Joel Sherman and Ken Davidoff break down the American League for The Post’s 2019 MLB preview. Sherman tackles the AL East and Central, while Davidoff digs into the West.
AL EAST
1. Yankees
O/U wins: 97
Key player: James Paxton. He was important anyway, but with the loss of Luis Severino for at least a month and the season-opening absence of CC Sabathia as well, Paxton simply can’t be Sonny Gray redux — an AL West ace who flames out in New York. He has the repertoire to pitch at the top of the rotation.