American League Divisional Update

The 2013 major league baseball season has reached the All Star break. This year, as opposed to last year, finishing first in the division would seem to have very significant meaning.

First of all, the six division winners avoid the one game playoff. That is “reserved” for the two wild card teams in each league.

Next the two top finishers in each league play the first two and potential decisive game(s) of a best of five series at home. Hence a look at the divisional races. Today the American League and later this week, the National League.

In the American League, the surprising Boston Red Sox, rated the lowest in the A.L. East at the beginning of the season have a two and a half game lead. The Toronto Blue Jays with the division’s highest pre season rating are in last place, eleven and one half games behind first place Boston.

The Detroit Tigers have a one and a half game lead over the Cleveland Indians in the A.L. Central Division. The top heavy favorite, Tigers have won 7 of nine vs Cleveland but have not pulled away by any stretch.

The Oakland A’s who swept the Texas Rangers in the last three games at Oakland last year to win the A.L. West, currently lead the Rangers by two games in the division. The high priced Los Angeles Angels, with the highly paid Mike Scioscia at the managerial helm, are 5 games under .500 and 11 games out.