AL East Standings 6/21/13

Here is the weekly check in on the AL East Standings:

It's been a rough week for the Sox, but happily and luckily they are still sitting on top of the AL East…for now.  In the last week the Sox lost 3 out of 4 to the Orioles, won 2 out of 3 to the Rays and then lost last night to the Tigers.  The O's are right on the heels of the Sox and it wouldn't take much at all to see the two teams switching places in the standings.  

The AL East continues to be a very tight race with their only being 7 games seperating the top from the bottom.  There is no clear front runner pulling away in the race right now.  The Sox have lead most of the way, which is something not too many people predicted or expected, but that doesn't mean it can't change in a blink of an eye.  

The next week continues the trend in June of being a rough road.  The Sox continue their series against the Tigers.  The Tigers have both great pitching and hot bats.  In the remaining 3 games the Sox have to face Fister, Scherzer and Verlander.  The only achilles heel that the Tigers have is a shaky closer situation, something the Sox know all too much about.  The Sox have Monday off and then play a quick 2 game series with the Colorado Rockies.  The week is finished out with a 4 game series with the Toronto Blue Jays.  While the Jays are still hanging out in the basement of the AL East, they are starting to get into a surge that we all knew was coming sooner or later.  

The Sox have some injuries that they are battling through as well.  Clay Buchholz was placed on the disabled list this week and Alex Wilson called up in his place.  Allen Webster will pitch on Saturday in Buchholz's place in the rotation.  If everything goes to plan, Buchholz could be recalled from the DL and pitch on Tuesday, but there are a lot of "ifs" in that.  David Ross has been placed on the 7 Day concussion DL and Ryan Lavarnway recalled.  Ross was evaluated and it was confirmed he has a second concussion.  He has been sent home to FL for at least a week, but it sounds like this may be a lengthy DL stint.  Lastly there is Andrew Bailey.  While he is not injured or on the DL, he has been struggling and pulled from his role as the closer. Bailey just hasn't been the same since he returned from the DL earlier this season, however both the team and Bailey have repeatedly stated there is not a physical issue.  

Honestly, I have no idea how this week may go.  My inkling is that the Sox may fall to 2nd place this week and the O's might take the top of the AL East, however I think it is just too close of a race to call.