Traditionally, the American League East race features two teams: the New York Silagra Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees have dominated the division over the past 15 years, but the Red Sox have been right there too, battling for the division throughout just about every season. In 2008, the Tampa Bay Rays came out of nowhere to rise above these two powerhouses and claim the first division title in the organization’s short history. However, order seemed to have been restored in 2009, as the Yanks and Sox once again finished one-two in the East. Tampa Bay is back in 2010, though, and has turned the AL East race into a three-team skirmish, one that should carry through much of the season.

As of June 24th, the Yankees held a 2.5-game lead over both Tampa and Boston. The Bronx Bombers won the AL East crown in 2009 and rode their star-studded lineup all the way to their 27th World Series title. There’s no question that the Yankees sell the most MLB tickets, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be caught in the standings.

Tampa Bay spent most of the first three months Brand Cialis of the season in first place thanks to a hot start but has cooled considerably as of late. Hurlers James Shields and Matt Garza got off to torrid starts but have struggled mightily over the last few weeks. Cy Young candidate David Price continues to pitch well, but the Rays will need both Garza and Shields to pick it back up if they hope to win the division. The team has Jeremy Hellickson waiting in Triple-A, and his services could be required sooner rather than later. Oddly, the Rays have been fantastic on the road this season but mediocre at home. They’ll need to find a way to win more ballgames in St. Petersburg if they want to catch the Yankees.

The Sox found themselves on the opposite side of the spectrum early on, struggling out of the gate and getting little help from their starting rotation, which was thought to be their strength. The Boston staff has come around, though, namely Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz. These two young pitchers have been fantastic lately and both appear to be in the mix for the All-Star game. This righty-lefty combo could form a lethal one-town punch for years to come in Bean Town. The Sox could also make a deadline deal to bolster their already solid offense. If they do, they’d definitely be a World Series contender, which they might be already.

As for the Yankees, they started strong and have kept playing well; it’s this consistency that is one of the many factors that make them the favorite in the division. What’s more is that the Yankees have endured injuries and slow starts concerning their best players yet haven’t missed a beat in the process. Guys like Robinson Cano, Brett Gardner and Nick Swisher have been instrumental in keeping this team on top in 2010, while players like Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira haven’t been themselves in the early going. If the big Yankee bats can get going, the Yanks could potentially run away from the Sox and Rays if those two teams struggle at all.

The American League East race should be the most interesting in baseball this season. The division features the three teams that have represented the American League in the World Series over the past three seasons and three clubs that could all go back to the World Series this year. It should be relatively tight into August and September, which will make for some great games late in the season. One has to think the Bronx Bombers are the best bet to take home the AL east title, though.

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