As the calendar turns from April to May, we take a look at the latest MLB standings.
The Washington Nationals received terrible news over the weekend when they learned prized offseason acquisition Adam Eaton suffered a torn ACL and will miss the rest of the season. However, the Washington lineup exploded Sunday for 23 runs – thanks in large part to Anthony Rendon’s three homers and 10 RBI – to salvage the final game of a three-game set with the Mets.
The 23-5 win against the Mets brought Washington’s record to a modest 4-3 for the week. However, the win also secured the Nationals of having the best record in baseball (17-8) at the end of April. It also capped an explosive offensive week in which the team scored 77 runs. For comparison’s sake, the Kansas City Royals scored 63 runs all month.
Washington’s offensive outburst put an exclamation mark on a huge month for the NL’s top team. The Nats lead the major leagues in runs scored (170), batting average (.295), on-base percentage (.369) and slugging percentage (.510) and doubles (58). Washington ranks second in home runs (43).
Bryce Harper became the first MLB player since 1900 to score more than 30 runs in the month of April. Harper hit .391/.509/.772 with nine home runs and 26 RBI to further establish himself as one of the best hitters ever during the first month of the season.
Ryan Zimmerman hit .420/.458/.886 with 11 home runs and 29 RBI – giving him the major league lead in all three Triple Crown categories – to make his case for player of the month honors. Zimmerman hit four homers in his last four games and six in his final seven contests to catch Brewers slugger Eric Thames for the home run lead.
Daniel Murphy is pretty good too, having added five fingers and 26 RBI while hitting .343/.378/.590, and double play partner Trea Turner was .317/.348/.556 and hit for the cycle while being limited to 15 games because of an early season injury.
Oh, and the Nationals still have Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg leading the pitching staff, as well as Gio Gonzalez, who posted a 1.62 ERA in five April starts.
Simply put, the Nationals are good. As for the other 29 teams? We recap the month and explore the latest MLB standings.
American League East
New York Yankees (15-8, .652, – GB)
Last Week: 2-0 at Red Sox, 2-1 vs. Orioles
- Home Record: 10-2
- Road Record: 5-6
- Runs Scored: 128
- Runs Allowed: 85
- Run Differential: +43
- Streak: Lost 1
- Last 10: 6-4
Next Week: May 1-3 vs. Blue Jays, May 5-7 at Cubs
Baltimore Orioles (15-8, .652, – GB)
Last Week: 2-1 vs. Rays, 1-2 at Yankees
- 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: May 1-4 at Red Sox, May 5-7 vs. White Sox
Boston Red Sox (13-11, .542, 2.5 GB)
Last Week: 0-2 vs. Yankees, 2-1 vs. Cubs
- Home Record: 9-5
- Road Record: 4-6
- Runs Scored: 93
- Runs Allowed: 93
- Run Differential: 0
- Streak: Won 1
- Last 10: 4-6
Next Week: May 1-4 vs. Orioles, May 5-7 at Twins
Tampa Bay Rays (12-14, .462, 4.5 GB)
Last Week: 1-2 at Orioles, 1-2 at Blue Jays
- Home Record: 9-4
- Road Record: 3-10
- Runs Scored: 111
- Runs Allowed: 109
- Run Differential: +2
- Streak: Lost 2
- Last 10: 4-6
Next Week: May 1-2 at Marlins, May 3-4 vs. Marlins, May 5-7 vs. Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays (8-17, .320, 8 GB)
Last Week: 0-1 at Angels, 1-2 at Cardinals, 2-1 vs. Rays
- Home Record: 4-8
- Road Record: 4-9
- Runs Scored: 89
- Runs Allowed: 110
- Run Differential: -21
- Streak: Won 2
- Last 10: 5-5
Next Week: May 1-3 at Yankees, May 5-7 at Rays
For the first time this season, the Baltimore Orioles aren’t listed at the top of our weekly AL East standings. However, the Yankees had an opportunity to take sole possession of first place when they scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth Sunday, but Baltimore charged back to win 7-4 and end the month in a tie atop the division.
Aaron Judge was the offensive star of the week for the Yankees. The 6-foot-7 slugger hit four home runs last week to push his season total to 10. Judge is now hitting .303/.411/.750 and has a team leading 20 RBI. As for pitching, Masahiro Tanaka needed just 97 pitches in a shutout victory over the Red Sox Thursday.
Boston has struggled offensively, especially in the power department. No team in baseball had fewer home runs in April (14). Thankfully, offseason acquisition Chris Sale is off to a Cy Young-caliber start to the season.
The Rays entered the week as one of the top scoring teams in the major leagues, but the club struggled to score runs and lost four of six games. Tampa Bay ranks among the top six teams in the big leagues in ERA.
Toronto took a step in the right direction, and won two games in a row for the first time all season Saturday and Sunday, which gave the Blue Jays their first series win of the season. Nevertheless, the club still ended with a sub .500 week and lost Aaron Sanchez after just one inning in the series finale with Tampa Bay.