3 teams that can take advantage of a weak May schedule
Saying the MLB season is long is an understatement. Six months, 162 regular-season games, and then another month-plus in the postseason for a handful of teams can stretch the calendar. But you can only get away with the "it's still early" excuse for so long - the San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays were so bad in April that it will take superhuman efforts to rebound.
With two weeks left in May, several teams have the opportunity to either cement their status among the elite or to rebound after a stumble, thanks to relatively easy schedules until June. Here are three such clubs.
Nationals
SCHEDULE
| DATE | HOME | AWAY | # OF GAMES |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 17-18 | Pirates | Nationals | 2 |
| May 19-21 | Braves | Nationals | 3 |
| May 23-25 | Nationals | Mariners | 3 |
| May 26-28 | Nationals | Padres | 3 |
| May 29-31 | Giants | Nationals | 3 |
The Washington Nationals are 25-13 and have the best record in the National League. No team in baseball has scored as many runs, and that doesn't figure to change anytime soon. Their remaining opponents in May have a combined 81-116 record, and don't look prepared to put up much of a fight.
The Pirates, Padres, and Giants each find themselves among the bottom four offenses in terms of runs scored, which could help ease pressure on Washington's less-than-stellar bullpen - the team's one glaring weakness. It already seems like the Nationals have the NL East in their back pocket, and they have a chance to put it on ice by June 1.
Red Sox
SCHEDULE
| DATE | HOME | AWAY | # OF GAMES |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 17 | Cardinals | Red Sox | 1 |
| May 18-21 | Athletics | Red Sox | 4 |
| May 23-25 | Red Sox | Rangers | 3 |
| May 26-28 | Red Sox | Mariners | 3 |
| May 29-31 | White Sox | Red Sox | 3 |
The Boston Red Sox face a slightly different task. After dispatching the Cardinals on Tuesday in Game 1 of an abbreviated two-game series, the stage may be set for a surge up the ranks. Currently sitting third in the AL East, four games behind the division-leading New York Yankees, the Red Sox can be seen as a slight disappointment despite a winning record.
Fortunately, they get to play the dregs of the AL West and the rebuilding White Sox to round out May. After the next 14 games, the AL East landscape may look a bit different. The series against the Rangers may be the one hitch in the plan. Texas is 7-3 over its last 10, and could be shaking off the rust from the early going.
Angels
SCHEDULE
| DATE | HOME | AWAY | # OF GAMES |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 17 | Angels | White Sox | 1 |
| May 19-21 | Mets | Angels | 3 |
| May 23-25 | Rays | Angels | 4 |
| May 26-28 | Marlins | Angels | 3 |
| May 29-31 | Angels | Braves | 3 |
Unlike the Red Sox and Nationals, the Los Angeles Angels came into 2017 with decidedly low expectations. Other than baseball god Mike Trout, this is a team that had - and still has - a ton of question marks. The rotation is questionable, the lineup is thin, and the team's prospect capital is seemingly nil.
And yet, here they sit at 21-21 in second place in the AL West. Yes, the Angels are already eight games back of the Houston Astros, but taking advantage of a home-heavy schedule to close the month against less-than-intimidating foes like the Mets and Rays could propel them into the wild-card race.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)