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MLB Wild Card Standings: Yankees, White Sox, Diamondbacks in the race

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Apr 30, 2017; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) scores in front of Baltimore Orioles catcher Welington Castillo (29) during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2017; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) scores in front of Baltimore Orioles catcher Welington Castillo (29) during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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The first month of the 2017 MLB season is in the books, which means it’s time to take a look at the first American League and National League Wild Card standings of the year.

“If the season ended today…”

How many times have we heard that through the first month of the 2017 season? “If the season ended today, the Colorado Rockies would win the National League West… the Arizona Diamondbacks would win the National League Wild Card… Ryan Zimmerman would be the National League MVP.”

Thankfully, the season won’t end today. April is behind us, but we have five full months to enjoy before the postseason begins. We have five months for the Dodgers to take control of the NL West, and for Zimmerman to come back to Earth.

It’s still very early and a lot can happen in five months. However, now that a full 30 days are in the books, the contenders are beginning to separate themselves from the pretenders. The Nationals and Astros look like World Series contenders. The Blue Jays, Giants and Royals do not.

But what about the teams in between? The Rockies and Diamondbacks are very much in the mix for a Wild Card spot, and both teams have the makeup to be a factor all season. The Chicago White Sox? Though the club technically has a better record than the crosstown World Champions, it doesn’t seem likely that we’ll see the South Siders in the Wild Card race much longer.

Nevertheless, as April turns to May, it’s time to begin looking at the postseason picture. And with that in mind, we explore the first Wild Card standings of the season.

Apr 30, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; The Houston Astros celebrate the win against the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park. Houston Astros won 7 to 2. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; The Houston Astros celebrate the win against the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park. Houston Astros won 7 to 2. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /

American League Division Leaders

AL East

New York Yankees (15-8, .652)/ Baltimore Orioles (15-8, .652)

The Yankees and Orioles met in the Bronx over the weekend with first place on the line. New York took two of the three games, setting the tone for a wild weekend with a 14-11 victory Friday – a game they trailed 9-1 at one point.

The Bombers won again Saturday, 12-4, thanks to two homers from Brett Gardner, a long ball and five RBI from Austin Romine, and another dinger from Aaron Judge (who homered twice in Friday’s comeback). Though the Yankees had an opportunity to sweep and take sole possession of first place Sunday, Baltimore overcame another comeback effort to win 7-4 in 11 innings.

AL Central

Cleveland Indians (14-10, .583)

Cleveland stumbled out of the gate, but has proved to be one of the best teams in baseball over the last two weeks of April. Jose Ramirez has followed up a breakout 2016 by hitting .330/.388/.593 with six home runs and a team leading 21 RBI thus far, making good on long-term extension he singed earlier in the month.

Francisco Lindor looks like an MVP candidate after hitting .309/.380/.638 with seven homers and 17 RBI in April, and the Tribe has also gotten great production from Michael Brantley, who missed the majority of last season’s run to the World Series.

AL West

Houston Astros (16-9, .640)

The Astros ended April with the best record in the American League, and opened a solid three-game division lead over the Angels. Starter Dallas Keuchel has been outstanding so far this season, and is a big reason why Houston ranks third in the majors with a 3.38 team ERA. Keuchel is 5-0 in six starts with a 1.21 ERA. The Astros have also gotten incredible production from reliever Chris Devenski, who has 32 strikeouts in 16.2 innings to date.

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