Will revival of Yankees-Red Sox rivalry be top AL East storyline?

Will revival of Yankees-Red Sox rivalry be top AL East storyline?
The trendy analysis for the American League East is that the Boston and New York are going to battle for the title, bringing back the usual intensity that goes with a Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. But when does the obvious ever happen in baseball? The Orioles, who had five consecutive .500 or better seasons before their last-place finish in 2017, will contend if they can rebuild a rotation. The Blue Jays have pitching depth and the Rays are the Rays. Predicted finish: Yankees, Orioles, Red Sox, Blue...
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Where the AL East stands before the Winter Meetings

Where the AL East stands before the Winter Meetings
We are not breaking any news here when we say the Orioles need starting pitching - at least three starters and certainly more - if they are going to be contenders in the 2018 American League East. The Orioles have Kevin Gausman, who pitched well in the second half after a lousy first half in 2017, and Dylan Bundy at the top of the rotation, but after that, it's all question marks. Baltimore is in catch-up mode. The New York Yankees, who unexpectedly came one win away from making the World...
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Opposite dugout: Rays aim to hold off O's and Jays for third place in AL East

Opposite dugout: Rays aim to hold off O's and Jays for third place in AL East
Manager: Kevin Cash (2nd year) Record: 77-82 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: LF Corey Dickerson (.278/.321/.488 with 27 HR, 62 RBIs), 3B Evan Longoria (.260 with 19 HR, 83 RBIs), 1B Logan Morrison (37 HR, 83 RBIs), RF Steven Souza Jr. (30 HR, 78 RBIs), RHP Chris Archer (9-12, 4.18 ERA), RHP Alex Colomé (3.15 ERA with 46 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 8-8 Pitching probables: Sept. 29: LHP Wade Miley vs. RHP Jake Odorizzi, 7:10 p.m., MASN2 Sept. 30: RHP Miguel Castro vs. RHP Chris Archer,...
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Opposite dugout: Third place, .500 mark are Rays' late goals

Opposite dugout: Third place, .500 mark are Rays' late goals
Manager: Kevin Cash (2nd year) Record: 74-78 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: LF Corey Dickerson (.277 with 26 HR, 60 RBIs), 3B Evan Longoria (18 HR, 83 RBIs), 1B Logan Morrison (36 HR, 82 RBIs), RF Steven Souza Jr. (30 HR, 78 RBIs), RHP Alex Cobb (11-10, 3.63 ERA), RHP Chris Archer (9-11, 4.02 ERA), RHP Alex Colomé (45 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 6-6 Pitching probables: Sept. 21: RHP Matt Andriese vs. RHP Gabriel Ynoa, 7:05 p.m., MASN Sept. 22: RHP Alex Cobb vs. RHP: Ubaldo...
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Taking a look at the bizarre AL wild card race

Taking a look at the bizarre AL wild card race
The American League wild card race is bizarre, flawed or mediocre - whatever you choose to call it. In most seasons, teams struggling to stay above .500 would be long gone out of the race. Not this year. Here is what makes the AL wild card race so wild: * The Twins, who lost 103 games in 2016, are contenders even with a rotation that includes Bartolo Colon, Aaron Slegers, Dillion Gee and Tim Melville. Colon is 44 and looks like a sportswriter. Slegers has made one big league start, Gee 23 in...
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Where the American League postseason race stands

Where the American League postseason race stands
With less than two months to go, there's not a lot of drama in the National League races. The Nationals most likely will play either the Cubs, Brewers or surging Cardinals in the Division Series, while the Dodgers will play the winner of the projected Diamondbacks-Rockies wild card game. The American League is more complex. Teams are bunched and a .500 record keeps a team thinking October. The Orioles are contenders even though they were seven games under on July 16. The Orioles' schedule...
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Opposite dugout: Rays very much alive in playoff hunt

Opposite dugout: Rays very much alive in playoff hunt
Manager: Kevin Cash (3rd season) Record: 51-48 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: DH Corey Dickerson (.308 with 18 HR, 117 hits), 1B Logan Morrison (.252 with 26 HR, 61 RBIs), RF Steven Souza Jr. (.270 with .372 on-base percentage), RHP Jacob Faria (4-1, 2.52 ERA), RHP Alex Colomé (3.63 ERA, 28 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 4-5 Pitching probables: July 24: RHP Kevin Gausman vs. LHP Blake Snell, 7:05 p.m., MASNJuly 25: LHP Wade Miley vs. RHP Jacob Faria, 7:05 p.m., MASNJuly 26: RHP Ubaldo...
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Opposite dugout: Rays hitters hope to heat up again after going cold in Pittsburgh

