Another week into the MLB season and some teams that are riding high and some aren’t. We look at those clubs now. And don’t forget to take a look back at some previously covered 3 Up and 3 Down: MLB Editions from 5/8 and 5/15
1 Up- New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are playing some of the best baseball in the league. They won another series this weekend against the Kansas City Royals for their eighth straight series victory. The last time the Yankees won eight straight series was in 1998. This team has had many similarities and parallels to the 98 team, and it will be interesting to see if they finish out the season as the 98 team did.
1 Down- Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks were one of the hottest teams out of the gate to start the season. But more recently have fallen on hard times. They are 1-9 over their last 10 games, and 5-13 so far in May. The Dbacks have the talent to rebound, but the lead they built up in the NL West Division has all but evaporated as it is only half a game over the Colorado Rockies.
2 Up- Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are as hot a team as their AL East Division rival New York Yankees. The Red Sox are 6-4 over their last 10 games. And for the season they are +75 in run differential. Good for third regarding run differential behind only the Houston Astros and the Yankees.
2 Down- Kansas City Royals
The Royals have struggled this season. They have an overall record of 14-32. They are (as of this writing) 8.5 games behind the under .500 Cleveland Indians in the AL Central Division. And they have a run differential of -84 runs (second worse in the Majors behind only the Miami Marlins). The Royals went ”All In” last season and didn’t trade any of their potential assets, and thus the rebuild is on.
3 Up- Milwaukee Brewers
The Brew Crew has been playing nearly .600 baseball this season. The Brewers have won seven of their last ten games and have a positive run differential. The National League Central seems to be a race that will remain tight all season long as the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates are all playing well. But at the present moment, the Brewers have a game and a half lead over the Cubs, and they will look to add to that in their series against the struggling Diamondbacks.
3 Down- Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays were expected to try to compete for the AL Wildcard. But as the season has gone on, they have struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness. As a result, they are ten games in back of the Yankees for the AL East Division crown and five and a have out of the second AL Wildcard spot. If the Blue Jays can get healthy, they may be able to turn things around.
B.O.L.O.- Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays unlike the Yankees, Red Sox or even the Blue Jays were not given much hope of competing this season. Yet, they are still in the mix for the second AL Wildcard. The Rays are also making news for there innovative use of ”The Opener” (credit to Mr. Brian Kenny.) Keep an eye out for the Rays and see if any more innovations can help them continue to rise up the standings.
