The baseball season is still very young but let’s see if we can get a handle on what is going on so far as we take a quick glimpse at the standings.
National League
The Miami Marlins going into Monday’s Interleague game on the road at Seattle have won seven of their last 10 games and are tied with the Nationals in the NL East. This will be a tough road trip for them, traveling from Florida to Seattle, so look for them to regress. The Washington Nationals travel to Atlanta to take on the Braves who have been feasting on the Padres. Look for the Nats to win that series.
The third place New York Mets, who dropped three in a row on the road to the Marlins, should rebound at home against the Phils. Philadelphia is last in the NL East and most likely will stay there.
In the Central the Pirates got their revenge by going into Wrigley and sweeping the Cubs who have started the season 6-6. The Cardinals are in last place going just 3-9 so far heading into a big series with the Pirates. The Reds have started fast and sit in first place but get into Interleague play with the Orioles coming to town. The Brewers sit one game behind Cincinnati but must go to Chicago to take on the Cubs. This series says “Cubbies” all the way.
The NL West has the Rockies sitting on top of the heap a half game in front of the Diamondbacks. That will change as Colorado starts a short two game series with the Dodgers on Tuesday and Wednesday.
American League
The AL East has been a three horse race between the Orioles, Yankees and Red Sox. The Yanks, going into Monday, had won seven straight to get within a half game of Baltimore, who will be in Cincinnati for a three game Interleague series. The Yanks will host the White Sox, who they have beaten at Yankee Stadium 13 of the last 15 times heading into Monday’s series opener. The Red Sox hit the road on Tuesday to last place Toronto, then visit Baltimore for a big series with the “O’s.” New York will be in Pittsburgh for a three game set that should be a good one for the Pirates who just flat out don’t like the Yanks.
In the AL West the Astros have looked very good in building a 2.5 game lead with the Angels, A’s, Mariners and Rangers trailing. Houston has a four game set with the “Halo’s” starting Monday and then finishes the week with a three game series at Tampa Bay, which will be tough. We say the Rays win that one.
In the AL Central at this point the Tigers have a one game lead heading into Monday over the Twins and a game-and-a-half over the White Sox.
KC sits two games back, while the struggling Indians (a team this bettor took at 10/1 to win the World Series) sit in last place.
The “Tribe” will make a move soon. They start a four game set in Minnesota and then go to Chicago to take on the White Sox for three. Cleveland needs to win both of these series.
Derby update
It is just a little over two weeks till the greatest two minutes in sports, the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 6. The last big prep was this past Saturday with the 2yo champ Classic Empire getting a hard fought needed win when beating Conquest Mo Money who was second in the Sunland Derby, Lookin At Lee who was sixth in his last start and the maiden Sonneteer who was a fast closing fourth after a very wide trip.
Talk about a wide open Kentucky Derby! To find out more, check out the various free seminars around the city, the first being on Friday, May 5, at 8 a.m. in the Palace Station racebook with free coffee and pastries.
I will be hosting with Professor Gordon Jones on my left and Dave “Track Phantom” Valento on my right.
So get out of bed and join us for a great time. We did a breakfast seminar for the Breeders’ Cup and the place was packed so get there early to find a good seat. The handicappers will not only being going over the Kentucky Derby but also the Kentucky Oaks as we look for a good Oaks/Derby double.
Since it is horse racing season I will again give out a play at Santa Anita and hope I don’t land on the same runner as Jon Lindo who was on a three race win streak till last week when I may have jinxed him.
This week’s play comes in the second race at Santa Anita on Thursday – No. 2 Make It a Triple. He gets his second start off a troubled first trip. He exits our Horses to Watch list as a $$$ play.
Live lucky, get off that couch and go to your favorite book. Make sure you get up early and attend the Kentucky Derby breakfast seminar. You just never know, you could be walking around lucky and not even know it.