The MLB Standings are paralyzing. The New York Yankees are in first place. The Cleveland Indians seem to be hitting more home runs than they are striking out, which is helping them win. The N.L East somehow still belongs to the Atlanta Braves, while the San Francisco Giants look in control in the N.L. West. Here are all the division leaders entering this week of baseball.
A.L. East
Yankees: 23-13
How? A struggling division could be one of the factors as the Yankees lead the Baltimore Orioles by a game in the division. However, everybody in the lineup is adding something to the mix. Lyle Overbay is productive with the bat, trading for Vernon Wells doesn't look so crazy now and Robinson Cano continues to power the Yankee lineup. The pitching staff is working past its struggles and once again, the Yankees are doing it with a bunch of unselfish guys. This is a lineup Derek Jeter would love to play in, but too bad he's injured.
A.L. Central
Indians: 20-15, Tigers: 20-15
The Indians and Tigers faced off this past weekend. The Indians won the final two games of that series to pull into a tie for first place in that division. Great pitching has played its role in the Indians' success, but their slugging has then crushing their opponents. They are 9-2 in the month of May and they will get the Yankees for a double-header for a battle of top teams in baseball.
A.L. West
Texas Rangers: 24-13
The Rangers are doing it quietly. The Indians are tearing the cover off the baseball, the Yankees are winning with guys whose careers were thought to be at their conclusion while, over in the West, the Rangers have the best record in baseball. They are winners of four straight and are taking advantage of what is now the weakest division in baseball as all the other four teams are under .500.
N.L. East
Atlanta Braves 21-16
The fact that they're now just five games over .500 and still in first place speaks volumes of what is going on in this division. The Braves have lost three straight and 6 of 10. The Washington Nationals, the defending N.L. East Champions are just a game behind, but they have lost two in a row, though they are playing better baseball winning 7 of 10.
N.L. Central
St. Louis Cardinals: 23-13
Their pitching is the best in baseball, that's all that has to be said. They lead the division by two games over the Cincinnati Reds and, still in the picture, the Pittsburgh Pirates, who had a pretty good weekend in New York against the Mets, are 2.5 games back.
N.L. West
San Francisco Giants: 23-15
The Colorado Rockies are regressing the warmer it gets and the Giants are playing better baseball as the season rolls along, which is the usual for them. After dropping their first meeting against the Braves over the weekend, the came back to win the final three as their pitching was lights out and their hitting made Atlanta pitching look terrible. The Arizona Diamondbacks are trailing by just two games in the West.
