1. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers held on with Manny Ramirez out of the lineup. Now that he’s returned from his suspension, the Dodgers will be difficult to stop.

2. Boston Red Sox
Although they’ve cooled off as late, the Red Sox are the one team no one in the American League wants to see in the playoffs. With their pitching improving, they’ll be a tough out in the postseason.

3. New York Yankees
All that money is starting to figure out how to win. Since Alex Rodriguez returned, the Yankees have been elite.

4. Los Angeles Angels
The Angels are trying to get past their emotional start to the season. As the campaign goes along, expect L.A. to grow their lead in the AL West.

5. San Francisco Giants
The Giants are the surprise team in baseball. They have great pitching — lead by Tim Lincecum. If they get enough hits, they’ll be in the race for the duration.

Post from: Knuckle Curve

2. Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are desperate to turn around their dying franchise. Mark Teixeira is a hometown kid who grew up as an Orioles fan. Even if Baltimore has to overpay him, it’d be worth it to the organization in terms of making their fans excited again.

3. Washington Nationals
Like the Orioles, Teixeira is a kid from the neighborhood. Also like the Orioles, Teixeira would give validity to their ballclub. The Nationals would have to pay a whole lot of money to woo him to Washington, but they may just be desperate enough.

4. Los Angeles Angels
Even though the Los Angeles Angels appear to be a long shot at the moment, they have deep enough pockets to get Teixeira to consider re-signing. He knows the team and by all accounts enjoyed his time as part of the Angels, so there’s definitely a chance.

5. New York Yankees
If the Red Sox are interested in a player, you know the New York Yankees will also become interested in that player. Though the Yankees have been concentrating on pitching, Teixeira would make New York an unbelievably potent offensive team.

Post from: Knuckle Curve

4) Roy Halladay, Toronto Blue Jays
Another year, another Roy Halladay great season. Perhaps the most underrated pitcher in the entire major leagues, Halladay currently has a 2.81 ERA and a 19-11 record. It took the Blue Jays a while it kick it into gear this season but Halladay has been behind their late season resurgence.

3) Daisuke Matsuzaka, Boston Red Sox
After signing that enormous contract last season, Daisuke Matsuzaka got off to a relatively slow start to his big league career in the United States. However this season, Matsuzaka has been everything the Red Sox wished he’d become. He has an amazing 18-2 record to go with a sparkling 2.80 ERA. If this were any other year, he’d be a great candidate to take home the Cy Young Award.

2) Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians
Seemingly out of nowhere Cliff Lee has put up ridiculous stats this season. He leads the American League in wins and ERA at 22 and 2.41, respectively. He only has two losses and has been a consistent force for the Indians all season long. Considering that the Indians underperformed for much of the year, Lee’s strong season is even that much more spectacular.

1) Francisco Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels
The only thing standing between Cliff Lee and the Cy Young Award is Francisco Rodriguez. The Angels closer has had one of the best seasons of all-time for a reliever as he’s amassed a major league record number of saves. To date, Rodriguez has 61 saves and an ERA of 2.31. It’s difficult for relievers to win the Cy Young, but Rodriguez’s season is noteworthy enough that he has a very good shot at taking home the trophy.

Francisco Rodriguez has pitched his name into the record books and Cy Young consideration.

Photo: Newscom

Post from: Knuckle Curve

The Rangers began the season with Ben Broussard at first base but he was waived after an unproductive start to the season. Since Blalock has been on the DL, Ramon Vazquez has hit well for Texas. Vazquez is hitting .333 with two homers and seven RBIs.

Blalock was having a good 2008 campaign before his injury. He’s hitting .299 on the season with three homeruns and seven RBIs.

The idea for the move came from Blalock himself. According to reports, he has watched the Rangers play without him and personally decided that the team would be helped most if he played first base. Coaches for the Rangers agreed and gave Blalock the green light to start working on his first baseman skills.

The Rangers currently sit in third place in the AL West with a record of 22-23. The Los Angeles Angels lead the division with a 26-20 record.

Photo: Newscom

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Boston Red Sox
The reigning champs haven’t shown too many weaknesses so far this season. David Ortiz got off to a slow start but he’s playing well again. The pitching can only get better and the bats can only get hotter. You have to think the New York Yankees will make a run but the Red Sox could be too far ahead by the time they get healthy.

Los Angeles Angels
The Angels have a devastating lineup that never seems to end. They certainly have the potential to be the best hitting team in all of the major leagues. Their pitching needs step up but there’s enough talent on that staff to figure things out. The Oakland Athletics and the Seattle Mariners will keep the heat on in the AL West.

Chicago Cubs
Even though Alfonso Soriano has missed a chunk of the season to date, the Cubs have been able to get off to a hot start. Derrek Lee is smashing the ball again and Geovany Soto is as hot as any catcher in baseball. If the pitchers can become consistent, the Cubs have a chance to – eh nevermind, they’re still the Cubs.

Geovany Soto, Cubs catcher

Photo: Newscom

Post from: Knuckle Curve