Yankees AL East Divisional Odds Get Shorter as Red Sox Continue to Struggle

• After taking two of three from Boston on the weekend, the New York Yankees now have an 8.5 game lead over the Red Sox
• On average, New York’s odds of winning the AL East have been lowered to -210
• Average odds of the defending World Series champion Red Sox repeating as division champs have grown to +520

Can the New York Yankees already stop worrying about the Boston Red Sox? It would be wrong to suggest that the Yankees are home and cooled out atop the American League East Division. The Tampa Bay Rays, just 2.5 games back, still have a significant say in the matter.

We win again. What else can you say.

Top of the AL EAST is………#Yankees #PinstripePride
pic.twitter.com/GfiGzGvo82

— Yankees Fans UK ?? (@NYYankeesUK) June 2, 2019

The Red Sox, though, are floundering. The defending World Series champs are 30-29 and 8.5 games back of their hated rivals from New York.

The Bronx Bombers are being embraced more strongly by the sportsbooks in the AL East Odds with each passing day. The Yankees opened at -135 to win the division. Today, they list New York at -210 to win the AL East.

2019 American League East Odds

*Odds taken 06/03/19

The Yankees started with odds of +140 as AL East champs. Currently,  the boys in the pinstripes sit at -225.

Yankees Clipping Along

The Yankees have won nine straight series. They are 38-20. They’ve won 32 of their last 43 games. The Bronx Bombers own a 93.7 percent chance of qualifying for the postseason.

They are clocking AL East teams at an impressive .785 clip (18-5). The Yanks are 21-12 at home and 17-8 on the road. Closer Aroldis Chapman saved 11-of-11 games in May to be named the AL relief pitcher of the month.

The Bronx Bombers have won 32 of their last 43 games and own a 93.7 percent chance of qualifying for the postseason.

That they are doing all this while 13 players currently idle on the injured list makes it all the more astonishing. That group in sick bay includes five everyday regulars – first baseman Greg Bird, shortstop Didi Gregorious, third baseman Miguel Andujar, designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton and rightfielder Aaron Judge.

As well, pitcher Luis Severino, a 19-game winner last season, is also out of action.

Boston Hasn’t Been Worth Beans

No team has won more World Series since 2000 than the four earned by Boston. But traditionally, the Red Sox don’t do well with prosperity and this year is proving no different.

The only time in franchise history that the Sox went to the World Series in consecutive seasons was 1915-16, when Babe Ruth was part of their pitching staff.

Boston lost two of three to the Yankees on the weekend and currently sit 8.5 games out of first place. In 2015, the BoSox weren’t that far out of first place until June 15th. In 2014, it took until June 4th to be that far behind.

Even in 2012, when the Red Sox went a horrid 69-93 under manager Bobby Valentine, Boston wasn’t this far beyond first place until July 6th.

Do the Rays Have Hope?

Credit the plucky young Rays for hanging tough when they spend most of their home games looking around at thousands of empty seats.

The Rays have captured two AL East flags, the most recent one in 2010. But the Yankees insist the team that concerns them the most remains the Red Sox.

The Cuban ? went full blast in May. #ChapmanSwagg pic.twitter.com/dpMpHBeRDV

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 3, 2019

In truth, the only team in the division capable of stopping the Yankees this season looks to be the Yankees. And based on what they’ve already overcome two months into the campaign, even they don’t appear to be capable of screwing this up.

Pick: New York Yankees (-200)