Does Toronto or Boston Have the Most Dangerous 3-4 Combo in the American League?

by NESN Staff on Wed, Jun 27, 2012 at 8:30AM

For years, the most feared 3-4 combo in the American League was David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez.

Now, that title may belong to division rivals Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion.

During the past two seasons, Bautista has led the league in home runs. He is at the front of the pack once again this year with 24 dingers. Encarnacion has also found his power stroke, sitting fourth in the league with 21 home runs to best his total from last season.

While the Red Sox have had an up and down season, the one constant has been Ortiz, whose 20 home runs (sixth in the American League) accompany a strong batting average. And while Ortiz, like many of the Sox, has been moved around the lineup, he and Adrian Gonzalez still make up a formidable duo in the middle of the order. Gonzalez leads the league in doubles, after all, and at some point those doubles may start to go over the Green Monster.

The Red Sox and Blue Jays aren't the only teams with power in the middle of the order.

The Yankees' All-Star lineup starts with their 3-4 combo of Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano. Rodriguez has 641 career home runs entering Wednesday, good for fifth all-time. Cano, who has hit more than 25 home runs in each of the past three seasons, is up to 17 already this year.

Down in Texas, Josh Hamilton got off to a torrid start but has since cooled down. With former Red Sox third baseman Adrian Beltre in the cleanup spot for the Rangers, the boys from Texas could be just as dangerous as any other 3-4 duo in the American League.

Adam Dunn is well on his way to becoming the Comeback Player of the Year after only hitting 11 home runs while batting .159 in 2011, and he has already more than doubled that home run total with 23 in 2012. Along with the always-consistent Paul Konerko for the White Sox, the Windy City certainly has a strong heart of the order to match up with any other lineup.

And, of course, Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder are two of the most formidable hitters in all of baseball on their own, let alone back-to-back in the Detroit Tigers order.

Which team boasts the best 3-4 combo in the American League?