As of last Friday, there was a pretty clear separation atop the AL Central with the Indians and the Kansas City Royals riding high and every other team in the early-season dust.
Now all that has changed, the Detroit Tigers have vaulted into a tie for second with the Royals, and the Minnesota Twins -- who at one time trailed by seven games -- have climbed to within four games of first-place Cleveland.
Welcome to this edition of the MLB Standings Update.
American League Central -
Cleveland Indians 13-8 .619 0 Games Behind -- The Indians lost an abbreviated two-game set in Minnesota over the weekend yet still lead the Central by a game and-a-half after the Royals dropped three straight in Texas. The Tribe now welcomes Kansas City for a three-game set in Cleveland beginning Tuesday.
Detroit Tigers 12-10 .545 1.5 Games Behind -- The Tigers swept three games from the White Sox over the weekend and vaulted into a tie with Kansas City. Before a series next weekend in Cleveland, Detroit will entertain Seattle for three games in a series beginning tomorrow night in Detroit.
Kansas City Royals 12-10 .545 1.5 Games Behind -- The Royals came from far behind to make a game of it yesterday in Texas, but the Rangers hung on to sweep the three-game set and drop Kansas City into a tie with Detroit. The Royals now go to Cleveland for three games starting Tuesday night, in a rematch of the four-game set that was split in Kansas City last week.
Minnesota Twins 9-12 .429 4 Games Behind -- The Twins, after Friday's game was rained out, beat the Indians both Saturday and Sunday to creep closer in the Central. Minnesota now takes on Tampa Bay for three games at home starting Tuesday.
Chicago White Sox 8-14 .364 5.5 Games Behind -- The White Sox have landed in the cellar hard, losing their last three games to the Tigers and watching the Twins sail right past. Chicago's reward? A four-game series in the Bronx against the Yankees, beginning tonight.
American League East -
New York Yankees 12-6 .667 0 Games Behind -- The Yankees opened up some separation over the weekend, winning twice in Baltimore in a rain-shortened series. New York now entertains the White Sox in four straight starting tonight in New York.
Tampa Bay Rays 11-11 .500 3 Games Behind -- The Rays have come back from their dreadful start, and after winning two of three in Toronto over the weekend, now move on to Minnesota for three games with the Twins in a series that will start on Tuesday.
Boston Red Sox 10-11 .476 3.5 Games Behind -- Boston has rebounded from a 2-10 start, and in a most-impressive fashion. The Sox won four straight from the Angels in Anaheim over the weekend to get within a game of .500, and will now travel to Baltimore for three with the Orioles.
Toronto Blue Jays 9-12 .429 4.5 Games Behind -- After losing the last two games of a three-game series with the Rays at home, Toronto now gets the unenviable task of going to Texas to play four straight against the West-leading Rangers.
Baltimore Orioles 8-12 .400 5 Games Behind -- The Orioles have finished their plunge to the bottom of the AL East after beginning the season 6-1. Losing two to the Yankees over the weekend gives Baltimore 11 losses in their last 13 games. Baltimore has a day off today, before welcoming the red-hot Red Sox for three starting tomorrow.
American League West -
Texas Rangers 14-7 .667 0 Games Behind -- Although having the same winning percentage as New York, the Rangers lead the Yankees by a half-game for the best mark in the AL after sweeping three from the Royals at home. Texas will remain in the friendly confines for a four-game series against Toronto, beginning tonight.
Los Angeles Angels 12-10 .545 2.5 Games Behind -- The Angels were riding high atop the AL West preparatory to a four-game home set with the (at the time) struggling Red Sox. It looked good for Los Angeles -- until they lost all four games to Boston. The Angels will try to regroup in a three-game series against Oakland, beginning tonight in Anaheim.
Oakland Athletics 11-11 .500 3.5 Games Behind -- The Athletics just finished a four-game split in Seattle wherein they lost the first two games to the Mariners before bouncing back and winning on Saturday and Sunday. Oakland now travels to visit the Angels for three games starting tonight.
Seattle Mariners 8-15 .348 7 Games Behind -- Owners of the worst record in the major leagues, the Mariners lost the last two games of four with Oakland over the weekend to split that series. Seattle now goes on the road to take on red-hot Detroit for three games, beginning on Tuesday night.
In the National League East, the Philadelphia Phillies have now claimed the best mark in the majors with a record of 15-6 after winning five in a row. Philadelphia leads the Florida Marlins by a game and-a-half, the Washington Nationals by 4.5, the Atlanta Braves by five full games and the New York Mets by six and-a-half.
In the NL Central the St.Louis Cardinals poked their beaks into first place yesterday, with a record of 12-10. The Milwaukee Brewers sit in second, a half-game back, with the Cincinnati Reds a full game behind and the Cubs 1.5 games back and in fourth place. The Pittsburgh Pirates are next, two and-a-half games behind, and the Houston Astros bring up the rear in the only six-team division in the majors, four games behind the Cardinals.
In the National League West, the Colorado Rockies are still on top at 14-7, and have a three-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The defending World Series' champion San Francisco Giants are third in the West, four games out, while the Arizona Diamondbacks trail the Rockies by 5.5 games, and the San Diego Padres find themselves last, six and-a-half games behind.
And there you have it as we proceed through the last week of April. Be sure to check back on Friday, when the next edition of the standings will be found right here.