Around the AL East: Week 2

Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

As of today, April 14, mere two games separate teams from the top to the bottom of the American League East — the narrowest gap in any division.

The Tampa Bay Rays (7-6) remain atop leading the division after Week 2, posting a 3-3 record for the week. They dropped two of three games in Kansas City and then traveled to Cincinnati where they took two of three games.

Ben Zobrist had the best offensive production during the week, slashing .304/.385/.739/1.124 with three HRs, five RBIs and five runs scored. David Price recorded a win, going 8.1 innings and striking out 10 batters. He gave up just one earned run and one walk. Alex Cobb and Joel Peralta collected the other two wins for the Rays. Grant Balfour saved all three wins.

The Rays suffered two significant injuries this week. Pitcher Matt Moore left Monday’s game and was placed on the DL with elbow soreness. The injury, diagnosed as torn ulnar collateral ligament, could sideline him for the season. Pitcher Alex Cobb also was placed on the DL (April 13) with a strained left oblique. Starter Jeremy Hellickson remains out until May or June following elbow surgery. FanSided.com’s Rays Colored Glasses has a look at the likely changes in the rotation.

After a day off today, the Rays travel to Baltimore for three games each against the Orioles then return to Tropicana field to host the New York Yankees for four games.

After 4-3 record on the week the Yankees are also at 7-6. The Bombers dropped two of three games to the Orioles, and then took three of four from Boston, including a controversial win Sunday in which an overturned umpiring call resulted in the winning run scoring.

Carlos Beltran led the Yankees in offense during the week with three HRs and a slash line of .423/.464/.923/1.387. Six other Yankees hit .300 or above for the week: Jacoby Ellsbury, Alfonso Soriano, Ischiro Suzuki, Derek Jeter, Brett Gardner and Kelly Johnson. Soriano and John each had three HRs as well.

Hiroki Kuroda notched two wins on the week with Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda recording one apiece. Shawn Kelley had three saves and Michael Phelps had one save during the week.

Among the Yankees’ roster transactions this week, the team placed closer David Robertson on the 15-day DL with a groin injury April 7. Cesar Cabral was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take the roster spot.

The Yankees host the Chicago Cubs Tuesday and Wednesday before heading to Tampa Bay for a four-game series against the Rays.

Yanks Go Yard is the source for Yankees’ news and opinion.

The Toronto Blue Jays (7-6) are tied at the top of the division going 4-2 on the week. The Jays started the week taking two games from the Houston Astros and then took two more from the Orioles at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

Colby Rasmus started the season slowly but had a strong week at the plate (.348/.375/.826/1.201) with three HRs and two doubles. Melky Cabrera continued his hot hitting for the Jays, with 10 hits, including four doubles, and a slash line of .333/.333/.567/.900.

Mark Buehrle continued his impressive start for the Jays collecting wins in both his starts on the week. Dustin McGowan and Brandon Morrow got the other two wins. Sergio Santos posted two saves.

The Jays made a series of roster moves over the weekend. The most significant changes were activating pitcher J.A. Happ from the DL and placing infielder Maicer Izturis on the DL with a knee injury.

The Jays have a day off today but remain on the road all week, with three games each against Minnesota and Cleveland.

Follow news and developments at Jays Journal.

The Baltimore Orioles are 5-7 on the season, posting a 3-3 record this week. The Os won two of three games against the Yankees in New York and then dropped two of three games at home against the Blue Jays.

Delmon Young played in just four games but slashed .474/.474/.737/1.211 with nine hits including a HR. Jonathan Schoop and Nelson Cruz eclipsed the .300 mark for the week. Matt Wieters had two HRs and five RBI.

Wei-Yin Chen was the only starting pitcher to notch a victory during the week. Zach Britton and Brian Matusz claimed the other two wins. Tommy Hunter claimed the club’s only save. On the negative side, free agent starter Ubaldo Jimenez was 0-2 with and 8.10 ERA for the week.

The Orioles made no significant roster moves this week. Manny Machado is still recuperating from offseason knee surgery but is expected to return to play before the end of the month.

The Orioles host the Rays today through Wednesday. After an off day Thursday, they play four games against the Red Sox in Boston.

Catch all the Orioles news you need to know at Birds Watcher.

At 5-8, the Boston Red Sox are alone at the bottom of the division standings. The BoSox went 3-4 on the week, taking two of three games from the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park while dropping three of four games and Yankee Stadium.

John Lester notched his first win of the season this week. John Lackey went 1-1 for the period. Andrew Miller got credit in relief for the other win. Felix Doubront went 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA. Burke Badenhop also had a bad outing and wound up the week with a 13.50 ERA.

A.J. Pierzynski (.474/.500/.632/1.132) and Grady Sizemore (.429/.429/.667/1.095) led the offense. Each player had a HR too. Mike Napoli (.333) Jonny Gomes (.300) Daniel Nava and David Ortiz hit HRs as well. No player had more than one during the week.

Craig Breslow was activated from the DL Wednesday, and Brandon Workman was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket. Koji Uehara had a bout with shoulder stiffness and is headed to Boston today for an exam. Dustin Pedroia missed Sunday’s game with a wrist injury sustained during the Milwaukee Brewers series last weekend. He’ll be in Boston for an evaluation as well today. Shane Victorino (hamstring) will begin a rehab with Double-A Portland this week. Will Middlebrooks is still out with a calf injury.

Tomorrow the Red Sox begin a three-game series against the White Sox at Comiskey Park. The team heads home for a four-game series against the Orioles starting Friday.

Check in here several times a day to follow all the Red Sox news and developments.