Known as the “Junior Circuit” to the National League’s “Senior Circuit”, the American League in Major League Baseball features some of the most iconic teams in sports. Led historically by the New York Yankees (40 AL titles), Oakland Athletics (15), and Boston Red Sox (14), the AL has won 66 of the 117 World Series played through 2020 since 1903. The reigning champions though are the Houston Astros and are coming off their third overall title.
Though the odds are not quite available yet for who will win the pennant in the AL, below are the top four teams who are favored to win the World Series and represent the AL in the process.
The reigning AL Champions, the Astros came up just short to the eventual World Series champion Atlanta Braves in six games. However, Houston still has the firepower to make a return to the World Series. Led by four All-Star selections this last season in Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Michael Brantley, and Ryan Pressly, the Astros have basically run the AL West to the tune of four titles in five seasons. For Houston to make a return appearance to not only the ALCS, but the World Series, they need to reload with just a little bit more pitching firepower. Although their stars are bright, they are aging too.
The historical champion of the AL, New York has some ground to make up from previous years of postseason disappointment. The Yankees were able to qualify for the playoffs as the fifth seed in the AL before losing to the fourth-seed Boston Red Sox in the AL Wild Card game. Led by outfielder Aaron Judge who paced the Bronx Bombers with 39 home runs and 97 RBI’s last year, the Yankees do have some offensive threats. The pitching staff is headed up by Corey Kluber and Gerrit Cole, both of whom won AL Player of the Week honors last season. However, some pundits have predicted that the Yankees might still regress and be on the verge of their first losing season since 1992 if they cannot stay healthy.
After winning over 100 games in a division (the AL East) that had three other 90-win teams, the Rays are poised to take the next step in 2022. Tampa Bay boasts a young and electric roster with the likes of Wander Franco, Luis Patino and Drew Rasmussen. Their starting pitching staff will most likely improve next season and the Rays seemingly are able to have good relief pitchers appear out of nowhere. Though the AL East is certainly crowded with the Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays, the Rays are potentially the best of the bunch.
With 2021 ending with an unfortunate loss to the Astros in the ALDS, the White Sox return with even higher hopes in 2022. Many in the local Chicago media scene are thinking that this roster could be the beginning of a multi-year run of AL Central division titles. While their division is a little bit more forgiving than say the AL East, the White Sox have a roster of young stars to rely on too. Though many of their younger players missed time last year like Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez, Chicago just has too many weapons to be left off of the postseason docket for next year.
Prediction: Though the initial oddsmakers have the Yankees and Astros representing the AL in the World Series, I like the Rays to represent the AL in the MLB championship. Tampa Bay is just too athletic, too strong on defense and too loaded with prospects to not have them at least on the table making a run to the title.
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About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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