MLB Standings: Indians sweep, Rangers make gains on Astros

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May 21, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) throws to first base during the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

American League Central

Minnesota Twins (22-18, .550, – GB)

Last Week: 1-2 vs. Rockies, 2-1 vs. Royals

Home Record: 11-13
Road Record: 11-5
Runs Scored: 177
Runs Allowed: 183
Run Differential: -6
Streak: Won 1
Last 10: 6-4

Next Week: May 22-24 at Orioles, May 26-28 vs. Rays

Cleveland Indians (23-19, .548, – GB)

Last Week: 1-2 vs. Rays, 3-0 at Astros

Home Record: 8-10
Road Record: 15-9
Runs Scored: 184
Runs Allowed: 168
Run Differential: +16
Streak: Won 3
Last 10: 5-5

Next Week: May 22-23 at Reds, May 24-25 vs. Reds, May 26-28 vs. Royals

Detroit Tigers (21-21, .500, 2 GB)

Last Week: 2-1 vs. Orioles, 1-2 vs. Rangers

Home Record: 12-10
Road Record: 9-11
Runs Scored: 206
Runs Allowed: 215
Run Differential: -9
Streak: Lost 1
Last 10: 5-5

Next Week: May 22-25 at Astros, May 26-28

Chicago White Sox (20-22, .476, 3 GB)

Last Week: 0-3 at Angels, 3-0 at Mariners

Home Record: 8-8
Road Record: 12-14
Runs Scored: 193
Runs Allowed: 171
Run Differential: +22
Streak: Won 3
Last 10: 5-5

Next Week: May 22-24 at Diamondbacks, May 26-28 vs. Tigers

Kansas City Royals (18-25, .419, 5.5 GB)

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

Home Record: 12-11
Road Record: 6-14
Runs Scored: 145
Runs Allowed: 190
Run Differential: -45
Streak: Lost 1
Last 10: 6-4

Next Week: May 22-25 at Yankees, May 26-28 at Indians

The Minnesota Twins split a doubleheader (the second doubleheader of the week for the team) with the Royals Sunday to improve to 22-18 and pull back into a tie with the Indians atop the AL Central. Last season, the Twins got win No. 22 on June 21, when the club was 22-48 and 18 games out of first place.

Cleveland outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall hit three home runs for the Indians, and tied with Yan Gomes and Edwin Encarnacion for the weekly team lead with six RBI. The starting rotation is still far from perfect, but the Indians have arguably baseball’s best bullpen, and had a good enough combination of hitting, pitching and fielding to sweep the Astros and move into a tie for first in the division.

The Central is the most competitive division in the American League, and the Tigers are very much in the mix to win it through the first quarter of the season. The return of J.D. Martinez has been a recent lift. In just eight games this year, Martinez is hitting .478/.647/1.261 with six homers (already third most on the team) and 12 RBI.

Just when it looked like the White Sox were falling apart with a six-game losing streak and a four-game slide so far this month, Chicago won three of four games in Seattle over the weekend by a combined score of 26-3. Derek Holland has been a pleasant surprise in the rotation and Jose Quintana – who allowed one hit, one walk, and one run in eight innings Friday – is rounding into form nicely. Tim Anderson and Jose Abreu both hit three home runs and Avisaíl García drove in nine runs , including six in a two-homer game Saturday, during the week.

The Royals entered the week as one of the hottest teams in baseball, but dropped two tough series to the first place Yankees and Twins. Salvador Perez hit four home runs and drove in seven during the week, and Danny Duffy tossed a gem Thursday, but Kansas City still has the worst run differential in the AL and is the lowest scoring team in the majors.

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