With teams like the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox owning membership, the American League East is the division that attracts the most attention.

Even without the historic rivalry, the number of World Series titles and total player salaries between the two teams are the things legends are made of.

While the Yankees and the BoSox have been the traditional AL East powers the balance seems to have shifted in the early goings of 2008.

While the Sox are challenging for top spot in the division, the Yankees find themselves in last place, although only six games back of the division leader.

Tampa Bay Rays

Who leads the AL East you ask? Here's a hint, it's not a bird-it's the once lowly Tampa Bay Rays.

Currently 1½ games up on the Red Sox, the Tampa Bay has been one of the early surprises in the MLB season.

The Rays are currently the most profitable team in the American League and the second most profitable in the entire Major League.

Bettors would be wise to stay away from the Rays when they are on the road as they are a game below .500 at 11-12 but when at home, Tampa is quite literally money with a 21-9 record.

Although he missed the early goings of the season with an injury and lost his first game of the season, Tampa Bay ace, and last year's AL strikeout king, Scott Kazmir has recovered to win his last four in a row.

The season's still young but the Rays are getting off to a good start and SPORTSBETTING.COM has Tampa Bay at +450 to finish the season atop the AL East.

Boston Red Sox

I wonder if Red Sox supporters have forgotten about all those year's of heartache?

Probably not but they look like they are well on their way to recovery with two World Series titles in the past four years.

Although the defending champs would rather flip flop positions with the Rays, they are sitting pretty right now a game and a half back of Tampa Bay.

They've been a very good team on the Money line with a 32-24 record, good enough for fourth best in the AL and seventh in all of MLB.

Like they Rays, the BoSox aren't really road warriors with an 11-19 record away from Fenway but are 21-5 in the presence of the Green Monster.

Dice-K (Daisuke) Matsuzaka is having some shoulder problems right now; couldn't finish a game against the Seattle Mariners and could miss his next start Monday but the Red Sox ace has been on fire with an 8-0 record thus far-Boston supporters are praying that Dice-K isn't out for a prolonged period of time though.

The BoSox are listed as the odds-on to win the AL East pennant at -275.

New York Yankees

Maybe Hank Steinbrenner doesn't have the same fearful aura of his father because the Yanks haven't been the same since George decided to hand the reins over to son.

New York is still far from out of the race just six games back of the Rays but it's been a while since they've been at the bottom of the AL East standings.

With 26 wins and 27 losses, the Yanks rank 25th on the MLB Money line list and their pitching staff has a 4.37 ERA 19th in the majors and 10th in the AL.

Mike Mussina is the Yanks' best pitcher in terms of W/L with a 7-4 record.

The New York Yankees are listed at +450 to win the division.

It's a long season but the AL East is providing a lot of intrigue so far.

Enjoy your weekend and stop by SPORTSBETTING.COM to check out the betting lines, plus the great promos and bonuses. Look for our big Triple Crown Promotion next week.