After losing 95 games in 2018, few expected much of the Texas Rangers in 2019. However, at the end of June, the Rangers own the second berth in the AL Wild Card race. They did this on the strength of an 18-11 June despite missing top slugger Joey Gallo who was on the IL with an oblique strain and with Hunter Pence going on the IL with a groin pull. Pence, who played winter ball and signed a minor league contract with the Rangers. Batting nearly .300 with 15 HR and 48 RBI, Pence was elected the AL's starting DH for the All-Star Game. The Rangers have benefit with two strong starting pitchers in Mike Minor and Lance Lynn with Shawn Kelley taking the reins of the closer's role.
The Oakland A's are only a half game behind the Rangers in the AL Wild Card race with an equally strong 17-11 mark in June. But the Houston Astros remain atop the AL West with a 6.5 and 7 game lead on the Rangers and A's despite losing 9 of their final 13 games.
The Los Angeles Angels are treading water at just a game under .500 but still have a shot at the AL Wild Card. The same cannot be said of the Seattle Mariners who parted ways with both Jay Bruce and Edwin Encarnacion with more to follow and enter July 17.5 games back of the Astros.
The New York Yankees began June with 1.5 game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East. That lead has grown to 7 games. The Yankees finish the month winning 9 of their last 10 games including a two game sweep of the Boston Red Sox in London. After a strong April and May, the Rays stumbled with a 13-16 effort in June. However, the Rays still have the top spot in the AL Wild Card race. While the Red Sox were a respectable 15-12 they have gone from 8.5 to 11 games behind the Yankees. The Bosox still have a shot at the AL Wild Card but the Rangers, A's and the Cleveland Indians (more on them in a moment) will give them plenty of competition.
The Toronto Blue Jays (10-17) and Baltimore Orioles (6-22) are not in competition for the AL Wild Card. With Toronto basking in the glow of their first NBA title, Jays fans might be willing to overlook their struggles. O's fans, however, might very well have a team that is even worse than the team which went 47-115 in 2018. The O's end the month of June 30.5 games back of the Yankees in the AL East.
The Minnesota Twins retain a solid 8 game lead over the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central going 15-12 in June. However, a 17-9 effort in June by the Tribe has put the team within half a game of the second AL Wild Card berth. The Chicago White Sox, who at the end of May, were neck in neck with the Tribe have taken a step back with an 11-13 June. But the Chisox are in far better shape than both the Detroit Tigers (5-20) and the Kansas City Royals (10-17).
One division which changed significantly during June is the NL East. The Philadelphia Phillies began the month with a three game lead over the Atlanta Braves. But at month's end that three game lead has turned into a 5.5 game deficit as the Braves went an MLB best 20-8 while the Phillies went 11-16. Not to be overlooked are the Washington Nationals who began June with a 24-33 record, but are now over .500 with an 18-8 mark in June behind a resurgent Max Scherzer and Juan Soto finding his groove at the plate.
Unfortunately, the New York Mets have effectively fallen out of contention with a 10-18 June. On account of a horrible bullpen, the Mets went from 5 to 12 games back in the division. Mickey Callaway's use of the bullpen and an unpleasant incident with a Newsday reporter have put his job security in jeopardy with a year remaining on his contract. The problems of the last place Miami Marlins (owner of the worst record in the NL) pale in comparison.
The NL Central remains MLB's tightest division. At the beginning of June, five games separated first and last. At the end of June, that gap is only 5.5 games. The Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers are tied for first with the St. Louis Cardinals 3 games back at .500. While the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds are sub.500 they are only 5 and 5.5 games back respectively. Either team could be in first place by the All-Star Break. Although the Reds are in last place their team ERA of 3.69 is second in the NL only to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dodgers remain the class of the NL with a a commanding 12 game lead over the Colorado Rockies with the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks at 13.5 and 14 games off the pace, respectively. The Rockies, Padres and D'Backs are all legitimate NL Wild Card contenders. With the San Francisco Giants 19.5 games back of the Dodgers how long will it be before longtime ace Madison Bumgarner is wearing a new uniform?
We are only a little over a week away from the All-Star Game in Cleveland. Can the Rays and Red Sox close the gap on the Yankees? Will the Red Sox, Tribe or A's dislodge the Rangers from the second AL Wild Card spot? Can the Nationals overtake the Phillies for second place in the NL East? Does anyone want to win the NL Central? Will the Dodgers still have a double digit lead in the NL West? We'll talk in a week.
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