As the Yankees and Dodgers prepare for a quick two-game series this week, the two teams are headed in opposite directions. Although winners on Sunday, the Yankees have lost six of 10 since the All-Star break to fall 7 1/2 games out of first in the AL East and 2 1/2 behind the final wild card spot. The Dodgers, on the other hand, are 9-1 since the break and have continued a remarkable turnaround. On July 1, Los Angeles was in last place in the NL West. Currently, they sit in first place and own a 2 1/2 game lead over the Diamondbacks.
One factor has clearly been phenom Yasiel Puig, who exploded onto the scene in early June with three home runs in his first five games. He hasn’t slowed down since, batting .372 with 10 home runs and 23 RBIs in 48 games in which the Dodgers have gone 32-16. Puig, 22, who just missed out on a trip to the All-Star game though he was on the final fan vote ballot, hit a walk-off home run in the eleventh inning of Sunday’s 1-0 win over the Reds to keep the Dodgers rolling.
Puig is not alone. Hanley Ramirez has five homers and 16 RBIs to go along with a .375 batting average in June, and the pitching staff is also a big reason the Dodgers are 7-0-3 in their past 10 series.
With two months left in the season, time will tell if there will be a true Hollywood ending for the Dodgers this season.
1) Rays (62-43) (6)
Despite losing Sunday, the Rays are the hottest team in baseball at 21-4 in their past 25 games, taking two of three from both the Red Sox and Yankees. The Rays trail the Red Sox by ½ a game in the AL East.
2) Red Sox (63-43) (4)
After taking two of three from the Orioles this weekend, the Red Sox are back in first place in the AL East.
3) Athletics (62-43) (3)
After claiming the Home Run Derby title, Yoenis Cespedes missed four games with a wrist injury before returning to the lineup. He doesn’t have homer since, but went 3-for-5 with four RBIs in the A’s 10-6 win over the Angels, to extend their AL West lead to 5 ½ games.
4) Pirates (61-42) (2)
Sometimes things just don’t make sense. Like how the Pirates lost two of three to the Marlins this weekend.
5) Braves (60-45) (7)
In a statement series this weekend, the Braves swept the Cardinals in three close games and increased their NL East division lead to 8 1/2 games.
6) Cardinals (62-40) (1)
St. Louis only scored three runs in that series.
7) Tigers (59-45) (9)
A sweep of the Phillies has the Tigers three games up on the Indians in the AL Central.
8) Dodgers (56-48) (15)
And imagine this team’s potential if Matt Kemp, who was put on DL for third time this week, was able to stay healthy.
9) Indians (56-48) (11)
A three-game weekend sweep of the Rangers certainly helped their playoff push moving forward.
10) Rangers (56-49) (5)
Winners of two of 10 games since the break, including getting shut out in their past two, Texas is in some trouble. While they are 5½ games out in the AL West, the good news is they are only 1 ½ games out of the final wild card spot.
11) Orioles (58-48) (10)
Chris Davis has not homered since before the All-Star break (10 games) and has four RBIs in that span. But the Orioles haven’t suffered significantly, going 5-5.
12) Reds (59-47) (8)
Their wild-card lead took a dent by dropping the last three in Los Angeles.
13) Diamondbacks (54-51) (13)
Arizona had a 2 ½ game lead over the Dodgers in the NL West at the break, and now trail the Dodgers by that same margin.
14) Yankees (55-50) (12)
The Yankees got a much-needed win as Alfonso Soriano went 4-for-5 with a home run and the walk off single in a 6-5 win against the Rays on Sunday. They still haven’t won consecutive games since before the Al-Star break.
15) Royals (51-51) (20)
The Royals are back at .500 and riding a six-game winning streak after a sweep of the White Sox. Playing the Twins and Mets next could bolster their win total.
16) Nationals (52-54) (14)
After an embarrassing 11-0 loss to the Mets on Friday, the Nationals bounced back with three straight wins, including a 14-1 dismantling on Sunday.
17) Rockies (51-55) (19)
Michael Cuddyer’s home run Sunday was his first since his appearance in the Home Run Derby.
18) Mariners (50-55) (23)
Seattle is 7-3 since the break, and recently had an eight-game winning streak snapped. Second baseman Nick Franklin has four home runs and 12 RBIs in his past eight games.
19) Cubs (48-55) (22)
Chicago’s pitching dominated this weekend allowing three runs in a three-game sweep of the Giants.
20) Phillies (49-56) (16)
They entered the break at 48-48, but are 1-8 since, currently on an eight-game losing streak and trade rumors are swirling around their top players.
21) Angels (48-55) (17)
Albert Pujols is dealing with plantar fascia in his left foot and could miss the remainder of the season. Not like the Angels are playoff contenders anyway.
22) Blue Jays (48-56) (18)
Since an 11-game winning streak, Toronto has gone 10-19. But three of those wins were against the Astros this weekend, so they don’t really count.
23) Mets (46-56) (21)
The Mets came out of the All-Star break winning five of eight, but lost three of four to the Nationals this weekend.
24) Twins (45-57) (26)
Joe Mauer hasn’t played since July 22 after the birth of his twin daughters.
25) Padres (48-58) (24)
A poor end to the first half of the season doomed the Padres, who are 6-4 since the break but still trail the Dodgers by nine games in the NL West.
26) Giants (46-58) (25)
Getting swept by the Cubs pretty much ended any chances the defending champs had at making the playoffs this year. Even in the NL West, they still find themselves 10 games out and in last place.
27) Brewers (43-61) (27)
The Ryan Braun-less Brewers are 2-5 since the PED user was suspended for the remainder of the season by the MLB last week.
28) Marlins (40-63) (28)
A four-game series this week with the Mets is good news for the Marlins, who are 8-3 against them this season, and have won the past five in the series.
29) White Sox (40-62) (29)
Not sure how long Robin Ventura can keep his job with the way things are going in Chicago this season.
30) Astros (35-69) (30)
The Astros haven’t won back-to-back games since June 15-16.