Memorial Day is usually known as the unofficial start of summer, but for baseball fans it’s a time where they can get a better sense of how their team is doing after they have played about 50 regular season games. There have been a few surprises and disappointments so far this season and this article will detail this by breaking down each MLB division.
American League
East
One of the most competitive divisions in all of baseball in the past has been the most confusing division as Memorial Day rolled around this season. As of today, the Toronto Blue Jays are currently in first place with a 30-22 record. The New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles are only a few games back of the division lead, but both of these teams are surrounded with question marks. The Yankees offense is doing well, but aside from Masahiro Tanaka and Hiroki Kuroda, their pitching staff is depleted. The Tampa Bay Rays and defending World Series champions, the Boston Red Sox, are also having many early-season troubles. The Red Sox just snapped a 10-game losing streak after they defeated the Atlanta Braves yesterday. This division is a tossup as of right now. The Blue Jays do not seem to have all the pieces to make it to October, but if the rest of the division continues their struggles, they may actually have a shot.
Central
The Detroit Tigers have owned the AL Central for the past three seasons and they look to be doing the exact same thing this year. Although they have lost seven of their last eight games, they still seem to be the dominant team in this division. Having two of the best starting pitchers in all of baseball (Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander) and the best hitter in baseball in Miguel Cabrera goes a long way in this division. The only team in the Central who may give the Tigers a run for their money may be the Kansas City Royals, but taking down the Tigers is a tough task for an inexperienced team like the Royals.
West
A division that was dominated by the Texas Rangers a few years ago is now turning into the Oakland Athletics division to lose almost every year. They have consistent offensive production, and their starting pitching is very effective. A team right on their tail is the Los Angeles Angels, who are only 2.5 games behind the A’s for tops in the division. The Rangers were dealt a huge blow last week when they announced that their first baseman, Prince Fielder, needed neck surgery that would sideline him for the rest of the season. The Rangers already had a boatload of injuries before Fielder’s injury, so now they are in an even worse position. If the Angels get consistent starting pitching, they may be able to compete with the A’s for the division. The A’s seem to have a better all-around team, however, so they may be the team that comes out on top for the third season in a row.
National League
East
The NL East is similar to its counterpart in the AL, as there is no clear-cut favorite to win the division so far. The Braves are at the top currently, but they have been inconsistent as of late. The Washington Nationals were destined for big things this season, but they once again are not living up to them, mostly due to injuries. The Miami Marlins are somewhat of a surprise, as they are only two games behind the Braves for first place. The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets do not seem to have enough to compete in this division, which was the case last season. The Braves seem to be the best team in this division, even if they aren’t a great team by any means. No other team in the NL East seems to be good enough to take the Braves down, so it looks like they could take the division for a second straight year.
Central
The Milwaukee Brewers dominated this division during April, but now that May and June have rolled around their true colors are starting to show. The St. Louis Cardinals sit only a game-and-a-half behind the Brew Crew for the division lead, after they looked like just an average team during April. This is due in large part to their improved starting pitching, mainly Adam Wainwright, who has won three of his last four starts. The Pittsburgh Pirates had high hopes going into this season after making the playoffs last year, but they are struggling as of late. The Cincinnati Reds do not seem to be going anywhere, and the Chicago Cubs sit in last place (no surprise there). The Cardinals seem to be the most experienced team in this division, so they seem to be the favorites to win it and advance to the postseason.
West
Aside from the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks, the NL West seems to be a somewhat competitive division so far. The San Francisco Giants are leading the division as of today. They also have the best record in the majors, at 32-19. The Los Angeles Dodgers are playing good, but not as good as they are capable of. The Dodgers shouldn’t be slept on, however. They started slow last year and then went on a tear in mid-season and never looked back on their way to winning the division and making it to the National League Championship Series, where they lost to the Cardinals. The Colorado Rockies have a very good offense this season, but they are hampered by their pitching, which has been a problem of theirs for what seems to be forever. Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez can only drive in so many runs for the Rockies. They need to improve their pitching if they want any chance to make the playoffs. This division will be interesting to watch play out during the season. The Giants and Dodgers will battle for the division throughout the year, but as of now it is too early to tell who has the best shot to win it.
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