Cubs: Standings prediction for the 2020 MLB season

Fair to say, the Bronx Bombers are favored by many to go to the World Series, but they are not the only exciting team in the division.

1st place: New York Yankees

Nobody questions the talent the Yankees have. Their lineup is stacked with the likes of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gleyber Torres and Sanchez. In true Yankees fashion, they opened up their wallets and added All-Star ace Gerrit Cole to their rotation. On paper, this team should be favored to win the pennant, but the biggest question is health as they have dealt with many injuries and saw closer Aroldis Chapman test positive for COVID-19.

2nd place: Tampa Bay Rays

Impressive what the small-market Rays have done. They have some really young talent in the likes of Austin Meadows and possible promise in Tyler Glasnow. The rotation is headed up by 2018 AL Cy Young winner Blake Snell. On paper, the casual fan might now be as impressed, but they have found ways to be successful and have a good farm system that can add more talent to the mix in the near future.

3rd place: Boston Red Sox

This is an odd “transition” year for the BoSox. They traded away superstar Mookie Betts and David Price to the Dodgers and lost ace Chris Sale to Tommy John surgery this year. The Sox can still be decently competitive with the likes of J.D. Martinez, Xander Bogaerts, and Andrew Benintendi on the squad but not expected to be a postseason bound team.

4th place: Toronto Blue Jays

Our friends to the north are going through a bit of a rebuild, all centered around young slugger Vlad Guerrero Jr. The key players who took the team to the postseason a few years ago have all but moved on with their significant addition this year being starter Hyun-Jin Ryu. Much of the current MLB roster is filled with veteran journeymen right now, so do not expect the rebuilding Jays to contend this year.

5th place: Baltimore Orioles

Do not be ashamed if you look at the Orioles roster, and you honestly know nothing about 80% of the players. They are a ways away from being contenders. Hopefully, their fans can at least get some enjoyment from their crop of prospects. Sorry Orioles fans, it is going to be a long, short season.