The New York Yankees enter the 2019 MLB season with extremely high expectations. Anything less than a World Series victory would be a massive disappointment. Aaron Boone, the team’s manager, could quickly find himself in the hot seat if the Yankees spend another season below the Boston Red Sox in the divisional standings.

The Yankees projected opening day lineup is filled with familiar faces from the 2018 team that broke the MLB record for home runs in a season. Superstar slugger, Aaron Judge, will play right field along with a surprising contributor in Aaron Hicks and the speedy, albeit aging, Brett Gardner. A promising Clint Frazier will be substituted in on occasion.

In the designated hitter slot, will be Giancarlo Stanton who will be a main component in New York’s lineup. Stanton posted 59 home runs and 132 RBIs en route to taking home National League MVP honors in 2017 as a member of the Miami Marlins. As an encore, he blasted 38 home runs while driving in 100 runs in his first season in pinstripes in 2018.

The infield will retain extremely talented contact hitters in Miguel Andujar, 23, and Gleyber Torres, 22. Both young stars have the potential to make a run for MVP. Andujar will be playing at third base. Torres will be playing alongside recent Yankees acquisition DJ LeMahieu in the middle infield. LeMahieu is an underrated asset with a career batting average of .298, while being selected to two NL all-star teams in addition to securing three three Gold Glove awards as a member of the Colorado Rockies. At first base, injury-prone Greg Bird and Luke Voit, who hit .333 with 14 home runs in 39 games with the Yankees last season, are battling for the starting job. The infield is rounded off with a powerful catcher, Gary Sanchez who will look to return to form after a down 2018 campaign.

With Voit and LeMahieu projected to play a lot of games this year, the New York Yankees may now have the best lineup in the MLB. Former all-star Troy Tulowitzki is someone to keep an eye on. The 35 year-old, all-star shortstop is looking to make his return to big league action after missing the entire 2018 season as he dealt with several injuries.

The Yankees’ starting pitching rotation looks to improve from a mediocre 2018. The projected opening day starter is 25-year-old Cy Young candidate Luis Severino. He will be backed up in the rotation by James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka, J.A. Happ and future Hall of Famer C.C. Sabathia. Southpaw, Jordan Montgomery, looks to make a return in March after spending last season on the disabled list.

The Yankees bullpen; noted as the best in the majors, welcomes back relievers Zack Britton, Chad Green, Jonathan Holder, Tommy Kahnle, Dellin Betances, and the infamous closer, Aroldis Chapman as well as the addition of Adam Ottavino who will likely fill the former role of David Robertson who is now a member of the Philadelphia Phillies.

With few but meaningful changes to the roster, the 2019 New York Yankees should finish the season with 105 wins, one MVP, one Cy Young, and a world series victory in October.