Surprising Starts in the AL East Through 2 Weeks

From Aaron Judge's struggles to Chandler Simpson's hot start, the AL East has seen some unexpected performances so far in 2026.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 10:08pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting various baseball players and actions, broken down into overlapping planes of color representing the official team colors of the AL East teams.The AL East division race is shaping up to be full of surprises, with both unexpected struggles and breakout performances from key players across the division.St. Petersburg Today

The 2026 MLB season is underway, and the American League East has already seen some surprising developments. Yankees star Aaron Judge is off to a slow start, batting just .218 with 4 home runs. Meanwhile, Ceddanne Rafaela has emerged as an early standout for the Red Sox, and Dylan Cease has impressed in his first few starts for the Blue Jays after joining from the Padres. The Rays' Chandler Simpson has been one of the biggest surprises, leading the league with 23 hits and 7 stolen bases in his first 15 games.

Why it matters

The AL East is always one of the most competitive divisions in baseball, so the early-season surprises, both positive and negative, could have a big impact on the playoff race as the year goes on. Fans and analysts will be closely watching to see if players like Judge and Alonso can turn things around, and if breakout performers like Rafaela and Simpson can sustain their hot starts.

The details

In New York, Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is off to a disappointing start, batting just .218 with 4 home runs and 9 RBIs in 15 games. He's struck out 19 times and walked 8. In Boston, rookie outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela has been a bright spot, batting .326 with an .814 OPS. He's the reigning AL Gold Glove winner and could be a rising star. Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso is also struggling, hitting .190 with 1 homer. On the positive side, the Blue Jays' Dylan Cease has a 2.45 ERA in his first 3 starts after joining from the Padres. And in Tampa Bay, outfielder Chandler Simpson is leading the league with 23 hits and 7 stolen bases.

  • The 2026 MLB season is just over 2 weeks old.
  • Aaron Judge has played in 15 games so far this season.
  • Ceddanne Rafaela, Pete Alonso, Dylan Cease, and Chandler Simpson have all played in 15 games as well.

The players

Aaron Judge

A superstar outfielder for the New York Yankees who is off to a slow start this season, batting just .218 with 4 home runs.

Ceddanne Rafaela

A rookie outfielder for the Boston Red Sox who has been a surprise standout, batting .326 with an .814 OPS.

Pete Alonso

A star first baseman for the Baltimore Orioles who is struggling at the plate, hitting just .190 with 1 home run.

Dylan Cease

A starting pitcher who joined the Toronto Blue Jays this offseason and has a 2.45 ERA in his first 3 starts.

Chandler Simpson

An outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays who is leading the league with 23 hits and 7 stolen bases so far this season.

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What’s next

As the season continues, it will be interesting to see if players like Aaron Judge and Pete Alonso can turn things around, and if breakout stars like Ceddanne Rafaela and Chandler Simpson can maintain their hot starts.

The takeaway

The early surprises in the AL East, both positive and negative, highlight the competitive nature of the division and could have a big impact on the playoff race as the season progresses. Fans will be closely watching to see how these storylines develop over the coming months.