It’s only mid-May but baseball has some good stories in the standings.
Taking a look at the current standings in MLB, one would think, “It’s only May. A lot can change.”
One would be right.
Baseball is so unique and so unpredictable. Looking at some of the current standings, however – one could also make a case that times are changing.
AL EAST – Here come the Jays!
Remember when the Blue Jays were already left for dead by some as the calendar turned to May? They were ten games below .500 and struggling to score runs. Here we are, a couple weeks later, and Toronto has won five in a row and eight of ten. They sit just 6.5 games back in last place but are just a game behind the Rays for fourth. New York and Baltimore are just a half game apart at the top of the division with Boston having lost six of ten, four back.
Yankees 22-13
Orioles 22-14
Red Sox 19-18
Rays 19-21
Blue Jays 17-21
AL CENTRAL – Are these Twins for real?
The answer, for now, is sure. In a division that’s turning out to be average at best – the Twins are for real. In fact, they’re about as average as it gets despite being in first place, a game up on the reigning AL Champ, Indians. Look at Minnesota top to bottom and you don’t see anything sexy. They’re middle of the AL pack in just about every category. Meanwhile, the Royals, who were once ten games below .500, are on the rise winning seven of their last ten and sit just 4.5 games back in last place.
Twins 19-15
Indians 19-17
Tigers 18-18
White Sox 17-18
Royals 16-21
AL WEST – Houston could already have it locked down.
Yes, it’s only mid-May. But the Astros are legit. They have a 7.5 game lead in the division over a Rangers team that won it just a season ago. When you are a top-three team in almost every pitching and offensive category – it’s no surprise you have the best record in baseball, even if it’s only mid-May. Texas, however, has won six straight but can’t seem to make up ground as Houston has won seven of ten.
Astros 26-12
Rangers 19-20
Angels 19-21
Mariners 17-21
Athletics 16-21
NL EAST – It’s a Nationals world, they just play in it.
The Mets have fallen so low, so fast, and the Nationals continue to destroy baseballs. This might be the least sexy division in all of MLB. The 7.5 game lead for Washington might turn into a 25-30 game margin by September. No one in this division looks like they’ll be giving Bryce Harper and Co a run anytime soon. But hey, Jeremy Hellickson (4-1, 3.71) is a nice story in Philly.
Nationals 24-13
Mets 16-20
Phillies 14-21
Marlins 14-22
Braves 13-21
NL CENTRAL – Is no one talking about the “Brew Crew?”
As deadly as the Nationals have been with the long ball, believe it or not, they are just second in baseball. The boys in Millwaukee lead the sport in dingers with 63 through 38 games. Couple that with a pretty good pitching staff and the Brewers might make it a tight race all year. The Cardinals sit atop the division but by a single game. The Reds are just 2.5 back but will probably tail off. The defending World Champs? They’re in fourth place but by just 3.5 games. This might be a division worth watching all season.
Cardinals 21-15
Brewers 21-17
Reds 19-18
Cubs 18-19
Pirates 16-22
NL WEST – Rocky Mountain high out west!
This might still be a division won by the Dodgers in the end. For now, though – it belongs to the Rockies. They’re a game and a half up on LA in mid-May and have played consistent baseball all year, especially on the road (11-5). Arizona has surprised the baseball world with their start to the season. They sit just three games back in third place.
Rockies 24-15
Dodgers 22-16
Diamondbacks 21-18
Giants 15-25
Padres 14-25
