With the stretch run well underway and rosters expanded across baseball, teams are looking to answer some final questions in September.

For contenders, those questions could be the difference between October baseball and an early end to their season. For teams on the outside looking in, it's an opportunity to focus on personal milestones and the 2020 season.

Here is one looming question facing each American League East team the rest of the way:

Blue Jays: Which pitchers can make their case for 2020?

The Blue Jays aren't expected to make significant changes to their positional group, but starting pitching will be a major priority this season. Prospect T.J. Zeuch made his Major League debut on Tuesday against the Braves, throwing four innings of two-run ball with four strikeouts, and lefty Anthony Kay will debut in the upcoming series against the Rays. The Blue Jays have depth, which includes those young arms, with Trent Thornton, Jacob Waguespack and Thomas Pannone currently on the roster, but, much like in their crowded outfield picture, the Blue Jays would love for one or two to step forward and exceed expectations. Who will it be?

Orioles: Can Hanser Alberto win the batting title?

Alberto has flown under the radar this season on an Orioles team that owns the second-worst record in Major League Baseball, but the 26-year-old entered play on Wednesday hitting .323, ranking him third in the AL and fourth in baseball. Alberto is only looking up at Houston's Michael Brantley (.324) and New York's DJ LeMahieu (.331) in the AL, so there's plenty of time for him to go on a run in September. It's been a great story for Alberto, who was briefly lost on waivers to the Giants in February of this year before the Orioles claimed him back on March 1.

Rays: What impact can Snell, Glasnow have?

The Rays have carried on well without their ace in Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, who posted a 1.86 ERA over eight starts to open the season before hitting the IL with a forearm strain. Snell was scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, and Glasnow recently made two rehab appearances of one and 1 1/3 innings. Charlie Morton and the Rays' pitching staff has done an excellent job to keep the club afloat and atop the AL Wild Card race, but there's no denying that a healthy Snell and Glasnow would put the Rays on another level as they battle to come out of the AL a Wild Card team.

Red Sox: Is there some Red Sox magic left?

If the Red Sox are going to chase down Cleveland, Oakland and Tampa Bay in the AL Wild Card race, they'll need some of those late heroics that have become a staple for Boston-area pro sports teams. Young infielders Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts have both played well enough to potentially finish in the top five of AL MVP Award voting, but they'll need some help down the stretch and Boston's pitching staff will really need to shut down some opponents along the way. The dates circled on Boston's calendar in bright, red ink are Sept. 20-23, when it faces the Rays four times in St. Petersburg. If the Sox can make up some ground by then and take at least three of four, there's a chance, but like manager Alex Cora said earlier this week, the Red Sox can't control what the A's and Indians do.

Yankees: Can they get Severino, Betances or Stanton back?

The Yankees have weathered a long list of injuries in 2019 and, somehow, remained one of baseball's best teams. They could really get a late boost, though, if Luis Severino, Dellin Betances or Giancarlo Stanton could return to the roster for the stretch run and playoffs. Betances threw batting practice to Stanton on Tuesday, and Severino threw one inning in a Triple-A rehab outing on Sunday, so there's certainly some movement in the right direction. If one or more can return, the question then extends to ask what role they'll fill? Severino, particularly, has some variables as he could be used in shorter relief outings or stretched back out to be used as a starter, which would take some additional time.