Red Sox, AL East Roundup: April to May 2015

Apr 27, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder

(13) hits a sacrifice fly to drive in the tying run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth inning at Fenway Park. The Red Sox defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

After a month of regular season baseball, the Boston Red Sox find themselves in the midst of a division that could be won or lost by any team. Everyone is in the hunt; yet, everyone is in dire straits, at the moment, in different areas of the game.

The following is a breakdown of how each team did in the previous month and what we should expect to see in the near future. Considering how close these teams are, even after a month of games, any advantage one gets over the others could spell a post-season birth.

Let’s see how the teams stacked up:

*All statistical information comes from MLB.com, as of May 3rd, 2015.

May 2, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; New York Yankees manager

(28) conducts an interview prior to the game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

New York Yankees (16-9, .640)

Overall Record & Last 10 games:

The Bronx Bombers looked to be in for a tough season. With elderly men, for the modern game, playing many key positions and a pitching staff that was suspect, it looked like Yankees manager Joe Girardi would have to use some more magic that he had when he kept his team in the hunt, last season. The Yankees only have four men under 26, and the majority of the starting lineup is in their 30s. Instead, his team sits atop of the division, with a relatively comfortable lead. Two games, this season, is a bit of comfort, as the lead has been switched repeatedly throughout April.

The Yankees showed their toughness by earning a 10-3 record on the road. Their home record was more surprising at only 6-6, so far. That grit came from their much-maligned starting rotation. They sit at third in all of the American League with a 3.13 team ERA, with only the Kansas City Royals (2.96) and Houston Astros (3.08) ahead of them.

With a two-game winning streak over their arch-rivals the Boston Red Sox, the Yankees have an 8-2 record in the last ten games. They are one of the hottest teams in baseball, right now, due to that pitching. With their lack of hitting, they will need to count on that pitching staff to continue doing the job. Yet, how long can that last?

Key Injuries:

• Pitcher Chris Capuano is on the 15-day DL, with a Grade 2 right quadriceps strain. He was sent, yesterday, to a Class A Advanced rehab assignment, and is possibly back for May. With the pitching staff already doing well, beyond expectations, Capuano can provide much relief to the bullpen or starting rotation, if needed.
• A huge blow was when Masahiro Tanaka went down with what is reported as wrist tendinitis and forearm strain. He has been placed on the 15-day DL, but the likelihood of his return is June. Even with his performances lasting past the fifth inning, his velocity and overall comfort on the mound were down to the point where this injury status seemed inevitable. Keep your eye on this injury when he gets back. If the off-season could not heal his ligament tear in 2014, with plenty of rest, sitting him for 15 days seems very unlikely to heal him to the point that he won’t need surgery.
• Don’t expect Ivan Nova to jump back into the starting rotation to fix the problem, either. His recovery from last season’s Tommy John surgery has him out till at least June. His earliest time pitching against live bats in the minors is May.

Pitchers:

• Starting Rotation – Masahiro Tanaka (DL), Michael Pineda, C.C. Sabathia, Nathan Eovaldi, Adam Warren, Chase Whitley
• Don’t expect many home runs slaying this team, late in games. The Yankees have given up the second fewest (18) in the American League, one more than the Royals.
• Surprisingly enough, the Yankees are leading the league in terms of strikeouts, with 221 batters cast back down into the dugout to sulk.
• The bullpen is doing its job, as well, especially their closer, lefty Andrew Miller, a former Red Sox pitcher, who has 9 saves in 9 opportunities. With the state of the Red Sox bullpen, they probably wish that Miller had that form in a Boston uniform, this season.

Position Players:

• The team’s lineup hit just .240 in April. Even in the last two victories against the Red Sox, the Yankee batters mustered up only a .261 average. They are also getting outscored, overall, by three division rivals, with 109 runs and 101 RBIs. If it wasn’t for their pitching keeping them in ballgames, giving them situations to get at least a hit to win the game, the Yankees would not have their lead, at the moment.
• As a team, considering the ages of some of the veterans, it has been impressive seeing how aggressive they are on the base paths. The Yankees lead the division in stolen bases (16) and times caught stealing (7).
• With 18 errors, already, you would think the Yankees have been booting the ball around the field. Yet, they are double-playing teams to death (26), giving them a .693 defensive efficiency ratio that keeps them in the middle of the pack.

Keep Your Eyes On:

• Chris Young – He’s hitting .317, with 6 home runs and 12 RBIs, this season. Every time Young goes to the plate, he is dangerous, making highlight-reel long balls or other crucial hits. Even last night, Young hit a solo blast to help the Yankees defeat the Red Sox. With the start of his first full season in New York, expect Young to be making a name for himself in the Bronx, quickly.

