For 16 of the last 18 seasons, a team from the American League East has reached the League Championship Series, with four going on to win championships and another three finishing as the runner-up. Each franchise has made the LCS since 2014, earning the distinction as the only division in baseball to do so.
The Boston Red Sox have the most championships in the sport since 2000, winning four World Series from 2004-18, on the heels of the Yankees winning four titles in five seasons from 1996-2000. Baseball's premier "old money" division, home to 41 combined World Series trophies, looms large in the landscape of Major League baseball's 30 franchises. 2025 will be no different.
Current Odds to Win 2025 AL East Division
Latest Odds from FanDuel SportsBook
| Team |
Odds |
| New York Yankees |
-105 |
| Baltimore Orioles |
+240 |
| Boston Red Sox |
+500 |
| Tampa Bay Rays |
+900 |
| Toronto Blue Jays |
+1500 |
Current Odds to Win 2025 American League
Latest Odds from FanDuel SportsBook
| Team |
Odds |
| New York Yankees |
+300 |
| Baltimore Orioles |
+600 |
| Houston Astros |
+850 |
| Minnesota Twins |
+1000 |
| Texas Rangers |
+1000 |
| Seattle Mariners |
+1000 |
| Detroit Tigers |
+1100 |
| Boston Red Sox |
+1100 |
| Cleveland Guardians |
+1400 |
| Kansas City Royals |
+1500 |
| Tampa Bay Rays |
+1600 |
| Toronto Blue Jays |
+2500 |
| Los Angeles Angels |
+6500 |
| Athletics |
+7000 |
| Chicago White Sox |
+20000 |
Yanks Division Favorites for 6th Straight Year
After publicly whiffing on retaining Juan Soto in free agency, New York's batting order will look noticeably different this season. AL Rookie of the Year favorite Jasson Dominguez is projected to bat leadoff and play left field for the Bronx Bombers.
Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. will fill the void of Soto's departed bat between the second and fifth spots in the order around Aaron Judge. Overall, these changes could represent an improvement in the aggregate after the seasons that Gleybar Torres and Alex Verdugo had in support of the Soto-Judge power duo at the top of the Yankee lineup.
The other noteworthy additions to the Yankees are starter Max Fried, inked for $210 million over the next eight years, and two-time All-Star closer Devin Williams.
The O's Ain't Going Away!
Thanks to a leadership change and years of compiling and developing a loaded farm system, Baltimore has built a contending roster. Through call-ups and trades, that collection of talent has reached the point where results are expected at the big-league level.
Most of their 2025 roster is still years from reaching free agency, headlined by Silver Sluggers Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman along with Jackson Holliday, Colton Cowser, and Jordan Westburg.
The pitching staff bid farewell to Corbin Burnes and will rely on Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez until a deadline trade is necessary to fuel a postseason run. The return of closer Félix Bautista and addition of reliever Andrew Kittredge should fortify the O's bullpen ahead of a crucial season for the organization's future.
Can the BoSox Bounce Back?
In Boston, the franchise is dealing with its longest playoff drought to enter a season since 2013. The Red Sox notably won the World Series that year, but that would require a miracle to repeat in 2025.
Alex Cora will manage a roster that ranks 15th in payroll and features a rebuilt pitching rotation and bullpen around a lineup that scored the ninth-most runs per game a season ago, led by breakout star Jarren Duran.
Newly acquired ace Garrett Crochet leads a staff that added Walker Buehler in free agency with injury returns from Lucas Giolito and reliever Liam Hendriks on the horizon.
Rays Have Pitching Help on the Way
The Rays and Blue Jays form a tandem with long-shot expectations for the 2025 season. Tampa Bay's arms combined to allow the eight-fewest runs per game to opponents last year and should benefit from being rejoined by Shane McClanahan and Drew Rasmussen.
Young starters Taj Bradley and Shane Baz gained valuable big-league experience in 2024 and will be key contributors during this campaign. Their season relies on those pitchers staying healthy, combined with the desired success of Junior Caminero, Josh Lowe, and Christopher Morel.
Jays Add Some Key Bats
The Jays, flying under the radar with baseball's fifth-highest payroll this season, added Anthony Santander and Andrés Gimenéz to an order that welcomes back Bo Bichette after an injury-filled 2024.
On the mound, this aging staff didn't get younger by bringing in Max Scherzer, but the bullpen may have improved through the signings of Jeff Hoffman and Yimi García.
2025 AL East Best Bets (DraftKings)
New York Yankees to Win the Division +110
Tampa Bay to Make the Playoffs +180
The Yankees have no excuse to let the East slip away from them this season. The Orioles will have difficulty replacing Burnes atop their rotation, the Red Sox did not get significantly better this offseason, and the Blue Jays have invested too much in an aging roster that will have trouble holding up for a full season.
We are optimistic about the Rays due to the strength of their rotation. A departure from Tropicana Field this year will be a welcome change, and manager Kevin Cash will guide the Rays back to the postseason after their five-year playoff streak was snapped in '24.
