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MLB: 5 teams who need to finish May strong

By Robby Sabo

May 8, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) two-run home run during the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) two-run home run during the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 7, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) hits a solo home run in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
May 7, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) hits a solo home run in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Los Angeles Angels, 2nd Place AL West

Best team in baseball a season ago? Check.

Best player in baseball right now? Check.

Josh Hamilton saga now completely out of the way? Double-check (sorry Aaron Rodgers). Or should that technically be triple-check?

Nevertheless, the Los Angeles Angels 2015 season is starting out very similar to 2014. They’re hovering around the .500 mark, until all of a sudden, boom, they take off during the summer months and never look back.

Nothing at the moment screams anything other than “mediocre” about this club.

They rank in the middle of the pack in both runs scored and allowed. None of their starting pitchers are having fantastic seasons. And other than Mike Trout, the lineup is doing its job in a very workmanlike manner.

What has the Angels in a position to end the month of May on the upswing is what will soon happen to the team that’s way out in front of them.

The Houston Astros currently sport a record of 19-11, which is 3.5 games ahead of the Halos. This past Friday night, Los Angeles took care of the division leaders by the score of 2-0, as struggling starter Jared Weaver picked up his first win of the season (complete game shutout).

Much like every other statistic for the club, the Angles bullpen has also been mediocre. They came into Saturday with a 3.63 earned run average, good enough for 14th in all the land.

This group is better than that. Huston Street, Vinnie Pestano, Fernando Salas and company will improve upon that mark in the coming weeks.

Next: Number 1

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