Baltimore Orioles (12-11, .522)

Overall Record & Last 10 games:

It’s still hard to say whether the Orioles play better at home or away, as both stat columns hold six wins, apiece. While they only have four losses at Oriole Park, they have seven losses on the road, if that means something to you. Winners of their last two games, they hold an even record in their last ten games, winning and losing five, apiece. Catching on to a trend, anyone?

If this relative balance keeps up, nobody will be able to tell whether the Orioles will miss the playoffs or be the favorite to win the whole thing. Right now, Orioles fans will want to see their team make a run. Will anyone, including the Red Sox, stop them? Boston’s last series with Baltimore didn’t end so well.

Key Injuries:

• Shortstop J.J. Hardy has been out with a left shoulder strain, which will keep him out of the lineup until possibly early May. He is scheduled for a rehab assignment in Double-A, tomorrow. Except for last season, Hardy has been an important RBI-man for the Orioles, so they will want to see him come back soon.
• Second baseman Jonathan Schoop tore his PCL and sprained his MCL. While he will be doing strength training for the injury, don’t expect him to return until July.
• Catcher Matt Wieters, who spent last season recovering from Tommy John surgery, is still trying to recover by doing extended Spring Training. He catches every other day, to this point. Wieters was the backbone to a lot of the Orioles’ success in seasons past and they would really like to see him come back 100% healthy as soon as possible.

Pitchers:

• Starting Rotation – Chris Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen, Miguel Gonzalez, Bud Norris, Ubaldo Jimenez
• With a team ERA of 4.31, the Orioles sit in the middle of the division pack. Sound familiar? None of their stuff is blowing anyone away (167 strikeouts puts them last in the division), but it does keep them in many ballgames. Sometimes they win; sometimes they lose. One thing is for sure: keeping opposing bats to only a .228 batting average, for second in the AL East, will give their team a chance, consistently.
• The Orioles have only given their relief pitchers eight opportunities to save a game, which they have done six times.

Position Players:

• The team’s .277 batting average and .335 on-base percentage lead the AL East.
• Their RBIs (114) and total runs scored (120) just edge out the Red Sox and Yankees, with only the Toronto Blue Jays ahead of them.
• The Orioles are, again, in the middle of the pack with 30 home runs; however, with Chris Davis and Manny Machado heating up long balls to put with Adam Jones‘ hot start to the season, expect them to surpass all of the AL East by the All-Star Break.
• Their team fielding has been suspect, with 17 errors, but with many key infielders out with injury, it also was expected. Just as long as you expect their fielding to get better, once more pieces get healthy, again.

Keep Your Eyes On:

• Manny Machado – If you guessed that center fielder Adam Jones was the player to watch in April, a .402 batting average and 21 RBIs would be the only evidence you would need. However, if we are to look at May, we need to keep our eye on a rising phoenix, returning from injury’s ashes, burning bright orange for Baltimore. In his last ten games, Machado has hit .371, with 3 home runs and 7 RBIs. May could be the turning point where he joins Adam Jones as one of the most dominant players in the game, today.

Apr 26, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher

(22) throws a pitch during the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Rays (13-12, .520)

Overall Record & Last 10 games:

Another huge surprise has been the Rays’ season, so far. They were supposed to have even less pitching than the Yankees, and yet, that’s where they money is being made.

The Rays’ young talent on the mound has come through, with the team winning six out of ten away games, while posting a 7-8 record at home. By losing their last two games, the Rays fell just short of being as hot as the Yankees, giving Tampa a record of six wins in the last ten games, overall.

Key Injuries:

• The Rays have eleven players out with injuries. Major injuries to their pitching staff were supposed to cripple the team’s chances to win. However, any hope that these pitchers come back will only strengthen an already-successful starting rotation. Pitchers Alex Cobb (right forearm tendinitis) and Matt Moore (Tommy John surgery) will likely be back in May and June, respectively, ensuring that the Rays will have a pitching staff, starting or in the bullpen, to be reckoned with come the summer.
• Center fielder Desmond Jennings is day-to-day with a soreness to his left knee, but should be in the lineup soon, if not already.
• Catcher John Jaso, however, has yet for his injury to his left wrist (contusion) to be confirmed for a return date. Considering that the Rays have been very happy, so far, with their starting catcher Rene Rivera, expect Jaso to start as the designated hitter, if at all, when he returns.

