AL East Winner Odds & Predictions 2024: Orioles Hold Division Lead

• The Orioles are favored to win AL East at -135

• The Yankees are +125 in second place in the division 

• The Red Sox went from +4800 to +2400 over the past two weeks 

The American League East has three layers. The Orioles are the current favorite in the division at -135. The Yankees are right behind them in the division and odds market at +125. 

After the two frontrunners, the Boston Red Sox are priced at +2400. They have significantly longer odds than New York and Baltimore, but they still are in the mix. Their odds would be much shorter if they were in a contending season.

The final layer of the American League East features the Rays and Blue Jays. Toronto will be the heaviest seller in the division as we expect them to begin a significant rebuild. 

Throughout the article, we will break down the American League East and the corresponding odds market.

AL East Winner Odds 

Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Click on the odds in the table below to place your bets at FanDuel: Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets.

Favorites to Win AL East This Season

The New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles are the top two teams in the American League East, and they’re also a top contender in the World Series market. Baltimore has a two-game lead over the Yankees, but both teams are just 4-6 in their last ten contests.

Baltimore Orioles (-135) on FanDuel Sportsbook

Corbin Burnes is one of the AL Cy Young frontrunners and has been the most significant catalyst to Baltimore’s success. The Orioles came out of nowhere in 2023 but were missing a star pitcher. 

Baltimore isn’t typically a team that tries to sign star players. They’re an organization that likes to draft well and develop. This has been the reason they have evolved into a World Series contender. 

When the Orioles signed Burnes in the offseason, it was clear they were ready to compete. Burnes is 10-4 with a 2.38 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. 

The pitcher has the best ERA in baseball at 2.38 but is second in the Cy Young odds market to Tarik Skubal. Skubal has been fantastic in 2024 and has the strikeouts, but we believe Burnes has done a better job commanding the zone. 

If Burnes continues to pitch like he has, the Orioles will ultimately win the American League East. 

Gunnar Henderson has been Burnes’ equivalent to the Orioles for the offense. He is batting .290 with 28 home runs and a .376 OBP. Henderson won the American League Rookie of the Year in 2023 and is now one of the top candidates to win MVP. 

Baltimore is in a favorable part of their schedule over the next few weeks. They’re on the road in Miami. Then they have seven games at home against the Padres and Blue Jays. 

Toronto should be selling many of its stars next week, making the rest of its division games even easier against the Blue Jays. The Rays may be in a similar position, so the Orioles can stack many wins in the late summer months.

Bet on Baltimore Orioles (-135) at FanDuel 

New York Yankees (+125) on FanDuel Sportsbook 

The Yankees were -280 to win the division last month but collapsed in June. Even when they were winning, New York only had a narrow lead over the Orioles, but bookmakers at FanDuel gave them all the respect in the world. 

The respect has shifted in the past month, and Baltimore is now the favorite. The Yankees don’t have the best roster construction at this time. They poured money into their stars, which is good if their role players perform at a high level. 

Paying big money for stars is also a good strategy if your team stays healthy, but this hasn’t happened for New York. Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo are currently injured, putting much pressure on Aaron Judge and Juan Soto.

Judge and Soto are having great seasons, but the bottom of the order is dragging. This is why New York’s lineup hasn’t been an offensive juggernaut in June. 

The biggest positive for New York in the past two weeks has been Gerrit Cole. Cole is returning to his 2023 self when he won the Cy Young. 

In his past 12 innings, he has allowed just two earned runs with 15 strikeouts. As Cole gets more innings under his belt, he should continue trending in the right direction.

Bet on New York Yankees (+125) at FanDuel 

Boston Red Sox (+2400) on FanDuel Sportsbook

The Boston Red Sox are six games out of first place. They were 14 games out of the division, so they have a positive trajectory. 

However, the Red Sox have a lot of unknowns. They don’t have a great team, and they’ll probably not add to their roster at the deadline. This is our biggest fear in taking the Red Sox to win the American League East. 

They had two All-Stars with Jarren Duran and Rafael Devers, and the future is bright. However, we don’t advise betting much on Boston to chase down the Orioles and Yankees. 

Their ownership isn’t all-in on winning in 2024. If the team makes the playoffs, it will be a huge success, but they won’t do it as a division champion.

Bet on Boston Red Sox (+2400) at FanDuel 

My Pick: Baltimore Orioles (-135) on FanDuel Sportsbook 

If you didn’t bet the Orioles at +200, don’t bet them now at -135. The odds for the Yankees and the Orioles should flip throughout the remainder of the season. If New York becomes a game up, Baltimore will be plus money in the division. 

We believe the Orioles will win the division, but there should be better moments to take them than their current -135 odds.

Bet on Baltimore Orioles (-135) at FanDuel 

Who Won the AL East in 2023?

The Baltimore Orioles are the defending AL East champions. Baltimore posted a historical winning campaign, taking 101 of 162 games. They were bounced in the first round of the playoffs, but the Orioles’ success has been limited in the past decade. 

Adley Rutschamn was one of the catalysts for Baltimore’s 2023 success. Rutschman batted .277 with 20 homers and an .809 OPS. This is rare for a catcher, so we expect Rutschman to be one of the league’s best for years, as he is just 26 years old. 

AL East Winner History

The AL East began in 1969 when the Orioles hoisted the division pennant. Baltimore won five of the first six seasons before their title victories became more sporadic. The Yankees then took over a stretch of dominance, winning five of six championships from 1976 to 1981.

The Yankees have been the best team in the AL East over the years. They have had a division-leading 20 victories since 1969. However, since 2013, the Red Sox have won the most championships with four. 

How to Choose the Best Sportsbook for Betting on the AL East

One of the most essential things in baseball betting is line shopping for the best price. Lines are different in every sportsbook, and you must research to give yourself the best chance of winning. 

A quick look at multiple sportsbooks will set you up for success betting on the AL East championship. In addition to FanDuel Sportsbook, some of our other favorite platforms are listed below.

*Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms.

How to Read AL East Winner Odds

The American odds may look slightly confusing if you’re new to sports betting and still don't know how to use online sportsbooks. 

If the odds show a minus (–), then that amount of money must be wagered to win $100. (e.g., 150 means you must bet $150 to win $100.)

If the odds show a plus (+), you will earn that money on a successful $100 bet. (e.g. +150 means you make $150 on a $100 wager.)

If you bet $100 on the Yankees to win the AL East on FanDuel (+130), you would win $130 if they were successful.

As an extra resource, feel free to use our Odds Calculator and Converter.