MLB divisional predictions part two: American League

Photo courtesy of Keith Allison / Wikimedia Commons

With Aaron Judge chasing his third straight AL MVP and leading a stacked Yankees lineup, New York looks primed to overcome key losses and reclaim the AL East crown in 2025.

Now that we have wrapped up the National League, it is time to predict the American League divisions, following part one in last week’s edition of The Lamron. The American League (AL) was once considered the powerhouse of Major League Baseball (MLB), with teams like the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox winning the World Series year in and year out. 

In recent years, however, there has been a “changing of the guard,” so to speak, as a National League team has won the World Championship in four out of the last six seasons. Several stalwart clubs will be looking to change that trend this season by lifting the Commissioner’s Trophy in October. 

American League (AL) East: New York Yankees

Despite the loss of Juan Soto in free agency and Gerrit Cole being lost for the season due to ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction, or Tommy John surgery, I still see the Yankees taking the American League (AL) East in the 2025 MLB season. This is because even with Soto’s departure, the “Bronx Bombers” still have an incredibly talented roster capable of winning a World Series. This roster is headlined by superstar outfielder Aaron Judge, the game’s best hitter, who is in the midst of a quest for three straight AL Most Valuable Players (MVPs). 

New York also got Judge some backup this offseason with the acquisitions of two former MVPs in outfielder Cody Bellinger and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. Along with the influx of veteran leadership, the Yanks' lineup has an impressive array of young talent. This includes the hometown shortstop Anthony Volpe, who is due for a true breakout season. 

Designated hitter Ben Rice has limitless potential as his role with the team has significantly grown since the offseason injury of slugger Giancarlo Stanton. There is also catcher Austin Wells, who finished third in Rookie of the Year voting last year. The Yankees’ mix of experienced veteran players with bright young stars has them primed to capture the AL East crown for the second season straight.

American League (AL) Central: Detroit Tigers

The Tigers are coming off a dazzling season that shocked the baseball world by advancing to the American League Divisional Series (ALDS). This young and hungry Tigers team will follow up that success with a division championship. Detroit did not make any monumental moves in the offseason but did add several veteran players to a roster dominated by youth. These moves included signing World Series champion pitcher Jack Flaherty, a steady and reliable second baseman, Gleyber Torres, and a consistently effective backend reliever in Tommy Kahnle.

This team, however, will be defined by the play of the Tigers' young stars, such as outfielder Riley Greene, reigning Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal, and first baseman Spencer Torkleson. If the Tigers' young core can produce consistently throughout the season, then a division title will be well within their reach.

American League (AL) West: Texas Rangers

The Rangers had what one could describe as a “World Series hangover” last season, as injuries and instability plagued their 2024 season. Still, this team has a plethora of talent left over from their world championship team in 2023. Corey Seager and Marcus Semien are a dominant infield duo; slugger Adolis Garcia is one of the most potent power hitters. Their pitching is nothing to ignore either, as savvy veteran Nathan Eovaldi, two-time Cy Young winner Jacob DeGrom, and young studs Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker lead their staff. The Rangers’ success is entirely reliant on whether they can stay healthy because if they can, a divisional championship might be the start of another deep run in October.

The American League has many teams that can make a deep run in October, making the league so captivating. Even the teams that do not end up winning the division have a great chance of achieving glory in October. Take the 2023 Texas Rangers, for example. They were a wild card team heading into the playoffs, but winning the World Series dramatically against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Baseball’s unpredictable nature is one of the qualities that make it such an iconic and engrossing sport. Regardless of who you’re rooting for, this coming season is sure to be a phenomenal showing!