MLB Wild Card Standings: Despite rough week, Royals hold slim lead

AL Wild Card Standings

New York Yankees (59-51, .544, +2)

Luis Severino posted a 2-0 record and 1.54 ERA in two starts for the Yankees last week, and led the majors with 17 strikeouts. Severino allowed just six hits and four walks in 11.2 innings, giving him a sterling 0.86 WHIP. Masahiro Tanaka and Jorgan Montgomery were also soli last week. Each allowed just one earned run and struck out seven.

The New York bullpen was terrific as well. Dellin Betances, Aroldis Chapman, Chad Green David Robertson and Adam Warren combined for 14 scoreless innings last week.

Kansas City Royals (57-53, .518, – GB)

Lorenzo Cain and Melky Cabrera were bright spots at the plate in an otherwise forgettable week for the Royals. Cain led the club with 10 hits and three doubles in six games. Cabrera added eight hits and a team-leading six RBI, including a home run. Whit Merrifield, who homered twice, tying Brandon Moss for the weekly team lead, led the club with six runs scored in seven games.

Tampa Bay Rays (58-55, .513, 0.5 GB)

Seattle Mariners (57-56, .504, 1.5 GB)

Baltimore Orioles (55-56, .495, 2.5 GB)

Los Angeles Angels (55-57, .491, 3 GB)

Minnesota Twins (53-56, .486, 3.5 GB)

Texas Rangers (53-58, .477, 4.5 GB)

Toronto Blue Jays (52-59, .468, 5.5 GB)

Detroit Tigers (51-59, .464, 6 GB)

Oakland Athletics (50-62, .446, 8 GB)

Chicago White Sox (41-68, .376, 15.5 GB)

The Baltimore Orioles have made progress in the AL Wild Card standings. Led by new acquisition Tim Beckham, who tied Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus with 14 hits over the past seven days, Baltimore is just 2.5 games back. Beckham hit .583/.600/1.167, and led all of baseball with a 1.767 OPS last week, with three home runs and six RBI in six games for the O’s. Manny Machado had 13 hits, including two home runs, and eight RBI.