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MLB Wild Card Standings: Dodgers and Red Sox on the rise

By Nicholas Ian Allen

May 6, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) pitches during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
May 6, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) pitches during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 7, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (41) pitches to the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
May 7, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (41) pitches to the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /

AL Wild Card Standings

Baltimore Orioles (20-10, .667, +3.5)

The Orioles have won four games in a row following a sweep of the White Sox over the weekend but still managed to lose ground in the AL East because the Yankees found a way to win their fifth straight game in 18 innings Sunday.

Manny Machado is heating up, Chris Tillman is finally healthy (though Zach Britton isn’t), and Dylan Bundy appears capable of reaching his lofty potential. In other words, the Orioles are a legitimate contender.

Boston Red Sox (17-14, .548, – GB)

There’s no David Ortiz in the lineup. David Price has yet to take the mound. The flu bug hit in early April, and Dustin Pedroia missed time after a hard slide from Manny Machado at second base – which led to a whole host of other incidents between the Red Sox and Orioles.

Nevertheless, the Red Sox have won more than they’ve lost, and new ace Chris Sale has been even more dominant than expected. Sale’s 73 strikeouts are 20 more than MLB No. 2 Clayton Kershaw. Both elite lefties have made seven starts.

Minnesota Twins (15-14, .522, 1.0 GB)

Chicago White Sox (15-15, .500, 1.5 GB)

Detroit Tigers (15-15, .500, 1.5 GB)

Los Angeles Angels (16-17, .485, 2.0 GB)

Tampa Bay Rays (16-17, .485, 2.0 GB)

Seattle Mariners (15-17, .469, 2.5 GB)

Oakland Athletics (14-17, .452, 3.0 GB)

Texas Rangers (13-19, .406, 4.5 GB)

Toronto Blue Jays (11-20, .320, 6.0 GB)

Kansas City Royals (10-20, .333, 6.5 GB)

There’s a log jam in the AL Wild Card standings behind the Red Sox, with the surprising Twins and White Sox still in the mix in early May, and the Tigers, Angels and Rays all within two games. Few expected any of those five to be a factor in the postseason race this season, which gives the slow-starting Mariners and Rangers hope.

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