Opposite dugout: Rays hitters hope to heat up again after going cold in Pittsburgh
Manager: Kevin Cash (3rd year) Record: 41-40 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 1B Logan Morrison (22 HR, 54 RBIs), CF Mallex Smith (9 stolen bases), OF/DH Corey Dickerson (.330/.371/.577), RF Steven Souza Jr. (14 HR, 49 RBIs), RHP Jacob Faria (3-0, 2.10 ERA, 0.974 WHIP), Alex Colomé (20 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 1-2 Pitching probables: June 30: RHP Jacob Faria vs. RHP Dylan Bundy, 7:05 p.m., MASNJuly 1: RHP Jake Odorizzi vs. RHP Chris Tillman, 4:05 p.m., MASNJuly 2: RHP Alex Cobb vs....
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Opposite dugout: Youngsters stepping up to keep Rays in AL East race

Opposite dugout: Youngsters stepping up to keep Rays in AL East race
Manager: Kevin Cash (3rd year) Record: 39-36 Last 10 games: 6-4 Who to watch: 1B Logan Morrison (21 HR, 51 RBIs), CF Mallex Smith (9 SB), 3B Evan Longoria (18 doubles, 38 RBIs), OF/DH Corey Dickerson (.326/.365/.583), RHP Jacob Faria (3-0, 1.37 ERA, 0.966 WHIP), Alex Colomé (20 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 1-2 Pitching probables: June 23: RHP Chris Archer vs. RHP Ubaldo Jiménez, 7:10 p.m., MASN2June 24: RHP Jacob Faria vs. RHP Dylan Bundy, 4:10 p.m., MASNJune 25: RHP Jake Odorizzi...
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Opposite dugout: Injury-plagued Rays hoping pitching eventually catches up to offense

Opposite dugout: Injury-plagued Rays hoping pitching eventually catches up to offense
Manager: Kevin Cash (3rd season) Record: 10-10 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: RF Steven Souza Jr. (.347/.424/.613 with 4 HR, 17 RBIs), 1B Logan Morrison (4 HR, 12 RBIs), 3B Evan Longoria (3 HR, 12 RBIs), RHP Erasmo Ramírez (2-0, 3.07 ERA), RHP Chris Archer (2-0, 3.20), RHP Alex Colomé (0.00 ERA, 4 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (6-13 in 2016) Pitching probables: April 24: RHP Chris Archer vs. RHP Ubaldo Jiménez, 7:05 p.m., MASN April 25: RHP Erasmo Ramírez vs....
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Offseason to-do lists for AL East teams

Offseason to-do lists for AL East teams
The Cleveland Indians haven't won a World Series since 1948 and it's going to stay that way for at least another year. The Cubs beat the Indians 8-7 in 10 innings in Game 7 of the World Series. Interesting that the Cleveland Cavaliers came back from a 3-1 deficit to win the NBA championship last June, but the Indians blew a 3-1 lead in the World Series. The Indians, who lost Game 7 of the 1997 World Series in extra innings to the Marlins, have three key free agents - Mike Napoli, Raijai...
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Showalter speaks after 7-6 loss

Showalter speaks after 7-6 loss
The Orioles had their chances tonight. Plenty of them. Chances to take the lead, a chance maybe to move into a first-place tie in the American League East. If they selected Chance Sisco's contract, it would have been a perfectly-themed night. The Rays continue to revel in their role of spoiler, scoring in each of the first four innings and getting timely outs in a 7-6 victory over the Orioles before 19,233 at Camden Yards. The Red Sox scored five runs in the ninth to beat the Yankees and now...
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Orioles come up short in series opener against Rays

Orioles come up short in series opener against Rays
For the Orioles, it was one frustrating night. In the first of an 11-game homestand, they got poor pitching early in the game and some non-productive at-bats later. It all added up to a 7-6 loss to the Tampa Rays in the opener of a four-game series. The Orioles fall to 80-66. Should New York go on to beat Boston, they will have missed a chance to tie for first in the American League East. But, a Boston loss would keep them a game off the pace in the division. In their final frustrating at-bats...
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Opposite dugout: Rays hoping to buck recent trend vs. O's

Opposite dugout: Rays hoping to buck recent trend vs. O's
Manager: Kevin Cash (2nd season) Record: 62-83 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: 2B Logan Forsythe (.279 average with 19 HR, 50 RBIs); 3B Evan Longoria (32 HR, 155 hits); SS Brad Miller (72 RBIs, 122 hits); RHP Jake Odorizzi (9-6, 3.81 ERA); RHP Chris Archer (8-18 with 217 strikeouts); RHP Alex Colome (2.01 ERA with 32 saves). Season series vs. Orioles: 4-11 Pitching probables: September 15: LHP Blake Snell vs. RHP Yovani Gallardo, 7:05 p.m., MASNSeptember 16: RHP Chris Archer vs. RHP Ubaldo...
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Opposite dugout: Rays hoping to spoil hopes of division rival

