It's interesting that in 2018, the improving AL East also included the pitiful Orioles, who lost 115 games. The most anyone in the division lost in '16 was Tampa, with 94 Ls.
But if a bad team's record suffers by a schedule with more games vs. good clubs, then isn't the reverse also true -- that a 100-win team pads its total by getting to play so many vs. a 100-loss club? For example, the AL Central circa '18-19 -- when three different teams lost at least 100 -- may have boosted Minnesota to a deceptive 101-win season (the Twins were exposed, as usual, in a playoff sweep by the Yankees).
While 90 Ws doesn't always win a division crown, most years it at least keeps you in contention into the final month of the season. Can we all agree the strongest year for the AL East was 2021, when four teams won at least 91?