MLB Standings: Indians sweep, Rangers make gains on Astros

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The latest MLB standings show the Indians swept the Astros to reclaim first place, proving Houston won’t have an easy path to the AL pennant.

The Houston Astros are human after all.

At 29-15, the Astros have the best record in baseball. Houston is also a major league best 15-6 on the road this season. The club holds a 5.5-game lead in the American League West, which is the largest in the AL, and thanks to a pitching staff and defense that has held them to an AL low 166 runs this season, has outscored opponents by 54 runs – second best in the league.

Through the first quarter of the season, the Astros have shown relatively few weaknesses. Sure, the starting rotation could use additional depth, especially after Dallas Keuchel landed on the DL last week, but the team had been so dominant it appeared it could coast to the division title and reach the postseason for the second time in three years.

However, recent events have showed cracks Houston’s foundation. First of all, the Cleveland Indians came to town and swept the Astros in a three-game weekend set. The Tribe, which has starting pitching troubles of its own, held the mighty Astros to a total of nine runs and shut Houston out 3-0 Saturday. Cleveland also moved into a tie for first in the AL Central, another signal the Indians aren’t ready to give up their pennant defense without a fight.

Also, the Texas Rangers are charging up the AL West standings with 11 wins in 12 games. There’s not a hotter team in baseball than Texas, which followed a perfect eight-game home stand by taking two games out of three in Detroit over the weekend.

As the first quarter of the season comes to a close, and division races tighten across the majors, we take an in-depth look at the complete MLB standings.

American League East

New York Yankees (25-16, .610, – GB)

Last Week: 2-1 at Royals, 1-2 at Rays

Home Record: 13-6
Road Record: 12-10
Runs Scored: 232
Runs Allowed: 177
Run Differential: +55
Streak: Won 1
Last 10: 4-6

Next Week: May 22-25 vs. Royals, May 26-28 vs. Athletics

Baltimore Orioles (25-17, .595, 0.5 GB)

Last Week: 1-2 at Tigers, 2-1 vs. Blue Jays

Home Record: 15-4
Road Record: 10-13
Runs Scored: 197
Runs Allowed: 185
Run Differential: +12
Streak: Lost 1
Last 10: 3-7

Next Week: May 22-24 vs. Twins, May 26-28 at Astros

Boston Red Sox (22-21, .512, 4 GB)

Last Week: 2-0 at Cardinals, 1-3 at Athletics

Home Record: 12-9
Road Record: 10-12
Runs Scored: 196
Runs Allowed: 188
Run Differential: +8
Streak: Won 1
Last 10: 5-5

Next Week: May 23-25 vs. Rangers, May 26-28 vs. Mariners

Tampa Bay Rays (23-23, .500, 4.5 GB)

Last Week: 2-1 at Indians, 2-1 vs. Yankees

Home Record: 14-11
Road Record: 9-12
Runs Scored: 216
Runs Allowed: 195
Run Differential: +21
Streak: Lost 1
Last 10: 6-4

Next Week: May 22-25 vs. Angels, May 26-28 at Twins

Toronto Blue Jays (19-26, .422, 8 GB)

Last Week: 0-2 vs. Braves, 1-1 at Braves, 1-2 at Orioles

Home Record: 10-11
Road Record: 9-15
Runs Scored: 186
Runs Allowed: 202
Run Differential: -16
Streak: Won 1
Last 10: 5-5

Next Week: May 23-24 at Brewers, May 25-28 vs. Rangers

The Yankees beat Tampa Bay 3-2 Sunday to reclaim first place in the American League East from Baltimore. Brett Gardner launched his eighth homer and Aaron Judge made one of the best diving catches of the season as New York avoided the sweep and helped reverse a troubling trend in which the club lost seven of its previous 10 games. Gary Sanchez has also been hot of late, and is hitting .340/.450/.540 with three home runs and nine RBI in 13 games in May.

Baltimore lost six of seven games on a road trip to Washington, Kansas City and Detroit before returning home for a weekend set against the last place Blue Jays. The Orioles won the series, and Wellington Castillo played a huge role with two home runs in Friday’s 5-3 win (including a walk-off winner) and the go-ahead home run in Saturday’s 7-5 victory. In addition to his three long balls, Castillo had 10 hits and 10 RBI with a .556/.600/1.056 slash in four games over the past week. Chris Davis homered four times and drove in eight runs.

It took a 12-3 win in the series finale over the A’s Sunday to salvage the four-game series and keep the Red Sox above .500 on the season through the quarter. Boston traveled to St. Louis early in the week and swept the Cardinals in two games, but dropped the first three games in Oakland. Mitch Moreland homered four times in three games at the Coliseum, including twice in Sunday’s win.

Since losing three of four games against the lowly Royals, the Tampa Bay Rays have won three consecutive series against three of the better teams in the American League: the Red Sox, Indians and Yankees. Corey Dickerson has been on a monster tear recently with 12 hits, including five homer runs, and 10 runs scored in his past six games.

Jose Bautista and Justin Smoak have been hot at the plate, but Aaron Sanchez is back on the DL for the third time this season. The Blue Jays suffered three losses out of four games against the Atlanta Braves and lost two of three to the Orioles over the weekend. Toronto will have time to catch a breather over the next few days with Monday and Thursday off. However, a two game series in Milwaukee with the first place Brewers and a weekend set against the red-hot Rangers won’t be at all relaxing.

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