AMER ICAN LEAGUE

1 NEW YORK YANKEES + 165 DIV ............. + 1000 WS

BEST CASE

DJ Lemahieu, Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo bounce back to career norms, while Aaron Judge plays a full season. Carlos Rodón gives them at least 25 starts.

WORST CASE SS Anthony Volpe’s progress stalls. Rodón, SP Marcus Stroman and SP Nestor Cortes Jr. are banged up and ineffective as the Yankees miss the postseason again.

2 BA L T IMORE ORIOLES +205 DIV ............ + 1300 WS

BEST CASE Elite INF prospect Jackson Holliday arrives and boosts an already talented lineup. He, Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson form MLB’S most exciting young trio.

WORST CASE Corbin Burnes isn’t enough to save a thin, banged-up rotation. Adding Craig Kimbrel doesn’t help an unreliable bullpen. The young bats have growing pains.

3 TAMPA BAY RAYS + 400 DIV ............ +2500 WS

BEST CASE The Rays again prove adept at adding along the margins, as their latest anonymous overachievers spearhead a sixth straight playoff appearance.

WORST CASE Taj Bradley’s development hits a speed bump or two, hindering a roster depleted by the losses of Tyler Glasnow, Robert Stephenson and Luke Raley.

4 TORONTO BLUE JAYS + 650 DIV .............+ 1400 WS

BEST CASE Toronto again enjoys rare rotation health after its top four starters made a combined 128 starts last year. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. bounces back to provide run support.

WORST CASE

SP Alek Manoah struggles to regain his 2022 All-star form, and the offense remains in the middle of the pack without the presence of Matt Chapman at the hot corner.

5 BOS T ON RED SOX + 1300 DIV ...........+ 3300 WS

BEST CASE

SS Trevor Story’s resurgence and 1B Triston Casas’s progression boost the lineup. Brayan Bello takes a leap in his third season to helm a better-thanexpected rotation.

WORST CASE Story, and new additions SS Vaughn Grissom and LF Tyler O’neill, can’t rebound from disappointing 2023 seasons. The Red Sox finish in last place for the third straight year.