Opposite dugout: Rays hoping to spoil hopes of division rival
Manager: Kevin Cash (2nd season) Record: 58-77 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 2B Logan Forsythe (.283 with 17 HR, 46 RBIs), 3B Evan Longoria (.282 with 31 HR, 85 RBIs), SS Brad Miller (118 hits, 26 HR), RHP Jake Odorizzi (9-5, 3.56 ERA), RHP Matt Andriese (6-6, 4.19 ERA). Season series vs. Orioles: 3-9 Pitching probables: Sept. 5: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez vs. RHP Matt Andriese, 1:10 p.m., MASNSept. 6: RHP Yovani Gallardo vs. RHP Jake Odorizzi, 7:10 p.m., MASNSept. 7: RHP Dylan Bundy vs. LHP...
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Opposite dugout: Healing Rays still fading

Opposite dugout: Healing Rays still fading
Manager: Kevin Cash (2nd season) Record: 34-54 Last 10 games: 1-9 Who to watch: 3B Evan Longoria (.289/.337/.526 with 19 HR, 47 RBIs), 2B Logan Forsythe (.285 with 8 HR, 21 RBIs), SS Brad Miller (14 HR, 32 RBIs), LHP Matt Moore (5-6, 4.46 ERA), RHP Alex Colome (1.69 ERA with 19 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 2-7 Pitching probables: July 15: RHP Yovani Gallardo vs. RHP Chris Archer, 7:10 p.m., MASN2 July 16: RHP Chris Tillman vs. LHP Matt Moore, 6:10 p.m., MASN2 July 17: TBA vs. RHP Jake...
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Opposite dugout: Injury-plagued Rays dreading four-game series over weekend

Opposite dugout: Injury-plagued Rays dreading four-game series over weekend
Manager: Kevin Cash (2nd season) Record: 31-39 Last 10 games: 3-7 Who to watch: 3B Evan Longoria (.273/.328/.539 with 18 HR, 43 RBIs), OF/DH Corey Dickerson (12 HR, 32 RBIs), SS Brad Miller (9 HR, 24 RBIs), RHP Matt Andriese (6-0, 2.61 ERA), RHP Alex Colome (1.76 ERA with 19 saves) Season series vs. Orioles: 2-3 Pitching probables: June 24: LHP Matt Moore vs. RHP Yovani Gallardo, 7:05 p.m., MASN June 25: RHP Jake Odorizzi vs. RHP Kevin Gausman, 1:05 p.m., MASN June 25: RHP Matt Andriese vs. RHP...
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Opposite dugout: Rays trying to take advantage of early AL East-heavy schedule

Opposite dugout: Rays trying to take advantage of early AL East-heavy schedule
Manager: Kevin Cash (2nd season) Record: 8-10 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 2B Logan Forsythe (.303/.370/.545 with 8 RBIs), RF Steven Souza Jr. (.291/.339/.600 with 5 HR, 11 RBIs), DH Corey Dickerson (5 HR, 9 RBIs), LHP Matt Moore (1-1, 3.60 ERA), RHP Erasmo Ramirez (4-1, 1.69 ERA) Season series vs. Orioles: 0-2 Pitching probables: April 25: RHP Kevin Gasuman vs. RHP Chris Archer, 7:10 p.m., MASN April 26: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez vs. RHP Jake Odorizzi, 7:10 p.m., MASN2 April 27: RHP Chris Tillman...
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Opposite dugout: With rotation healthy to start, how far can Rays go?

Opposite dugout: With rotation healthy to start, how far can Rays go?
Manager: Kevin Cash (2nd season) Record: 2-2 Last 10 games: 2-2 Who to watch: RHP Chris Archer (12-13, 3.23 ERA), LF Corey Dickerson (.304), 2B Logan Forsythe (.281/.359/.444 with 17 HR, 68 RBIs), 3B Evan Longoria (21 HR, 73 RBIs), RF Steven Souza Jr. (16 HR) Note: Statistics from 2015 Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (9-10 in 2015) Pitching probables: April 8: RHP Chris Archer vs. RHP Chris Tillman, 7:05 p.m., MASN April 9: LHP Drew Smyly vs. RHP Mike Wright, 7:05 p.m., MASN2 April 10:...
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This is not your father's American League East

This is not your father's American League East
As any fan of the Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays or Tampa Bay Rays could tell you, and perhaps even say with some level of pride, the American League East is no longer a two-team race. Once the domain of the big spending Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, the AL East has produced four different division champions the past four seasons. Over the last six seasons - since 2010 - all five AL East teams have won the division title. If you look at the composite AL East standings since 2012, New York is...
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