The Indians, even after their woes in the last two games against Boston, are the only division-leader with a sizable advantage as we head into the last weekend of May. The Tribe's six-game lead over the Tigers is 3.5 games better than the Cardinals' 2.5 lead over the Brewers.
Here is your Friday look at the standings and the American League schedules for the weekend.
American League Central -
Cleveland Indians 30-17 .638 0 Games Behind -- Up Next: @Tampa Bay Friday-Sunday
Detroit Tigers 25-24 .510 6 Games Behind -- Up Next: vs. Boston Friday-Sunday
Chicago White Sox 24-28 8.5 Games Behind -- Up Next: @ Toronto Friday-Sunday
Kansas City Royals 22-27 .449 9 Games Behind -- Up Next: @ Texas Friday-Sunday
Minnesota Twins 16-32 .333 14.5 Games Behind -- Up Next: vs. Angels Friday-Sunday
American League East -
New York Yankees 27-21 .562 0 Games Behind -- Up Next: @ Seattle Friday-Sunday
Boston Red Sox 28-22 .560 0 Games Behind -- Up Next: @ Detroit Friday-Sunday
Tampa Bay Rays 26-23 .531 1.5 Games Behind -- Up Next: vs. Cleveland Friday-Sunday
Baltimore Orioles 24-24 .500 3 Games Behind -- Up Next: @ Oakland Friday-Sunday
Toronto Blue Jays 24-26 .480 4 Games Behind -- Up Next: vs White Sox Friday-Sunday
American League West -
Texas Rangers 26-24 .520 0 Games Behind -- Up Next: vs. Kansas City Friday-Sunday
Los Angeles Angels 26-26 ,500 1 Game Behind -- Up Next: @ Minnesota Friday-Sunday
Seattle Mariners 24-25 .490 1.5 Games Behind -- Up Next: vs. Yankees Friday-Sunday
Oakland Athletics 24-27 .471 2.5 Games Behind -- Up Next: vs. Baltimore Friday-Sunday
The National League features the St.Louis Cardinals in the Central with a one-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cincinnati Reds have slipped to four games behind.
The NL East sees the Philadelphia Phillies on top by only a game over the Florida Marlins, with the Atlanta Braves in third place, 3.5 games back.
And the National League West has the San Francisco Giants a game and a half clear of the Arizona Diamondbacks, with the Colorado Rockies having slipped to third place and under .500 after their fast start.
And there is your somewhat abbreviated look at the standings. I have streamlined it a bit to make it less "wordy", but I would appreciate any input from you, the reader, into how you would like to see things written-up in the future. This column can always be a work in progress, and your contributions would be welcomed and implemented if they were good suggestions for what I am trying to do here.