Pitchers:

• Starters – Chris Archer (6), Nathan Karns (6), Jake Odorizzi (5), Matt Andriese (5), Erasmo Ramirez(2), Drew Smyly (2), Alex Colome (1), Steve Geltz (1)
• With injured pitchers coming back to the rotation, changes will be made. It will just be interesting how they are made. The team’s ERA (3.61) is just below the Yankees. They have given up 21 home runs, while striking out 211 batters. Opposing lineups have been held to a .214 batting average, as well. Not bad for a young pitching staff by committee.

Position Players:

• Hitting is clearly the weakness for this team. At the moment, they sit at thirteenth out of fifteen teams in the American League, in terms of batting average (.230). Nobody in the East division is worse.
• With only 20 home runs, 88 RBIs, and 91 total runs scored, the Rays are in last place in their division, by far.
• In terms of fielding, however, they rank the best in all of the American League in errors (7) and fielding percentage (.992), with their .735 defensive efficiency ratio taking second place. They haven’t had to turn many double-plays, like many other teams, because either their pitcher strikes the batter out or otherwise never reaches first because of great defense.

Keep Your Eyes On:

•  Logan Forsythe – The second baseman is hitting .296, .324 in the last ten games. He has 2 home runs and 11 RBIs, with an on-base percentage of .374 and a .481 slugging percentage. Forsythe is hard to keep off of the hit list, as only 3 of the last 10 games did he go without a base hit, and, in 4 of those games, he had multiple hits. Tampa needs more batters like Forsythe, so that they have more base runners in scoring positions and give their starting pitchers a bigger lead to work with, once in a while.

May 1, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder

(50) hits a sacrifice fly during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Boston Red Sox (12-13, .480)

Overall Record & Last 10 games:

They are 6-7 at home, 6-6 away. However, if the word ‘consistent’ comes to mind, think again. They have lost seven of their last ten games, including a big series loss to their arch rivals the Yankees, over the weekend. Instead of picking up a few games against the division leader, the Red Sox got swept, like insignificant dust behind the doors of your house: disposed quickly. Big home runs have either brought the team back into the game or have even made the day victorious, but they can’t always be there for you or Boston. The Red Sox need to keep games much closer to have a chance to win.

Key Injuries:

• Christian Vazquez was to be the starting catcher, after having a great season in 2014. However, he required Tommy John surgery in April, after sustaining an injury in Spring Training. He will not return until 2016.
• Backup catcher Ryan Hanigan became the starter, after the Vazquez injury, but picked up a fracture in his right hand which required him to be put on the 60-day DL effective May 2nd. Top prospect Blake Swihart has been called up to help, although he will be sharing the duties with the other veterans already on the squad.
• Outfielder Shane Victorino‘s right hamstring strain has been healing and will require a stint on the rehab assignment list, this week.

Pitchers:

• Starting Rotation – Clay Buchholz, Rick Porcello, Justin Masterson, Wade Miley, Joe Kelly
• The team’s ERA is 5.04, just below the Blue Jays for worst pitching in the division and the entire American League. Whether home or away, Boston can’t seem to get the consistent pitching that they were hoping to get, this spring.
• While the Red Sox pitchers have 205 strikeouts, which makes them one of the leaders in the category, they were built and expected to be a groundball team, looking to put the ball in play to get quick outs.
• Not unexpectedly, when you try to get strikeouts, you leave yourself open to home runs. The Red Sox have given up the second-highest in the league with 29 home runs.
• The strikeouts have helped manage a middle-of-the-pack placement in terms of opposing team batting average (.262). However, Boston giving up 134 runs this early in the season means that they are often playing catch-up, with wins almost never in sight by the end of nine innings.

Position Players:

• Considering the Red Sox have only scored 122 runs, compared to that pitching total, their weakness keeps them on the losing end of games very often.
• As a team, they are hitting only .243, so their 29 home runs and 115 RBIs suggest that production is based on the long ball. The strategy of waiting out starting pitchers to get to their bullpen doesn’t work when your own starters have buried the team in an eight-run hole before the seventh inning.
• The .985 fielding percentage is not unexpected, since there are many veterans in the infield and outfield. They have 14 errors as a team, putting them in the middle of the American League in defense. Even incredible diving catches in the outfield are only one out apiece. The pitchers need to help the team out, to allow them to show their skills in the infield, with more groundballs.

Keep Your Eyes On:

•  Mookie Betts – Hanley Ramirez aside, the Red Sox have not done much in terms of production. Occasionally, the veterans come through with some situational hitting, but it all starts with the leadoff spot. Betts has a great center field glove, but it is his offense that needs to shine through. In his last 10 games, Betts has 10 hits and 6 RBIs. He has also crossed home plate 6 times. If the Red Sox will have any chance at turning their fortunes around, the pitching will have to improve, while Betts sets the table for the big bats in the heart of the order to consistently drive him home.