MLB Standings: Los Angeles Angels in Trouble in AL With Surging Astros, Yankees, Blue Jays & Royals?
With the Major League Baseball trade deadline complete, it's time for teams to perform at the highest level down the stretch for a playoff run.
Unfortunately for the Los Angeles Angels, they're in the worst slump of the season right now. In their last game, the Angels stopped the bleeding against the Cleveland Indians with a 5-4 win. Still, the Angels have lost nine of their last 11 games, and six of their last seven. Is it panic time in Anaheim?
At the moment, the Angels are 56-49. The Houston Astros have taken control of the American League West with a 60-47 record. Puerto Rican shortstop Carlos Correa has been experiencing a phenomenal rookie season for the Astros this year. Correa has a .297 batting average and is the favorite to win the AL Rookie of the Year award. The Astros have won five of their last seven games.
The Angels and Astros are 5-5 against each other this year.
The Angels are presently in the first wild card spot with their 56 wins. The Baltimore Orioles have the other AL wild card spot. The New York Yankees, Astros and Kansas City Royals are the three division leaders in the AL.
Mike Trout's wrist injury certainly didn't help things. Trout is back in the starting lineup, but clearly isn't the same right now. Before their win on Monday night against the Indians, the Angels were swept by division rival Astros and interstate rival Los Angeles Dodgers. Now, it is fair to mention that in all six of those games (all losses), the Angels were playing on the road.
Dominican great Albert Pujols has 30 home runs this season. Unfortunately for him and the Angels, Pujols only has one home run in the last 12 games. In this 12-game slump, Pujols has scored just three runs with a uncharacteristic .240 batting average. Incredibly, Pujols has drawn just one walk and struck out 11 times in the last 12 games.
Outside of the division, the rest of the AL is surging at the right time.
The New York Yankees had a quiet trade deadline, but their powerful offense can easily match up against anyone in the league. Alex Rodriguez has found the fountain of youth this season, and Mark Teixeira is playing great. The Yankees have 59 wins this year, the third most in the AL. While the Angels are a mediocre 23-28 on the road this season, the Yankees are 29-28 away from the Bronx.
The Toronto Blue Jays made the biggest splash last week trading for Troy Tulowitzki and David Price. They haven't made the playoffs since 1993, when they won the World Series, but this Blue Jays team is going all in on this year. Acquiring a quality hitter and top notch pitcher sends a clear message to the rest of the AL. If the season ended today, the Blue Jays wouldn't be in the playoffs, but there's still plenty of time for the Jays to fly ahead of the Astros and Orioles.
The Royals lead the AL Central by a pretty wide margin (8.5 games), so it's unlikely they will be fighting for a wild card spot with the Angels at any time this season.
The Angels will take on the Orioles in a three game series after the Indians. That's a huge series for them. Trout has to get back on track, as well as Pujols. Pitcher Hector Santiago has to bounce out of his slump as well.
Follow Damon Salvadore on Twitter @DamonSalvadore1