The Houston Rattlers have had solid control of the Gehrig Division for most of the season, while they have a 13point, 6.5 game lead over both the Los Angeles Guardians and the Seattle Captains. Houston has also won 11 of their last 15 games.
The Rattlers have a great balance in power at the plate, and great pitching on the mound. Mike Cuellar (3-1, 2.29) has been Houston's best pitcher, striking out 43 batters in 43.1 innings. Gerrit Cole has improved to 5-0 with 2.82 ERA & 40 K's. Their slated ace Justin Verlander (2-1) has struggled as of late, with his ERA raising above 4.00 (4.04), while giving up his 10th home run. On a plus point, JV does have 47 strikeouts in 42.1 innings. Houston's most consistent hitter has been Jeff Bagwell, batting .313 with 7 HR & 28 RBI. Craig Biggio, Alex Bregman & George Springer has heated up, while Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve have struggled mightily of late; Altuve and Correa are a combined 6-for-56 (.107) during the last 8 games.
The Los Angeles Guardians are playing their best ball of the season, winning 6 of their last 8 games, and climbing up the standings to tie Seattle (by defeating Seattle, 6-4), and walking away with a series split. Mike Trout has been on a tear during this stretch, batting .467 (14-for-30) with 7 HR, 16 RBI & swiping 6 bases during this 8-game stretch. Just prior to this stretch, Trout was struggling (.196 AVG through 18 games), but has raised his batting average to .296, while smacking 9 HR & 22 RBI to go along with 15 stolen bases (26 games). Shohei Ohtani has so far not lived up to the hype, as he has pinned up a 2-3 record with a 7.18 ERA on the mound, and has batted .250 with 0 HR, 2 RBI, while stealing 4 bases. The Guardians' George Brunet has won 5 of the Guardians' 14 wins, while Mark Langston (3-2) has collected 51 strikeouts through 41 innings (11.20 K/9). The team signed a new bat in backstop Wilson Ramos to give them some sock in the lineup.
The Seattle Captains made a splash by trading for Luis Tiant of the Cleveland Spiders and his huge contract, prior to the season. Tiant has done his part, but Seattle has had a difficult time trying to give him some run support. Tiant has a 3-3 record with 4 complete games, while posting a 2.37 ERA & 44 strikeouts. Although Randy Johnson has been a bit subpar during the 1st half of the season, the 'Big Unit' does lead the team with 46 strikeouts. Ken Griffey Jr has heated up, batting .467 (14-for-30) with 3 HR, 3 doubles & 5 RBI during the last 8-game stretch. Griffey is now batting .327 with 7 HR & 19 RBI for the season.
The San Jose Athletics (who by the way, don't wear the 'Kerry Green') thought they would be more competitive in their division this season, instead of sitting in 4th place. The team has won 4 of their last 5 games, their best stretch since their 5-game winning streak between April 2nd & April 7th. Preseason Waiver Draft pickup 2B/DH Scooter Gennett has been the team's best bat, batting .317 (39 hits) with 5 HR, 6 doubles & 18 RBI. Big Reggie Jackson is batting .239 with 6 HR & 19 RBI. Mark McGwire (who has had a hard time staying on the field) is batting .370 with 5 HR & 10 RBI in only 27 at-bats, hitting a HR in every 5.4 at-bats!
The starting pitching has not been as great as it should be. Jim Nash (2-4, 5.40 ERA & 22 K) is an APBA Grade A-YZ, but has pitched anything but. Blue Moon Odom (2-3, 6.37 ERA) has also been terrible. Chuck Dobson had a 3.04 ERA & only 5 walks allowed through his first 26.2 innings, but has since allowed 11 walks & 10 earned runs through his last 12.1 innings, raising his ERA to 4.42 for the season. Catfish Hunter (APBA Grade B-Y/10-Y) has been trending upward of late, winning his team-lead 3rd game, and lowering his ERA to 3.43 after a 1 ER allowed, 7.1 inning performance against Phoenix.
While the Boston Colonials were trying to put together a team, while managing a salary cap. Boston made the Phoenix Rays the lucky winners to acquire J.D. Martinez. J.D. has not disappointed by hitting .294 with 9 HR, 8 doubles & 21 RBI. Martinez, not known for his fielding has played right field most of the season, allowing the DH role to be split by Mike Greenwell and Steven Pearce. Greenwell another Colonial original, was acquired through the Waiver Draft. Both Greenwell and Pearce have underachieved, but have come alive during the last 8 games, with a combined .375 (9-for-24) with each hitting a home run during the last 8 games. David Peralta leads the Rays with 10 HR & 24 RBI.
