The MLB season will officially start in eight days: April 7 is the date in which fans will finally hear the “play ball” voice.
Fans are already making predictions about teams and players: who will win X division, who will lead the league in homers, who will win the Cy Young, etc.
The AL East, perhaps MLB’s toughest division, has been heavily discussed and analyzed by fans on social media.
It’s difficult to forecast a winner, with four serious contenders in the Tampa Bay Rays (the current division champions), the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox, and the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Baltimore Orioles, who won’t contend this season, complete the division.
Fans already have their favorite, according to MLB on Fox.
“The votes are in! MLB on FOX fans picked the @BlueJays to win the AL East this year!,” they tweeted on Wednesday.
The votes are in!
MLB on FOX fans picked the @BlueJays to win the AL East this year! pic.twitter.com/kbi12wxEHn
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 29, 2022
The Blue Jays’ official Twitter account had a funny reply to MLB on FOX’s tweet.
Fans with another W ✅ pic.twitter.com/mHAebRYq28
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 30, 2022
The AL East Should Be Toronto’s To Lose
Last year, Tampa took the division with a 100-62 record, eight games ahead of the two teams that ended up going to the Wild Card Game: the Red Sox and the Yankees, both at 92-70.
Right behind them, the Blue Jays finished at 91-71 and missed the playoffs completely despite a very impressive season.
They are now the favorites to take home the AL East, though, after an impressive offseason that saw them bring in star infielder Matt Chapman, ace Kevin Gausman, solid starter Yusei Kikuchi, and a couple of relievers to shore up their bullpen.
Oh, and they still have Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1.002 OPS, 48 homers), Bo Bichette, Teoscar Hernandez, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., George Springer, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Alek Manoah, and many, many more talented players.
The division race will probably be close all season, but the Blue Jays have what it takes to be crowned winners in early October.
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