The defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers have won 8 consecutive NL West titles and few had any doubt they would win a 9th consecutive division title myself included. To the extent the Dodgers would face any challenge in the NL West most (again myself included) thought it would come from the San Diego Padres. But the San Francisco Giants have interjected themselves into the conversation and end the month of April atop the NL West by a half game over the Dodgers.
The Dodgers began the season picking up where they left off beginning the season with a 13-2 record with a 4.5 game lead in the division. But over the past two weeks the Dodgers have lost 9 of their last 12 games. For their part, the Giants have simply been playing steady ball under the leadership of Gabe Kapler. The biggest difference for the Giants in 2021 has been the return of Buster Posey who opted out of the 2020 MLB season who is hitting .361 playing the way he did when the Giants won World Series in 2010, 2012 and 2014. They have also been bolstered by a deep rotation anchored by Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeScalfini, Aaron Sanchez, Alex Wood and veteran Johnny Cueto with Jake McGee getting an opportunity to close games.
I suspect however the NL West will be more competitive than in past years. The Padres are out only 1.5 games back of the Giants while the Arizona Diamondbacks are two games out. The NL West will likely be decided by which team beats up the most on the last place Colorado Rockies who own the worst record in the National League.
In the NL Central, the Milwaukee Brewers enjoy a two game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds both 3.5 games back. Although the Reds and Pirates have identical records I think the moods on those teams are quite different. Few expected the Pirates not to be in last place. The Reds, fresh off a post-season appearance in 2020, began the year 9-5 but have lost 8 of their last 11 games. Alas the depleted Cubs find themselves in last place - an unfamiliar position for them in recent years.
The NL East can be properly characterized as the NL Least. The Philadelphia Phillies lead the division with a .500 record. The Phillies have a one game lead over the Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals and New York Mets while the last place Miami Marlins are only 1.5 games back. The Marlins could easily be atop the division in a matter of days.
Now let's go from west to east in the American League.
The Oakland A's began the season 1-7 but then went on a 13 game winning streak. However, the A's only have a one game lead over the Seattle Mariners in the AL West. The Mariners are seek their first post-season appearance in 20 years. The hated Houston Astros are 1.5 games back while the Los Angeles Angels are treading water at .500. Only the Texas Rangers have a losing record in the division.
The most surprising division in the junior league is the AL Central. The Kansas City Royals have a 1.5 game lead over the Chicago White Sox with the Cleveland Indians at the .500 mark. Although the Royals are only six years removed from a World Series title they had back to back 100 plus loss seasons in 2018 and 2019 along with an undistinguished COVID shortened 2020 season. Equally surprising are the Minnesota Twins who have winning back to back AL Central titles went 9-15 in April and are barely ahead of the last place Detroit Tigers who own MLB's worst record. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch isn't finding it so easy to win when his team doesn't have Alex Cora around to electronically steal signs.
Speaking of Alex Cora, he is having far more success in his return to the dugout with the Boston Red Sox. After being swept by the Baltimore Orioles on opening weekend, the Red Sox own MLB's best overall record at 17-10 with a 3.5 game lead over the Toronto Blue Jays who sit at .500. The Bosox are doing remarkably well considering Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley, Jr. are no longer patrolling the outfield at Fenway Park. The defending AL champion Tampa Bay Rays are a game under .500 while the New York Yankees find themselves in the unfamiliar position of being tied for last place with the O's.
So where will be in a month's time? Can the Giants hold off the Dodgers? Will the real Cincinnati Reds stand up? Does anyone want to win the NL East? Will the Astros disappoint the A's and Mariners' post-season dreams? Will the Royals be rendered common? And are the Yankees truly a last place team? We shall find out after Memorial Day.
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