Baltimore Orioles: Ranking The American League East Lineups

TORONTO, ONTARIO - SEPTEMBER 24: Trey Mancini #16 of the Baltimore Orioles hits an RBI single against the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth inning during their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on September 24, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - SEPTEMBER 24: Trey Mancini #16 of the Baltimore Orioles hits an RBI single against the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth inning during their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on September 24, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
1 of 5
Baltimore Orioles
TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 24: Trey Mancini #16 of the Baltimore Orioles hits an RBI single against the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth inning during their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on September 24, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)

How does each lineup in the American League East stack up against each other? Where do the Baltimore Orioles rank?

The American League East is one of the more shaken up divisions from the 2019 season. In every line-up, there is at least one big bat that can greatly help their team in the upcoming season and a number of new faces. Some teams, like the Baltimore Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays are in rebuild mode. However, some promising young stars are set to arrive in just a few days with spring training games around the corner.

As for the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, it’s full steam ahead, looking to make a World Series push.

Let’s see where each team’s lineup ranks within this division.

(Lineups are projections. Italics = Players who are new to the team)

5) Baltimore Orioles

  1. Austin Hays
  2. Jose Iglesias
  3. Hanser Alberto
  4. Trey Mancini
  5. Renato Nunez
  6. Chris Davis
  7. Rio Ruiz
  8. Pedro Severino
  9. Anthony Santander

The Orioles head into the 2020 season with a similar lineup to last season. Key additions include  Austin Hays, who showed at the end of last season that he is ready to break into the big leagues, as well as Jose Iglesias, a consistent contact hitter who has shown flashes of power. The top four batters, Hays, Iglesias, Alberto and Mancini, all have the ability to hover around a .300 average.

As for 5-9, I think there will be countless combinations with young players coming up from Triple-A Norfolk trying to earn their spot. If Chris Davis can find a way to put the ball in play, and the top half produces, I don’t see why the Orioles couldn’t have streaks of big run games.

Why are the Orioles at #5? I don’t see the Orioles lineup putting out so much as to compensate for the runs that the pitching will give up. There are some players with lots of potential, but the talent isn’t quite there yet.

Schedule