The New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles are fighting for first place in the American League East. Close behind both teams in the rear view mirror are the Tampa Bay Rays. If there is something this team has that both the Yankees and Orioles possess is pitching.
Entering the last full month of baseball, the Yankees possess a two-game lead over the orioles and a 4.5-game lead over the Rays.
We all remember last season though, how the Yankees allowed the Rays to get back into the playoff picture on the last day of baseball, while getting some help from the Orioles. So these three teams know a little bit about dramatic finishes at the end of the season.
They have always said that pitching wins ball games. This could not be mroe reflective of how the Rays have stayed alive in the season. They are in the bottom of the major leagues in offense. However, they have the lowest WHIP and batting average allowed as well as the second lowest ERA in baseball.
With Evan Longoria back in the lineup, the Rays will have consistent production at the top of their lineup.
The Orioles and the Yankees are not as healthy or prepared going into the final stretch of the season. The Orioles pretty much have bunch of nobodies with Adam Jones and their manager, Buck Showalter, being the most popular men in uniform. They do possess the best closer in baseball, Jim Johnson, who has provided security out of the bullpen at the end of the game.
I do not trust their starting rotation to get the job done. Miguel Gonzalez and Wei-Yin Chen are the most dominant starters they possess. Joe Saunders and Randy Wolf are likely to be in the starting rotation, but they have been milked by offenses lately.
For the Yankees, C.C. Sabathia is back off the disabled list, but Hiroki Kuroda, who carried the Yankees while he was out, has struggled as of late. David Phelps and Freddy Garcia do not look like pitchers that will dominate as the season progresses. Phil Hughes will have to continue pitching the way he has in his last few starts if the Yankees plan on holding on to the lead.
Here are the remaining schedules for all three teams.
NYY
Tampa Bay Rays
Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox
Toronto Blue Jays
Oakland Athletics
Minnesota Twins
Toronto Blue Jays
Boston Red Sox
Orioles
Toronto Blue Jays
Tampa Bay Rays
Oakland Athletics
Seattle Mariners
Boston Red Sox
Toronto Blue Jays
Boston Red Sox
Tampa Bay Rays
Rays
New York Yankees
Texas Rangers
Baltimore Orioles
New York Yankees
Boston Red Sox
Toronton Blue Jays
Boston Red Sox
Chicago White Sox
Baltimore Orioles
