AL EAST, CENTRAL DIVISION CAPSULES
ALEAST NEW YORK YANKEES
2020 record: 33-27, second in East, lost toRaysinALDS
2020 AL rank in runs scored: First
2020 AL rank in runs allowed: Sixth
Lineup: 1B Luke Voit/Jay Bruce, 2B DJ LeMahieu, SS Gleyber Torres, 3B Gio Urshela, LF Clint Frazier, CF Aaron Hicks, RF Aaron Judge, C Gary Sanchez, DH Giancarlo Stanton
Prediction: First in East. Much depends on reliever Zack Britton, who returns from elbow surgery in midsummer.
TAMPA BAY RAYS
2020 record: 40-20, first in East, lost to Dodgers in World Series
2020 AL rank in runs scored: Sixth
2020 AL rank in runs allowed: Third
Lineup: 1B Ji-Man Choi/Yandy Diaz, 2B Brandon Lowe, SS Willy Adames, 3B Yandy Diaz/Joey Wendle, LF Randy Arozarena, CF Kevin Kiermaier, RF Manuel Margot, C Mike Zunino, DH Austin Meadows
Prediction: Second in East. Even if they don’t value starting pitching, they’ll struggle to replace Blake Snell and Charlie Morton.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
2020 record: 32-28, third in East
2020 AL rank in runs scored: Third
2020 AL rank in runs allowed: 11th
Lineup: 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 2B Marcus Semien, SS Bo Bichette, 3B Cavan Biggio, LF Lourdes Gurriel Jr., CF George Springer, RF Teoscar Hernandez, C Danny Jansen, DH Rowdy Tellez
Prediction: Third in East. If Kirby Yates gets healthy and reaches 2019 levels, maybe better.
BOSTON RED SOX
2020 record: 24-36, fifth in East
2020 AL rank in runs scored: Fifth
2020 AL rank in runs allowed: 15th
Lineup: 1B Bobby Dalbec, 2B Kiké Hernandez, SS Xander Bogaerts, 3B Rafael Devers, LF Franchy Cordero/Marwin González, CF Alex Verdugo, RF Hunter Renfroe, C Christian Vázquez, DH J.D. Martinez
Prediction: Fourth. It didn’t take long to dismantle the 2018juggernaut.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
2020 record: 25-35, fourth in East
2020 AL rank in runs scored: Eighth
2020 AL rank in runs allowed: Ninth Lineup: 1B Trey Mancini, 2B Ramón Urías/ Pat Valaika, SS Freddy Galvis, 3B Maikel Franco, LF Austin Hays, CF Cedric Mullins, RF Anthony Santander, C Pedro Severino, DH Ryan Mountcastle
Prediction: Fifth in East. They’re lucky baseball doesn’t have relegation.
AL CENTRAL CHICAGO WHITE SOX
2020 record: 35-25, tied for second in Central, lost to A’s in AL wild-card series
2020 AL rank in runs scored: Second
2020 AL rank in runs allowed: Fifth
Lineup: 1B Jose Abreu, 2B Nick Madrigal, SS Tim Anderson, 3B Yoan Moncada, LF Leury Garcia, CF Luis Robert, RF Adam Eaton, C Yasmani Grandal, DH Andrew Vaughn
Prediction: First in Central. At 76, Tony La Russa wasn’t coming out of retirement to manage just anybody.
MINNESOTA TWINS
2020 record: 36-24, first in Central, lost to Astros in AL wild-card series
2020 AL rank in runs scored: 10th
2020 AL rank in runs allowed: Second
Lineup: 1B Miguel Sanó, 2B Jorge Polanco, SS Andrelton Simmons, 3B Josh Donaldson, LF Brent Rooker/Alex Kirilloff, CF Byron Buxton, RF Max Kepler, C Mitch Garver, DH Nelson Cruz
Prediction: Second in Central. Twins should at least snap their record 18-game postseason losing streak.
CLEVELAND INDIANS
2020 record: 35-25, tied for second in Central, lost to Yankees in AL wild-card series
2020 AL rank in runs scored: 13th
2020 AL rank in runs allowed: First
Lineup: 1B Jake Bauers, 2B César Hernández, SS Andrés Giménez, 3B José Ramírez, LF Eddie Rosario, CF Óscar Mercado/Brad Zimmer, RF Josh Naylor, C Roberto Pérez/ Austin Hedges, DH Franmil Reyes/Bobby Bradley
Prediction: Third in Central. Suggested nickname: Cleveland Dealers. Nobody develops pitching better.
KANSAS CITY ROYALS
2020 record: 26-34, fourth in Central
2020 AL rank in runs scored: 14th
2020 AL rank in runs allowed: Seventh
Lineup: 1B Carlos Santana, 2B Nicky Lopez, SS Adalberto Mondesi, 3B Hunter Dozier, LF Andrew Benintendi, CF Michael Taylor, RF Whit Merrifield C Salvador Perez, DH Jorge Soler
Prediction: Fourth in Central. A significantly better lineup, especially if Benintendi rebounds.
DETROIT TIGERS
2020 record: 23-35, fifth in Central
2020 AL rank in runs scored: 11th
2020 AL rank in runs allowed: 14th
Lineup: 1B Renato Núñez/Niko Goodrum, 2B Jonathan Schoop, SS Willi Castro, 3B Jeimer Candelario, LF Robbie Grossman, CF JaCoby Jones, RF Victor Reyes/Nomar Mazara, C Wilson Ramos, DH Miguel Cabrera
Prediction: Fifth in Central. Help, or at least hope, is on the way.