Yankees Now Odds-On Favorites to Win AL East

• The New York Yankees are favored to win the AL East in 2019
• The Yankees’ starting pitching has been outstanding this season
• The Yankees are currently fifth in home runs in the America League

The Major League Baseball season has passed its quarter mark and the Yankees are once again looking like world beaters. New York has won eight of its last 10 games and has seen its odds to win the AL East improve from +100 on May 6th to -120 on May 22nd.

2019 American League East Odds

Odds taken 05/22/19

Injuries Are a Big Part of New York’s Story

The Yankees have had as many as 17 regulars out since Opening Day and are still in first place in the AL East at 30-17. They’re presently two games up on the Tampa Bay Rays and five and a half games ahead of the Boston Red Sox.

Looking to keep rolling in Baltimore.
Powered by @Biofreeze pic.twitter.com/uksodF0kLy

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 22, 2019

The Yankees are in the midst of a series against one of the doormats in the AL East, the Baltimore Orioles.

The East, as we know, is really a three team race as the Bronx Bombers, Red Sox, and Tampa Bay Rays are battling it out, while the Jays and Orioles are left to pick up the scraps.

.@Orioles look to stop the red-hot @Yankees tonight at 7:05pm ET, FREE on #MLBTV, pres. by @HankookTireUSA. https://t.co/gL4ySB3Pn4 pic.twitter.com/B2kFPuyHEK

— MLB.TV (@MLBTV) May 22, 2019

The Blue Jays managed to beat the Red Sox last night, but like the Orioles don’t look like a serious threat.

 Judge and Stanton Are Still Out

Aaron Judge was spotted playing catch Monday for the first time since suffering an oblique injury on April 20th. They need his bat back in the early part of the lineup. He has not started hitting yet though.

Giancarlo Stanton will be shut down 7-10 days after being hit by a pitch during live BP, @M_Marakovits reports. pic.twitter.com/TCLR1JN3vB

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 22, 2019

Giancarlo Stanton has been rehabbing for the Single-A Tampa Tarpons and started on Monday. He hit a setback yesterday though, and could be on the shelf for a little longer as he deals with left calf tightness.

Though not as high profile as the other two, Troy Tulowitzki was brought in to help the Yankees out with injuries to Didi Gregorious, but went down himself. Tulowitzki is a good player and Jays fans know what help he gave them a few years back when they won the AL East.

New York’s Pitching Has Been Hit Hard Too

James Paxton, an offseason acquisition from the Mariners, is also on the IL. Masahiro Tanaka was hurt on the weekend and it’s not known if he will miss any starts. He is projected to start tomorrow against Baltimore. The Yankees need another starting pitcher and are in the market for a big one to augment their staff.

James Paxton will travel to Tampa and throw a three-inning simulated game on Friday. After that, he could re-join the rotation. #Yankees

— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) May 21, 2019

The Best Bet

The Yankees have managed to get this far despite all the injuries and they’re still in first place. They’re a good bet to take the AL East, but they will likely battle the Red Sox and Rays right down to the wire. Pick the Yankees to win it.

Pick: New York Yankees (-120)