Today, we have a look at the five series the Cubs will play against AL East clubs this year. One of those series will be the last three games of the regular season!<\/p>\n
Key departures: Scott Blewett, Corbin Martin, Gary Sanchez, Tomoyuki Sugano, Dylan Carlson, Alex Jackson, Grayson Rodriguez<\/p>\n
Key arrivals: Pete Alonso, Bryan Ramos, Blaze Alexander, Chris Bassitt, Jackson Kowar, Shane Baz, Ryan Helsley, Taylor Ward<\/p>\n
The O\u2019s had made the postseason two years in a row in 2023-24 and seemed primed for another playoff year in 2025 and then\u2026 klunk. On May 28 they were 19-36 and had been outscored 310-213. Yikes.<\/p>\n
They were better after that, going 56-51 the rest of the way, but the damage had been done. A lot of this was a down year from catcher Adley Rutschman, who missed a lot of time with two oblique injuries. The O\u2019s had almost no power \u2014 no one hit more than 17 home runs and the pitching was also bad, with the team allowing the sixth-most runs.<\/p>\n
The power outage has been presumably addressed by the signing of Alonso and acquisition of Ward by trade. They are counting on Shane Baz to upgrade their rotation and Ryan Helsley should be fine at closer. Former Cub Andrew Kittredge, an Oriole until the Cubs got him last year, returns to Baltimore.<\/p>\n
This is a tough division and even an improved Orioles team will have trouble competing.<\/p>\n
SB Nation Orioles site: Camden Chat<\/a><\/p>\n Key departures: Steven Matz, Dustin May, Rob Refsnyder, Alex Bregman, Lucas Giolito, Liam Hendriks, John Brebbia, Nathaniel Lowe, Josh Winckowski, Vaughn Grissom, Hunter Dobbins<\/p>\n Key arrivals: Johan Oviedo, Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, Ranger Su\u00e1rez, Matt Thaiss, Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, Brendan Rodgers, Isiah Kiner-Falefa<\/p>\n The Red Sox lost a wild-card series to the Yankees last year after an 89-win season. They lost Bregman to the Cubs, and so set out to upgrade their offense in another way, trading for former Cub Contreras. They also solidified their rotation with Gray, Oviedo and Su\u00e1rez, and Durbin will take over third base from Bregman.<\/p>\n The Red Sox have made the postseason just twice since their 2018 World Series win and in this division, it might be tough to repeat even a wild-card spot.<\/p>\n At Boston: Sept. 25-26-27<\/p>\n SB Nation Red Sox site: Over The Monster<\/a><\/p>\n Key departures: Austin Slater, Luke Weaver, Devin Williams, Jonathan Loaisiga, Scott Effross, Mark Leiter Jr.<\/p>\n Key arrivals: Paul DeJong, Angel Chivilli, Osvaldo Bido, Rafael Montero, Ryan Weathers<\/p>\n Take a look at those lists above. When I was going through the Yankees transactions list for making those two groups, I kept saying, \u201cNope, signed him back, nope, signed him back\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The Yankees are running back most of their 2025 season, then. Quite a number of guys who were Yankees free agents, including Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt, Trent Grisham and Amed Rosario, will all be back. The biggest loss for them is probably Devin Williams, who didn\u2019t turn into the closer they hoped he would be. The Yankees acquired David Bednar from the Pirates last year and he\u2019ll close for them.<\/p>\n They\u2019ll have the same rotation with the addition of Ryan Weathers, acquired by trade for several minor leaguers. That includes Cam Schlittler, whose last name has already vexed a number of broadcasters. (And he\u2019s really good, too.)<\/p>\n Shortstop Anthony Volpe, who had a bad year in 2025 largely due to a torn labrum, is expected back, but not for Opening Day.<\/p>\n I had to laugh when I read this Giancarlo Stanton quote:<\/p>\n And, of course, there\u2019s Aaron Judge, one of the best hitters on the planet.<\/p>\n At Wrigley Field: July 31-Aug. 1-2<\/p>\n SB Nation Yankees site: Pinstripe Alley<\/a><\/p>\n Key departures: Shane Baz, Pete Fairbanks, Bob Seymour, Brandon Lowe, Josh Lowe,<\/p>\n Key arrivals: Jake Fraley, Steven Wilson, Jake Woodford, Cedric Mullins, Steven Matz, Justyn-Henry Malloy, Cam Booser, Ben Williamson, Nick Martinez, Gavin Lux<\/p>\n People say, \u201cThe Rays always seem to be competitive,\u201d but now they\u2019ve missed the postseason two years in a row after five straight seasons in October baseball, including a 100-win season in 2021.<\/p>\n They\u2019re revamping their rotation with the additions of Matz and Martinez, but both of those guys are in their mid-30s and it\u2019s a reasonable question to ask how much they have left.<\/p>\n Their long-time closer, Fairbanks, headed cross-state to the Marlins and at this time the Rays haven\u2019t designated a closer.<\/p>\n Lux was once a top Dodgers prospect, but he\u2019s never quite fulfilled that, in part due to injuries. Perhaps he can recapture something in Tampa. Mullins is another reclamation project for the Rays.<\/p>\n Junior Caminero had a great under-the-radar year in 2025. Did you know he hit 45 home runs and had a 4.4 bWAR season? At age 21? Only Judge and Cal Raleigh hit more homers among AL players.<\/p>\n In short: They have good management, but at a certain point the players have to produce. They will be moving back into the repaired Tropicana Field this year after a year of playing in the Yankees\u2019 spring park, Steinbrenner Field. That should help. In fact, the Cubs will be there for the grand re-opening.<\/p>\n At Tampa: April 6-7-8 (includes the Rays home opener April 6)<\/p>\n