The Rays' entire rotation has been a disappointment, but recently witnessed the staff's first complete game, a 4-hit shutout by Zack Greinke, while Steve Barber getting one last chance to start (0-3, 10.50 ERA in 4 starts), has allowed only 3 ER with 11 K's through his last 15 innings (also completed a game as well). Patrick Corbin (2-2, 3.49 ERA & 42 K through 38.2 IP) has been the club's best starting pitcher.
You have heard of the term, What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, and for this team that is relatively true, everyone sees their record (10-20) and it's easy to think there is absolutely nothing go on with this team. The one bright spot has been SP Pete Harnish (3-3, 3.48 ERA & 52 K in 44 IP), who will have a difficult time staying in Vegas, with buying teams sniffing around for talent. Cecil Fielder carries his hot May into June, clubbing a few more home runs -- giving him 7 HR & 20 RBI. Joe Carter who had no HR through his first 18 games, has hit 3 HR during his last 7 games.
The Wagner Division has been a dog fight for most of the season, the San Diego Tigers found themselves on top for a good month, until their recent 2-6 skid. The Tigers have been a surprise team that started out 13-5, but have been 3-8-1 since then. Although San Diego has been sliding of late, they only find themselves (tied with San Francisco Seals) 1 point and a half-game back of the Los Angeles Royals and Denver Miners. In fact, the last place Portland Thorns are only 9 points & 4.5 games out of 1st place.
Let's begin with the Los Angeles Royals, who along with San Francisco, were probably the preseason picks to compete for the division. The Royals just haven't got rolling, with their best stretch being a 6-1 stretch between April 10th & April 18th. They find themselves currently tied on top, due to the rest of the division sliding back. With the talent that the Royals have, you definitely would expect more things from this team.
The Royals have at least 8 pitchers with an APBA Grade 11 (B or above) or higher, that the team could start a game. The team primarily uses Don Drysdale (Grade A-Y/17-Y), Don Sutton (Grade B-X/14-X), Walker Buehler (Grade B-XZ/14-XZ), Claude Osteen (B-Z/11-Z) and Bill Singer (B-X/13-X) for their rotation. The Royals use Hyun-Jin Ryu (Grade A-XZ/18-XZ) as a high-leverage long reliever, and as a backup emergency starter, while Ramon Martinez and Mudcat Grant are used strictly out of the bullpen. Counting Grant, the Royals have 5 relievers in Jim Brewer, Jim Gott, Roger McDowell, and Hank Aguirre with Grades of 15+ (A or higher).
Buehler has been the Royals' best pitcher, showing off a 3-1 record, 1.98 ERA & 35 K's through 41 innings of work. Drysdale has pitched better of late, winning his team-best 4th win of the season, while lowering his season ERA to 4.40, while placing 2nd on the team with 32 strikeouts. Sutton and Osteen have struggled most of the season so far.
The Royals' hitting through the first 22 games, had Manny Machado (.262 AVG) with their best batting average. The team is loaded with players such as Justin Turner, Yasiel Puig, Cody Bellinger, Eric Karros and Brett Butler to go along with Machado, Piazza & Muncy. Simply put, Royals fans expect more. Mike Piazza is looking like his old self lately, batting .303 with 1 HR & 8 RBI during his last 8 games. Piazza was only batting .239 with 3 HR & 11 RBI through his first 22 games, and has since raised his average to .256 for the season. Max Muncy has matched his 9 hits for the season, with 9 hits during his last 8 games. Muncy has also batted .360 with 3 HR & 9 RBI during this stretch, raising his average up to .255.
We move on up to the Rocky Mountains with the Denver Miners, with the Miners winning 5 of their last 7 games. The Miners' ace Pat Jarvis coming off a 3-hit shutout, has improved to 4-1 with a 1.94 ERA & 31 strikeouts through 6 starts. Dave Boswell looked solid through his first 4 starts (3-1, 2.57), but has had two really bad outings in a row (6.2 IP, 13.50 ERA). The Miners took a chance on Frank Viola (who struggled for Twin Cities), acquiring him in exchange for 1B/OF-Jerald Clark. Viola has been great with Denver so far through 4 starts -- 2-1 record, 2.45 ERA & 24 K in 29.1 innings pitched.
