June has arrived, and with its arrival we are finally starting to see the true identities of certain teams across Major League Baseball. Let’s talk some baseball!
- San Francisco Giants (+3)
The Giants are staying hot in a division that continues to wreak havoc on itself. I love the Giants; I want the Giants to be buyers at the trade deadline. I think the Giants are one or two more big bats away from winning this division and potentially the World Series.
- Tampa Bay Rays (+1)
Rays swept the Phillies last weekend but then split 4 games with the Yankees. The Rays are an incredibly talented team with so much upside that it’s hard not to love them when it comes to All-Star Voting. I think the Rays are going to win the AL East; the Red Sox might be able to creep up and win but I am putting my money on the Rays.
- Chicago White Sox (+3)
The Chicago White Sox are great but is Tony LaRussa becoming a distraction? New footage was released this week of LaRussa’s DUI from back in December. This week during several post-game press conferences the media spent most of their time focusing their questions on LaRussa. I think this might be a rare circumstance where a team in the first place could move onto a different manager in the middle of the season, either way, it’s definitely something to watch.
- Boston Red Sox (+1)
- Los Angeles Dodgers (-3)
- Chicago Cubs (+5)
The Cubs are HOT! That might be the understatement of the season. The Cubs completed a 3 game sweep over the San Diego Padres in which the Cubs outscored the Padres 17-6. The Cubs are finally getting consistent starting pitching and their bullpen is still on fire. I love where the Cubs are at and they have a huge series against the Giants this weekend!
- San Diego Padres (-6)
- Oakland Athletics (-)
Athletics are playing really well right now, they have won their last two series by beating the Angels at home and the Mariners on the road. The Athletics were finally able to get back on the positive side of run differential. I like the Athletics going forward and the AL West might end up being competitive if the Astros can play well down the stretch.
- Houston Astros (+3)
- Cleveland Indians (-1)
- New York Mets (+2)
The Mets took 2 out of 3 against the Diamondbacks this week and picked up 3 wins against the Rockies. The schedule is tough for the Mets for the rest of the month; they play the Padres on the road this weekend and then play host to the Padres and Cubs. If the Mets can scrape together a few big wins they will remain on top of the NL East.
- New York Yankees (-5)
I want to give the Yankees some credit for splitting the series with the Rays, however, the Yankees need to get some life out of the bats again if they want to make a run at the division.
- St Louis Cardinals (-3)
- Toronto Blue Jays (-)
Dan Murphy is slowly convincing me to like the Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays have a lot of young talent that keeping them relevant in the AL East. The Blue Jays need a little bit better run support and if they can score consistently they have a shot to be the dark horse in the AL East.
- Milwaukee Brewers (-)
- Kansas City Royals (+3)
The Royals had a great week with a series win over the Pirates, and they also beat the Twins on the road last weekend. Royals need Brad Keller to continue to keep getting better and then they will have a look at the future. The Royals aren’t going to buy at the deadline and my guess is that they won’t sell either, the Royals are working for the next two years when they will finally have young pitches and Bobby Witt Jr. ready for the big leagues.
- Seattle Mariners (+3)
- Atlanta Braves (-)
- Philadelphia Phillies (+3)
- Cincinnati Reds (+1)
- Los Angeles Angels (+1)
Angles have been hit with the injury bug and there is no end in sight. Angels need to sell Ohtani if they want to build for the future and take a stab at the division here in a few years.
- Miami Marlins (-5)
- Washington Nationals (+1)
- Detroit Tigers (+2)
- Colorado Rockies (+2)
- Pittsburgh Pirates (+4)
- Texas Rangers (-4)
- Minnesota Twins (-3)
The Twins need to seriously look in the mirror and ask themselves what they are and what they plan to be. They now have 5 defensive starters who are on the last year of their contracts, and to be frank, most of them are older players who would be a great veteran presence on a contender. The Twins need to be a seller at the deadline.
- Arizona Diamondbacks (-)
- Baltimore Orioles (-2)
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