sprain.

AL East Draft 2026: Upside-first classes and early steals
sports1 month ago

AL East Draft 2026: Upside-first classes and early steals

This AL East Day 1/Top-10 rounds recap analyzes how each club navigated the 2026 MLB Draft with an emphasis on upside and bonus-pool strategy. Orioles pursue high-upside HS talent led by Eric Booth Jr. at No. 7, complemented by a mix of college-prospect arms. Rays lean into prep stars like Grady Emerson and a cadre of projectable pitchers. Yankees land Hunter Dietz at pick 35 (bonus penalty) and add several high-upside arms; Blue Jays snag Cole Carlon at 39 and add Will Brick as a notable mid-round value. Red Sox drew attention for their top pick Jake Schaffner, though the pick drew criticism, with later selections like Josh Volmerding, Martin Shelar, and Kaleb LaFavor broadening the class. Overall, the piece weighs upside and development potential over grades, noting how day-one results interact with bonus-pool constraints and signing likelihoods.

Orioles slump deepens as bullpen collapse sinks 5-2 to Cubs
sports1 month ago

Orioles slump deepens as bullpen collapse sinks 5-2 to Cubs

The Orioles were held to one hit with runners in scoring position and had no extra-base hits in a 5-2 loss to the Cubs, despite Shane Baz delivering a quality start. Adley Rutschman provided both runs with a two-out, two-run single in the seventh, but Gunnar Henderson struck out to end the threat as the bullpen faltered amid injuries. Baltimore falls to last in the AL East (12.5 games back of the Rays) and 4.5 back of a wild-card, prompting questions about whether to buy or sell and the need for a winning streak before the All-Star break.

AL East Injury Watch: Stanton, Rodón, Gray, Melton
sports4 months ago

AL East Injury Watch: Stanton, Rodón, Gray, Melton

AL East injury notes: Stanton exited with right calf tightness, but Boone downplayed the issue and there’s no IL move yet. Rodón began a rehab assignment with the Yankees’ High-A affiliate, expected to need three rehab starts and could rejoin in mid‑May, possibly against the Brewers or Orioles. Gray traveled with the Red Sox and is slated for a bullpen session, suggesting a quick return from the 15‑day IL. Rays outfielder Jacob Melton has a Grade 2 left ankle sprain and is out 4–6 weeks; he’s a top prospect who could reach the majors later in the season.

AL East Injury Wave Tests Depth Across Five Teams
sports4 months ago

AL East Injury Wave Tests Depth Across Five Teams

April injuries hit the AL East hard: the Blue Jays juggle a rotation with Yesavage, Berrios, Bieber, and Ponce sidelined or limited, plus Springer and Barger dealing with toe/ankle issues; Baltimore navigates Holliday’s hamate fracture and Rutschman’s ankle while O’Neill remains out with a concussion; Tampa Bay’s Edwin Uceta is shut down with shoulder issues as Lux works back from a shoulder injury; and Boston abroad updates include Crawford elbow soreness, Slaten oblique, Sandoval UCL rehab, Uberstine shoulder, and Romy Gonzalez shoulder surgery, all signaling a whack of rehab starts and callups as teams chase depth.

Globe panel bets the Red Sox will reach the 2026 playoffs
sports5 months ago

Globe panel bets the Red Sox will reach the 2026 playoffs

Seven Globe writers preview the 2026 MLB season, predicting the Red Sox will contend in the AL East and likely reach the playoffs, with only one writer forecasting Boston misses postseason. The Sox open the year in Cincinnati, and the piece weighs rivals like the Blue Jays and Yankees, plus notes on players such as Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Mookie Betts, Kyle Schwarber and Tarik Skubal as context for the broader season outlook.

AL East Shuffle: Gil’s Role in Doubt, Bastardo’s Rule 5 Status, Lux’s Comeback
sports5 months ago

AL East Shuffle: Gil’s Role in Doubt, Bastardo’s Rule 5 Status, Lux’s Comeback

The Yankees will field a four-man rotation (Fried, Schlittler, Warren, Weathers) for the season’s first 13 days, leaving Luis Gil in an awkward fifth-starter spot or possibly piggybacking or staying in the minors; his 2025 peripherals suggest a decline despite a 2024 Rookie of the Year past. Toronto trimmed its bullpen, with Tommy Nance making the team while Angel Bastardo (plus Yariel Rodriguez and Jorge Alcala) won’t open the season on the roster, leaving Bastardo’s Rule 5 rights potentially needing a return trade or deal. Gavin Lux of the Rays is still dealing with shoulder and prior oblique issues but returned to the lineup as Opening Day nears; with limited spring games, manager Kevin Cash says they must get him ready, and a potential 10-day IL could push for adding depth in Richie Palacios or other infield options.

Orioles and Rays Swap Shane Baz in Strategic AL East Deal
sports8 months ago

Orioles and Rays Swap Shane Baz in Strategic AL East Deal

The Baltimore Orioles traded for Shane Baz from the Tampa Bay Rays, recognizing his potential as a top-tier starter and controlling him for three seasons, in a move that benefits both teams amid their division rivalry. The trade involved significant prospects and draft picks, reflecting Baz's high value and the Rays' strategic farm system rebuild, with the outcome of the trade likely to influence the division race over the coming years.