In the batters' box, Andres Galarraga has been a beast, batting .545 (18-for-33) during his last 8 games, while raising his season numbers to .375 AVG (45 hits), 5 HR, 25 RBI, 10 doubles, 4 triples & 19 runs. Nolan Arenado has heated up (11 for his last 29 AB, including 4 HR) during his last 7 games. Arenado only batted .192 with 3 HR & 9 RBI through his first 21 games. Dante Bichette has been solid & consistent, batting .336 with 7 HR & 27 RBI.
The San Francisco Seals (16-13-1) have been using a 4-man rotation with Juan Marichal, Gaylord Perry & Ray Sadecki, pitching every 4 games, while their 4th slot in the rotation is alternated between Madison Bumgarner and John Burkett. Marichal, the team's Latin ace, has a 4-2 record, 2.61 ERA & 42 strikeouts through 62 innings. Sadecki has been red hot of late (2-0, 1.69 ERA & 22 K's during last two outings), and has improved to 5-1, 2.74 ERA & 51 K's. Gaylord has been hovering around a 4.50 ERA all season, while falling victim to the rough inning, and the long ball (8 HR allowed).
The Seals' lineup is a powerful lineup that consists of sluggers Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Barry Bonds, Matt Williams & Will Clark. The Seals are one of a few teams with at least two hitters with more than 10 HR's during this point of the season. McCovey leads the team with 12 HR, to go along with his .333 batting average & 33 RBI. Bonds has 11 HR, 24 RBI, 19 BB & leads the team with 5 stolen bases. Although Williams is only batting .211, he has 8 HR & 25 RBI for the season. Will "The Thrill" has not delivered any thrill, batting below the Mendoza line at .157 (through 89 at-bats), while only posting 3 HR & 9 RBI (Teammate Willie McGee has more HR & RBI with 4 HR & 14 RBI).
Earlier I mentioned, the San Diego Tigers had somewhat control of the Wagner Division for most of the season, and there were a few factors that went into that. One of those factors have been a surprise in catcher Chad Kreuter (picked up in the Waiver Draft). Kreuter's strength has always been behind the plate, which he possibly well on his way to a Galaxy Glove this season -- throwing out 6 base stealers. Kreuter has also been good at the plate, batting .327 with 7 HR & 19 RBI. Felipe Alou has been the team's leader, batting .373 (47 hits) with 5 HR & 21 RBI. Young Phil Clark has 33 hits in 89 at-bats (.371), while collecting 3 HR & 14 RBI. The big shocker may be the fact that Tony Gwynn has struggled to reach the .300 mark (coming closest with a .286 mark) has slipped back down to a .264 batting average with 2 HR & 19 RBI.
Larry Jackson (Grade 12-YZ) has been the Tigers' best starting pitcher with a 3-1 record, 3.00 ERA & 22 K's through 36 innings. The Tigers' closer Kirby Yates has a 1.42 ERA & 6 Saves.
After an 0-5-1 season start, the Arlington Stars have been 15-9 since, and seemed to be playing better all around the field. Frank Howard leads the Stars with 11 HR & 24 RBI, while Rafael Palmeiro is the team's best hitter, batting .272 with 8 HR & 26 RBI. Despite the season's bad start, Arlington's fans are optimistic, as the Stars split series with two tough division foes in the Royals and Seals of late. 2B Rougned Odor is the team's hottest hitter of late, batting .423 with 3 HR & 10 RBI during a 6-game stretch, improving his season numbers to .296 with 4 HR & 16 RBI.
Last are the last-place (but in striking-distance) Portland Thorns. The team knows who they are, and don't expect to compete against such stiff competition moving forward. Rumors are already swirling about trading off one of their best hitting stars in veteran 2B Lou Whitaker. Whitaker batting .292 with 6 HR & 19 RBI, has an AGBA-best 19 doubles through 30 games. The team has other trade pieces, that could bring in prospects as well in OF Aaron Hicks and SP Orel Hershiser (3-0, 4.46 ERA). Lance McCullers Jr (with only 1 game start) may soon find himself a rotation regular, as he has posted a 2.91 ERA with 21 K's through 21.2 innings.
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