2008 MLB American League East Odds, Who’s the Best?

The American League East has long been one of the most exciting divisions in all of baseball, with two of its longtime members, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees staging one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports for decades now.

However, there may be a new sheriff in town with the rise of the surprising Tampa Bay Rays, formerly perennially losers, having made an emphatic statement all season long that they are indeed, legitimate contenders to win the first division title in the short, 11-year history of the franchise.

With the division currently offering some excellent online sports wagering community have the opportunity to increase their respective MLB seasonal bankrolls with some wise decision-making on the outcome of the AL East race for first place.

Here is a look at the 2008 MLB Free Picks on which team will actually take the division title.

MLB Odds To Win American League East

Boston Red Sox -250

Currently at 68-51, the Red Sox are just four games behind the first place Rays and certainly have a legitimate chance at winning the AL East title for the second consecutive season. The Red Sox are 7-3 in their last 10 games overall and have posted a respectable 21-21 mark against their AL East opponents this season. While recently acquired outfielder Jason Bay is a decent player in his own right, he clearly is no Manny Ramirez at the plate, (although he also doesn’t bring Manny’s sizeable luggage into the clubhouse either) and the loss of the often-petulant star is going to hurt the club on the field whether they want to admit it or not.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays +250

Tampa Bay has been an absolute revelation all season long and has already surpassed their franchise high for wins in a single season. Not only that, but their 8-2 mark in their last ten games, suggests that the Rays are not slowing down or getting nervous about their chase for first place in the AL East. At 71-46 the Rays currently lead the AL East by four games and have posted a spectacular 28-19 record against the AL East opponents this season, the best record in the division by far.

New York Yankees +500

The Yankees have lost four straight games at the time of this writing and are just 4-6 in their last ten games overall. Currently, 63-56 and nine games behind the Tampa Bay Rays, it’s starting to look like the Yankees will miss out on the postseason for the first time since the league cancelled the 1994 postseason with its idiotic strike. While a Wild Card playoff berth is still possible, things are looking very dim in New York right now. Still, New York’s 23-22 mark against AL East opponents is encouraging.

Toronto Blue Jays +750

The Blue Jays, (60-59) have played solid baseball since former manager Cito Gaston came back to take over the club in June after the club got off to a disappointing 35-39 start under their former skipper John Gibbons. Now, 25-20 under Gaston this season, and 19-20 against AL East opponents this season, the only problem for the Jays, who are 6-4 in their last ten games overall, is the fact that they likely won’t have enough time to overcome their poor start by the end of the 2008 MLB regular season. However, I’d watch out for Toronto in a big way in 2009 with Gaston already guaranteed to come back to lead the club again next season.