Last weekend wasn’t fun for the Yankees or Red Sox fans. Neither fan base can really brag about how their team played during the weekend. The Rays fans can brag about having the best record in MLB. The Blue Jays fans are getting excited about their team and that is without a certain player returning. Let’s check out what happened over the weekend for the MLB AL East and what is coming up for them.
TAMPA BAY RAYS
To no surprise, the Rays swept the Orioles. They struck out 25 times during the series. Randy Arozarena went 2-8 with a day-off on Saturday and Diego Castillo got his 11th save. The Rays are currently on a 21-5 stretch and they are making sure they stay on top. Their 42-24 record is the best in baseball. The second-best team? The White Sox. They are the next team the Rays face this week. A three-game set will determine who leaves the series with the best record. It should be fun to watch. The Rays end the road trip facing the Mariners.
Randy Arozarena hit a grand slam today as the Rays are now on a 21-5 stretch! Tampa Bay’s 42 wins is two more than any other MLB team and their 42-24 record is the best in baseball pic.twitter.com/2mQjsgUgrH — Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 13, 2021
Chris Archer has started throwing off the mound over the weekend and will continue to build up for the next two weeks. Fortunately for the Rays, they can take their time in making sure Archer is 100 percent ready.
BOSTON RED SOX
The Red Sox started the weekend off with a walk-off in the 9th inning against the Blue Jays. They lost the next two with Sunday’s game being a blowout. Martin Perez only lasted 1.1 innings giving up five runs and three home runs. Ryan Weber gave up 11 runs and four home runs in 5.2 innings pitched. It got to the point that Marwin Gonzalez and Christian Arroyo had to pitch in the game. The eight home runs given up were the most ever by a visitor at Fenway Park. J.D. Martinez went 3-11 with a walk during the weekend.
J.D. Martinez – Boston Red Sox (13) pic.twitter.com/x03lzZEgbA — MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) June 11, 2021
This week, the Sox finish up the four-game series against the Jays. Nathan Eovaldi will be on the mound to try to help the team split the series and get back on track. They then head to Atlanta to face the Braves for two games and then face a former teammate, Andrew Benintendi, and the Royals.
NEW YORK YANKEES
The Yankees. Oh, the Yankees. Yogi Berra said “It ain’t over ’til it’s over” right? So all Yankee fans can do is trust the team will turn it around. As soon as their hitting starting clicking a bit, the pitching wasn’t helping. They were swept by the Phillies over the weekend.
The first game was a pretty exciting one until the end. Jameson Taillon lasted only 0.1 innings and gave up four runs. Nestor Cortes took over the next 3.2 innings and gave up a run. Luis Cessa gave up three runs in one inning pitched. After being down by three, the offense tied the game in the 9th thanks to a 3-run home run by DJ LeMahieu. Gary Sanchez and Rougned Odor also hit home runs to help the offense. Aroldis Chapman gave up the winning run with only one out recorded. Sunday was no better as Domingo German gave up seven runs in 4.1 innings. The offense couldn’t score against Aaron Nola and the bullpen.
Chapman gave up another walk-off, this time to the Phillies… pic.twitter.com/qmuuwH86aN — Michael Schwab (@michaelschwab13) June 13, 2021
The Yankees are officially in fourth place in the standings and only one game over .500. They have a chance to take third place back in Buffalo against the Blue Jays after a day off on Monday. Then head to the Bronx to face the A’s.
Zack Britton returned to the team over the weekend. He pitched one inning in game one against the Phillies and looked good. Luke Voit started his rehab assignment with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday and is expected to be there for a week. Luis Severino had to leave his Saturday start with an injury not arm-related. Lastly, Darren O’Day has started throwing on flat ground at Yankee Stadium. Aaron Judge didn’t play on Sunday due to back spasms.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
After winning two games against the Red Sox so far, the Jays are in third place in the standings. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 7-11 with 3 walks in the series so far. He is the MLB leader in home runs (21), RBI (55), OBP (.450), SLG (.688), and OPS (1.137). Definitely an All-Star and MVP candidate so far.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leads the AL in BA (.344), HR (21) and RBI (55). He’s the first player, age-22 or younger, to lead his league in all 3 triple crown categories 60+ games into a season since Hall of Famer Al Kaline in 1955 h/t @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/tL0UZSllpS — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 14, 2021
They face the Yankees at home after finishing the 4-game series against the Red Sox on Monday. After a quick home trip, they head to Baltimore to try to fight through the top of the standings. Although there hasn’t been a decision on a rehab assignment, George Springer continues to work on returning to the team. The Jays are making a good case for a postseason spot and I will keep an eye on them when Springer returns.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
The Orioles got sweep by the Rays over the weekend. Cedric Mullins went 2-8 during the series. Trey Mancini hit his 12th home run of the season Friday night. Austin Wynns hit his first home run of the season on Saturday night. The O’s head to Cleveland to face the Indians for four games and then back home to face the Blue Jays.
Trey Mancini with HR No. 1️⃣2️⃣ on the season 👏👏 (via @Orioles) pic.twitter.com/yHE0yFpsNH — FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 12, 2021
LET’S SPIN IT
The Yankees have a lot of work to do and need to start doing it a couple of weeks ago. The pitching and hitting really need to click together. The Red Sox have to get back on track after Sunday’s blowout. The Rays continue to be a hot team while the Orioles continue to try to be spoilers. The trade deadline is approaching faster than we think. I would keep an eye on what the Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Yankees do.
Be sure to follow me on Twitter to be updated on what is going on in the MLB AL East.
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