Around the AL Central (7/8): Breathing Room at the Top

The Standings:

• Minnesota 47-38
• Cleveland 40-40 (4.5 GB, 3.0 GB of 2nd Wild Card)
• Chicago 39-42 (6.0 GB)
• Detroit 35-47 (10.5 GB)
• Kansas City 30-51 (15.0 GB)

After jumping a few games over .500, the Guardians have come cratering back to treading water. Similarly, the White Sox can’t quite get over their bugaboo of surpassing and maintaining the .500 mark. Detroit has gone on a nice little run, their 7-3 record over the last 10, including a four-game sweep over Cleveland and a Thursday win over the White Sox.

The Stories:
Although the Twins couldn’t do much against the Guardians and wound up playing eight games with no change in standings, they handled the White Sox in two of three games. A crazy game with five blown leads continues to highlight the problems for Minnesota’s bullpen and kept them from a sweep. Jorge Polanco enjoyed a birthday dinger, then followed it up the following day. There was also the fun father-son moment with a fan grabbing Byron Buxton’s walkoff homer against the Baltimore Orioles.

Chicago got a boost to their lineup in the form of Eloy Jimenez returning from the injured list. He played a pivotal role in Chicago’s win against Minnesota when he launched his 2nd dinger of the season on Wednesday. Although Tony La Russa’s club was excited to get Jimenez back, they did lose Jake Burger to a bone bruise, and Vince Velasquez was placed on the injured list with a blister.

Cleveland seemed to be riding high after holding serve against the Twins but then were swept in four games over three days by the Tigers. With so few games played in relation to their competition, a string of doubleheaders will make things difficult for the Guardians down the stretch. In the last week alone Terry Francona’s club had to play three separate twin bill’s. Star prospect George Valera is set to represent Cleveland in the Futures Game in Los Angeles. 

Although Javier Baez has been a massive flop in Detroit thus far, he did provide a solo shot to help sink Chicago on Thursday night. Beau Brieske was great allowing just two hits over 6 1/3 innings. Veteran pitcher Wily Peralta suffered a hamstring strain and A.J. Hinch doesn’t see him coming back until August. Outfielder Austin Meadows should be back sooner as he finished his first rehab game working his way into action from an Achilles injury. Starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez continues to remain on the restricted list while the Tigers have had no contact with him. He went on the list for “personal matters” on June 13 and hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since May. After giving him a five-year contract this offseason, things couldn’t be going more poorly.

Andrew Benintendi has been a bright spot for the Royals and is almost certain to be a veteran name drawing trade interest later this month. Star rookie Bobby Witt Jr. was hit by a pitch on the hand this week and has been held out of action but looks like he’ll avoid a trip to the injured list. Kansas City has not been good this year, and already down clubhouse leader Salvador Perez, they need an infusion of as much talent as they have available to them.

The Week Ahead:
The Twins matched up with the Rangers this offseason when they sent Mitch Garver to Texas for Isiah Kiner-Falefa. They’ll now see their former Silver Slugger for the first time with a three-game series on tap over the weekend. Milwaukee then comes to town before the White Sox invade Target Field a final time prior to the All-Star break.

It’s a divisional week for the White Sox as they continue a series with Detroit at home before a trip to Cleveland. Chicago has four games in three days with the Guardians and then ends the first half in Minnesota.

Cleveland begins a series with the Royals on Saturday and then has another doubleheader looming Tuesday. They finish their first half against the Tigers to close out a stretch of 11 games in 10 days.

Finishing the first half entirely on the road, Detroit wraps up with Chicago before a doubleheader in Kansas City and a weekend series with Cleveland.

After the AL Central opponents leave Kauffman, the Royals head north of the border to face the Blue Jays for a four-game set wrapping up their first half.

What are you looking forward to this week? What are the storylines to watch over the final week in the first half?