The first month of the season is nearly complete, and the MLB standings are taking shape now that the Indians and Cubs have joined the Astros and Nationals in first place.
With wins Saturday, the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs and the defending American League pennant winners, the Cleveland Indians entered Sunday in first place on the same day for the first time during the 2017 Major League Baseball season.
It’s far too early to panic, but it has been a difficult start to the season for the two clubs that last met in the Fall Classic. Despite boasting two of the top five offenses in the big leagues through Saturday (Cleveland ranked fourth with an average of five runs scored per game, followed by the Cubs at 4.94), both teams allowed more runs than expected through the first three weeks of the season.
Through Saturday, MLB teams scored an average of 4.19 runs per game. Chicago had allowed 4.29 runs on average and the Tribe had surrendered 4.24 runs per contest, with two shutout victories over the White Sox as part of a five-game winning streak driving the average south. Cleveland had a particularly tough start to the season on the mound, but the Indians had dropped their ERA to 4.17 before play began Sunday – slightly above the 3.88 major league average. The Cubs had a 3.81 ERA at that point.
But, like the preseason favorite Washington Nationals and Houston Astros, the perennial overachieving Baltimore Orioles, and the surprising Colorado Rockies, the Cubs and Indians clawed their way back to the top of the standings. And, given their strong play of late, there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic both teams can stay atop their respective divisions.
There is obviously a long way yet to go, but April is coming to a close. As we begin the first month’s final week, we take a look at the full MLB standings to date and look for meaning in the numbers.
American League East
Baltimore Orioles (12-5, .706, – GB)
Last Week: 2-1 at Reds, 2-1 vs. Red Sox
- Home Record: 6-2
- Road Record: 6-3
- Runs Scored: 68
- Runs Allowed: 61
- Run Differential: +7
- Streak: Lost 1
- Last 10: 7-3
Next Week: April 24-26 vs. Rays, April 28-30 at Yankees
New York Yankees (11-7, .611, 1.5 GB)
Last Week: 2-1 vs. White Sox, 1-2 at Pirates
- Home Record: 8-1
- Road Record: 3-6
- Runs Scored: 92
- Runs Allowed: 62
- Run Differential: +30
- Streak: Lost 1
- Last 10: 7-3
Next Week: April 25-27 at Red Sox, April 28-30 vs. Orioles
Boston Red Sox (11-8, .579, 2 GB)
Last Week: 1-0 vs. Rays, 2-1 at Blue Jays, 1-2 at Orioles
- Home Record: 7-2
- Road Record: 4-6
- Runs Scored: 77
- Runs Allowed: 74
- Run Differential: +3
- Streak: Won 1
- Last 10: 6-4
Next Week: April 25-27 vs. Yankees, April 28-30 vs. Cubs
Tampa Bay Rays (10-10, .500, 3.5 GB)
Last Week: 0-1 at Red Sox, 3-0 vs. Tigers, 1-2 vs. Astros
- Home Record: 9-4
- Road Record: 1-6
- Runs Scored: 93
- Runs Allowed: 87
- Run Differential: +6
- Streak: Lost 1
- Last 10: 5-5
Next Week: April 24-26 at Orioles, April 28-30 at Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays (5-13, .278, 7.5 GB)
Last Week: 1-2 vs. Red Sox, 2-1 at Angels
- Home Record: 2-7
- Road Record: 3-6
- Runs Scored: 63
- Runs Allowed: 80
- Run Differential: -17
- Streak: Won 1
- Last 10: 4-6
Next Week: April 24 at Angels, April 25-27 at Cardinals, April 28-30 vs. Rays
The Orioles scored just 15 runs all week – an average of 2.5 per game – yet still managed to win both series against the Reds and Red Sox thanks to incredible pitching. Baltimore earned a 2-0 shutout against each team this week, with Ubaldo Jimenez and Dylan Bundy picking up the wins and Brad Brach earning saves in both games. Of course, the story of the week was the rising tension between the O’s and Red Sox, and Manny Machado’s place at the center of it all.
The Yankees are proud owners of the best run differential in baseball, though the schedule is about to get much tougher. New York will travel to Boston this week, and then host Baltimore. The Red Sox and Yankees will meet for the first time this season in a three-game series at Fenway Park.
The highest scoring team in the American League? The Tampa Bay Rays, whose 93 runs thus far are one more than the division rival Yankees. Unfortunately for the Rays, Tampa Bay has surrendered 87 runs to date – more than every AL team by the Tigers and Angels.
Speaking of the Angels, if Toronto can win in Los Angeles Monday, the Blue Jays will win their first series of the season. Still, no team is farther out of first place.