MLB: Looking at the Way Things Are in the AL Right Now

Posted on | July 27, 2009 | No Comments

Slowly the playoff races are beginning to take shape, as they should once August rolls around. And some teams are clearly stepping up their play when they have to do so.

Right now the 3 division leaders are the New York Yankees in the American League East, the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central, and the Anaheim Angels in the AL West.

The Yankees have been red hot since the All Star Break. They’ve now opened up a 2.5 game lead over the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox have been struggling a little as the Yankees have just been absolutely flying. Not the Red Sox will move on to play the Oakland A’s, a team the Yankees just took 3 of 4 from.

But the big match-up in the American League East is the New York Yankees against the Tampa bay Rays. This is a really important series for the Rays. They can’t afford to fall any farther behind. Right now they are 6.5 games behind the Yankees. They want to cut into that lead at least a little bit.

But the series is also important for the Yankees. If they can keep the momentum going and roll over the Rays then they’ll just have the Red Sox to worry about. And, the Yankees don’t want to lose this series to the Rays because if will allow the Red Sox to stop their slow slide and it will allow the Sox to make-up ground.

In the other divisions, the Tigers stepped up against the White Sox. Just when it looked like Detroit would fall back out of first, they rose up and took 3 of 4 from the White Sox. So, the Tigers now have a 2 game lead. The White Sox will play the Twins in a big series this week.

Out West the Angels continue to look like the team to beat. They lost yesterday but they still lead the division by 3.5 games. But the Rangers aren’t giving up easily. The Rangers will host the Tigers in yet another big showdown this week in the AL.

Related posts:

1. MLB: The Battles Rage On
2. MLB: Where Things Stand
3. MLB: Things are Tightening Up
4. MLB: The Start of Something Big in the AL!
5. MLB: Yanks Are Running Away and AL Standings

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