The first month and change of the 2019 MLB season has concluded and thus far the biggest story has to be the New York Yankees.
No one would be surprised to see the Yankees begin May at 17-12. What is surprising is that the Yankees have doing this with more than half their roster on the disabled list, er, injured list. As of now, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Miguel Andujar, Greg Bird, Clint Frazier, Aaron Hicks, Luis Severino and Troy Tulowitzki are on the IL along with Dellin Betances, Jacoby Ellsbury, Didi Gregorius, Jordan Montgomery and Ben Heller who were on the IL prior to the regular season. Up until a few days ago, Gary Sanchez was part of the walking wounded. Yankees fans have been treated to a roster straight out of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (i.e. Mike Tauchman, Mike Ford, Thairo Estrada and Gio Urshela). Indeed, Urshela might join the infirmary as he was hit on the wrist during Sunday's game with the San Francisco Giants along with D.J. LeMahieu who fouled tip a ball of his knee during the same series. If the Yankees are dangerous now imagine what they could be like when Stanton, Andujar, Hicks and Tulowitzki return to the lineup in May.
Of course, the Tampa Bay Rays might take umbrage at that statement. After all, the Rays have a 2½ game lead over the Yankees in the AL East and own the best record in MLB at 19-9. But the Rays are not only overshadowed by the Yankees, but by the Toronto Blue Jays with the recent arrival of Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. The Jays are a game under .500, but have won 10 of their last 15 games and are bound to get better as the season progresses.
But what can one make of the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox. At this time a year ago, the Bosox were 21-7 en route to a 108 win season. The Red Sox begin May Day with a 13-17 record, seven games back of Tampa. Although Boston has won 7 of its last 11 games, Red Sox Nation did not expect to end April only three games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles who at 10-20 seemed destined for another 100 plus loss season under new manager Brandon Hyde.
I don't think anyone is surprised that the Minnesota Twins and the Cleveland Indians are the top two teams in the AL Central with the Twins enjoying a 1½ game lead over the Tribe. The question is whether the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox will join the race. Although the Tigers and Chisox are both under .500 they are only 4 and 4½ games behind the Twins. Like the Orioles in the AL East, the Kansas City Royals seemed destined towards under 100 plus loss season and actually own the worst record in the AL.
It is safe to say no one is surprised to see the Houston Astros in first place in the AL West. What is surprising, however, is that the Seattle Mariners (in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year) are only ½ game back of Houston. Equally surprising is the Texas Rangers who end April playing .500 ball only 3 games back of their interstate rival. The Oakland A's have also been a surprise, but in the other direction. The A's, who earned an AL Wild Card berth in 2018, ended April with five consecutive defeats and have lost 7 of their last 10 games for a 14-18 record. Despite the presence of Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, the Angels dwell in the cellar of the AL West. The silver lining for both the A's and Angels is that they are only five games back of the Astros. The AL West could be MLB's most competitive.
As expected, the NL East has quickly turned into a four team race with the Philadelphia Phillies leading the New York Mets by a game. The Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals begin May with losing records with the Nats losing 7 of their final 10 games in April. But the Braves and Nats are only 2 and 3½ games back of the Phillies. Only the Miami Marlins, who at 8-21 own MLB's worst record aren't a factor in the division. What is surprising though is that the NL East appears to be MLB's weakest division. The Phillies would be in third place in the NL Central and in fourth place in the NL West.
The St. Louis Cardinals, who have enduring their longest post-season drought in 20 years, currently lead the NL Central by three games over both the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers. After losing 8 of their first 11 games, the Cubs are 12-4 since April 11th. The Brewers started out strong, but then lost 7 of 8 before ending April with four wins in their last five games. Their starting pitching has been ineffective which led to their bullpen especially Josh Hader being overworked. The Brewers have since re-signed Gio Gonzalez which seems to have stabilized things. Christian Yelich appeared on his way to back to back NL MVP seasons, but now has back troubles. It could be worse though. In just over a week, the Pittsburgh Pirates went from first to worst in the division with eight straight losses before snapping that streak last night against the Rangers. The Cincinnati Reds are looking up at the Pirates. But after beginning the season 1-8, the Reds have treading water with an 11-9 mark since. The Cardinals are the class of the division, but a good week from any one of these teams could change things in a heartbeat.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have won six straight NL West titles (not to mention the past two NL pennants). A resurgent Cody Bellinger has led them to the best record in the NL. But the Dodgers have competition with both the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres only 1½ games back with the D'Backs having won 11 of their last 15 games. Padres fans have been excited by the play of both free agent signing Manny Machado and rookie sensation Fernando Tatis, Jr. Unfortunately, Tatis, Jr. has been sidelined with a hamstring injury. Can the Padres sustain their momentum or will they be shot down in May? After earning NL Wild Card berths the past two seasons, the Colorado Rockies have been the NL's biggest disappointment following a 3-12 start. The Rockies did win 10 of their next 12 games, but finished April with three straight losses and begin May six games back of the Dodgers. The San Francisco Giants begin manager Bruce Bochy's swan song struggling to score runs and in last place seven games back of their longtime rival.
Can the Yankees continue to win missing half the roster? Will the Tigers and White Sox make the AL Central a four team race? Can the Mariners make strides towards their first post-season appearance since 2001? Can the Mets contend despite struggles from reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob de Grom and Noah Syndergaard? Will the Brewers pay top dollar to Craig Kimbrel to help Josh Hader in the bullpen? Will the Padres earn their first winning season since 2010? Check back here on June 1st.
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