David Ortiz picks the Yankees to win AL East over Red Sox

For all of the hype the Yankees are getting this season as World Series contenders, they still finished behind the Red Sox in the AL East a year ago. Yet, David Ortiz is joining the consensus in looking past that in 2018.

Talking to Nicole Yang of Boston.com, the Red Sox legend was not shy about who will win the divisional crowd, picking the Yankees.

“[The Yankees} pretty much stacked the lineup with more power,” Ortiz said. “I don’t think anyone else in the division can compete with that.”

Ortiz definitely is not wrong about that.

Already equipped with AL Rookie of the Year and MVP runner-up Aaron Judge and his 52 homers, the Yankees swung a deal for Giancarlo Stanton in December after he led MLB with 59 dingers last season. New York also led baseball with 241 homers in 2017 while also finished behind the Astros for most runs at 858.

The Red Sox will still put out a formidable lineup as well, as they return J.D. Martinez along with Andrew Benintendi, Mookie Betts and Hanley Ramirez among others. Ortiz definitely made sure to note that.

“I think the Red Sox are the one team that, as an underdog, is going to be out there exceeding expectations more than usual,” he said.

The Yankees and Red Sox play 19 times this season, with the first meeting coming on Tuesday, April 10, so the two will have plenty of chances to prove who is the AL East's top dog in 2018.

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