Joe Nelson, Expert Sports Handicapper Bio at VegasInsider.com

Baltimore Orioles: While in the 2012 MLB season the Orioles claimed a wild card with only a +7 run differential, the Orioles are +9 so far this year with just a 5-4 record. Baltimore was almost universally projected for a decline this season and the season win total was even posted a few games below .500 despite this team winning 93 games last season. There have been a lot of positive signs for this team however in the first two weeks and the Orioles may have another strong season ahead in the wide-open AL East. Baltimore made a living winning one-run games last season but the Orioles have lost three of those games already this season even with the bullpen still featuring strong numbers. This team has shaken off a few tough losses and the starting pitching may be better than expected. Jason Hammel, Wei-Yin Chen, and Miguel Gonzalez may not be household names but they have been effective so far in this rotation and if Jake Arrieta and Chris Tillman can at least make passable turns this could be a solid starting group that is made to look even better by the great bullpen. Baltimore has been one of the most productive offensive teams in the league so the pitching does not need to be perfect. Adam Jones and Chris Davis have been the early MVP candidates and if Matt Wieters and Manny Machado live up to their billing this is a potent lineup. The return from injuries for Nick Markakis and Nolan Reimold makes this offense deeper than last season even without making any big free agent signings. With Toronto struggling out of the gate and Boston and New York battling injuries, the Orioles look like they can compete well again this season. Tampa Bay may have stronger pitching but the Orioles can outscore most teams. Diagnosis: Contender

Boston Red Sox: Boston clobbered the Yankees in the first two games of the season and then put up 24 runs in three games against the Blue Jays to lead to a lot of optimism in New England despite the sellout streak ending at Fenway Park. The Yankees and Blue Jays have been having all sorts of problems with their pitching staffs however and the Red Sox may have simply benefited from the circumstances. Back at home Boston had a very disappointing showing in the first home series and the injury to John Lackey changes the plan for the rotation. Boston has received great pitching through two weeks with one of the best team ERAs in the AL but relying on Alfredo Aceves and Felix Doubront for full seasons in the rotation could be problematic as neither has proven to be able to handle that type of load yet. Jon Lester has looked sharp so far but given his struggles last season that is a pace that may be hard to keep up and Ryan Dempster has simply not looked like the same pitcher since his move to the AL. Joel Hanrahan could be a candidate to lose his job as closer at some point as he has allowed six runs in five appearances this season and the bullpen depth is certainly a question mark for this team. Shane Victorino, Dustin Pedroia, and Jacoby Ellsbury are off to solid starts but all have battled injuries in recent years and the Jackie Bradley experiment is not playing out as Red Sox nation has hoped. Daniel Nava and Will Middlebrooks also won’t likely be able to sustain the early season numbers as well. Overall Boston certainly looks to be on the right track and this will certainly be a better team than last season but not necessarily a squad that is ready for a playoff run. Diagnosis: Pretender

Kansas City Royals: After a slow first series the Royals are on a roll winning back-to-back series including a sweep over Minnesota in the first home series. Kansas City is really starting to hit with one of the top team batting averages in the league even with a few regulars off to slow starts. The Royals were a great batting average team last season however but run production was a different story. A very tough late April schedule could also throw this team back to earth after a promising first two weeks. The Royals have a great lineup with young talent that is ready to produce but this team has just four home runs through the first nine games and driving in runs will be a problem on a team with a lot of singles hitters. The Royals made aggressive moves adding James Shields, Wade Davis, and Ervin Santana to the rotation but Shields may never repeat his great 2011 season and Santana and Davis are not likely better than league average pitchers at their best. Jeremy Guthrie has had the best numbers of his career since moving to Kansas City but that run certainly has sustainability questions and while this team has plenty of past starters on the roster to take the fifth spot, none have been proven overly reliable and this is bullpen with limited late innings experience. Beating up on Minnesota Twins pitching does not make a playoff contender and while the Royals should be a fun team to follow this is a squad that is not likely to be able to stay in the postseason picture all season. The Royals could take another step forward but a modest step is much more likely than a leap to the playoffs. Diagnosis: Pretender

Oakland Athletics: While the Orioles seemed to make the playoffs with smoke and mirrors last season the Athletics had the numbers to back it up, finishing +99 in run differential on the season and holding opponents to the second fewest runs in the AL with a great young pitching staff. Through 10 games Oakland is on top of the leader board in almost every category, both on offense and in pitching. Oakland has played a light early schedule, turning a 0-2 start into an eight-game winning streak while beating up on the Astros and an Angel team that is off to a slow start once again. This is a team that is rolling on offense even with the most talented player on the team off to a slow start with Yoenis Cespedes batting only .211. With a pitching friendly home ballpark the Athletics are not likely to lead the league in scoring and slugging percentage as they currently do but Oakland can remain very competitive and the forgotten team in the now weaker AL West with the addition of the Astros can return to the playoffs. While the offense has dominated so far the pitching staff has the makings of a great one with Brett Anderson looking very sharp in his return to the mound and Tommy Milone and A.J. Griffin picking up where they left off last season. Jarrod Parker has struggled early this season but he should be able to deliver a solid season and Bartolo Colon is somehow still getting the job done. The Athletics have not been in many save situations this season but the bullpen certainly looks capable and Oakland does not appear to be going anywhere. Diagnosis: Contender