Outside the Bronx: MLB Notebook – May 18, 2012

Outside the Bronx is a weekly bullet-point style notebook covering each MLB team outside of Yankee Stadium. Each team’s record is in parenthesis prior to today’s games.

AL East

Baltimore Orioles (25-14) – The rest of the AL East needs to take this team seriously!

Boston Red Sox (18-20) – Josh Beckett bounces back; Red Sox for all their troubles only 6.5 back.

Tampa Bay Rays (24-15) – Streaky team; won 6 in-a-row, then lost 5-of-6 followed by winning 4-of-5.

Toronto Blue Jays (21-18) – Sweep struggling Yankees by hitting six homers in two-game series.

AL Central

Chicago White Sox (18-21) – Chris Sale continues strong start; seven straight starts with three or fewer earned runs.

Cleveland Indians (22-16) – Healthy four game lead over the Tigers.

Detroit Tigers (18-20) – Hardly where we or Jim Leyland expected the Tigers to be this far into the season.

Kansas City Royals (15-22) – Royals are 12-8 since their 3-14 start; Felipe Paulino fantastic in last start (7 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 9 K)

Minnesota Twins (14-) – Justin Morneau homers with three RBIs in second game off DL.

AL West

Los Angeles Angels (17-22) – Albert Pujols showing signs of life, homering in back-to-back games.

Oakland A’s (20-19) – Hanging with Rangers, but need to put together win streak to make real noise.

Seattle Mariners (16-24) – Fall into last place after losing 8 of last 10.

Texas Rangers (24-19) – Something is wrong (not really) with Josh Hamilton…no homers in last five days.

NL East

Atlanta Braves (24-15) – In first place after Brandon Beachy’s first shutout of season.

Miami Marlins (20-18) – Ozzie Guillen sends last tweet.

New York Mets (21-17) – Best record in New York, subway series in June could mean something.

Philadelphia Phillies (20-19) – Above .500 after winning five straight. Only 4 games back.

Washington Nationals (23-15) – Bryce Harper tries to break bat with face.

NL Central

Chicago Cubs (15-23) – Kerry Wood to retire after next appearance.

Cincinnati Reds (19-18) – Putting pressure on defending World Champs.

Houston Astros (17-21) – Silver Boot series with Texas begins tonight with Wandy Rodriguez on the mound for ‘Stros.

Milwaukee Brewers (16-22) – John Axford is having a difficult year; 5.56 ERA and 1.94 WHIP.

Pittsburgh Pirates (18-20) – Andrew McCutchen finding power stroke, 5 homers in last 10 games.

St. Louis Cardinals (22-16) – Injuries are starting to mount, Jon Jay to DL, Allen Craig, Carlos Beltran & Kyle McClellan all next?

NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks (17-22) – Much different team so far in 2012, than 2011.

Colorado Rockies (15-22) – Jorge De La Rosa makes four-inning appearance in second rehab start coming off Tommy John surgery.

Los Angeles Dodgers (25-13) – Matt Kemp hits the DL, time to see if Andre Ethier can carry the team.

San Diego Padres (14-25) – Released veteran Orlando Hudson, owe him about $6.25 million.

San Francisco Giants (19-19) – Bay Series kicks off tonight with Barry Zito facing former team.

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