For the second consecutive week the Kansas City Royals find themselves in possession of first place in the American League Central. The reigning AL East Champions keep finding ways to win series after series, and are starting to wipe away any doubts of being one hit wonders.
While Royals still hold the lead, no team was hotter this week then the Chicago White Sox who won 5 games this week, and got their record back up to .500. A team that was heralded as making the best moves of the off season, finally got a chance to show off their thunder, as David Robertson double his save total for the season this week grabbing three saves.
This week we were treated to the best pitching performance of the young season by Cleveland Indians ace Corey Kluber, a 4 homer week from Miguel Cabrera, a 14 hit week from Jason Kipnis, and a .043 whip in 14 innings for Chris Sale. All this and more to from the interesting week that was week 6.
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox have been on a tear lately, winning their last four series, and playing like the team, most predicted them to be after the off season. The Sox started off the week taking two of three from the Milwaukee Brewers. After a rocky start to the season, Chris Sale is coming back to elite form, striking out 11 over 8 innings allowing 2 earned runs in his only appearance of the week.
The Sox would continue their dominance against the Oakland Athletics. Avisail Garcia was on fire the whole week with 11 hits, 2 HR, and 7 RBI. Four out of the 5 Sox starters would earn wins this weekly with the one exception being rookie elite prospect Carlos Rodon who was roughed up for 5 runs over 4 innings with a 5 K and 6 BB.
Sox phenom Jose Abreu also had a great week, 8 hits and 3 RBI which helped push the Sox to the best record for the week.
Record: 5-2
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers had the second best record of the week, taking series against both the Minnesota Twins and St. Louis Cardinals. The Tigers went crazy with the bats this week. 7 Tigers hitters had 8 or more hits, highlighted by Ian Kinsler had 10 hits and 3 RBI, and Miggy who had 9 hits including 4 HR and 9 RBI.
Anibal Sanchez had the only bright performance on what was a pretty pedestrian week for Tigers pitching. He pitched 8 innings of 1 run baseball, while striking out 9 in his only outing of the week. Joakim Soria was 1 for 1 in save opportunities.
Record: 4-2
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals had another winning week, maintaining a 1 game lead in the AL Central. They split a series against the Texas Rangers, and finished out the week winning a series against the New York Yankees.
Eric Hosmer had arguably the best week of all Royals hitters with 9 hits 2 HR and 4 RBI, but the Royals got production from the entire lineup. Alcides Escobar had 10 hits and 5 RBI, Mike Moustakas had an 8 hit week, including a 4 hit game against the Yankees, and Kendrys Morales and Lorenzo Cain had 7 and 6 RBI weeks.
Edinson Volquez had a no decision in his first outing of the week, while winning the second. He had the best starter performance of the week with the win, 8 K and 3 BB over 12 innings. While Greg Holland was only able to capitalize on 1 of 2 save chances, but ultimately ended up with the win in the other opportunity.
Record: 4-3
Minnesota Twins
The Twins played .500 ball this week losing a series to the Tigers before taking a series at home against the Tampa Bay Rays. After being my award for AL Central player of the week Torii Hunter, Hunter fell back down to earth with only 4 hits and 2 RBI this week. He was picked up by Brian Dozier who had 8 hits 2 HR and 3 RBI, and Joe Mauer who also had 8 hits and 4 RBI.
Phil Hughes had a nice start going 7 innings with 3 K 1 BB and 2 ER, while Ricky Nolasco earned a win, with 7 K and no earned runs in a five inning start. Glen Perkins was perfect for the week going 2 for 2 on save opportunities.
Record: 3-3
Cleveland Indians
While the Indians only finished the week with a .500 record, they certainly put forth the most memorable performance of the week. The Indians would lose the series to the St. Louis Cardinals, but all anyone will remember is the game two performance of Corey Kluber. Kluber struck out 18 in 8 innings of 1 hit ball, posting the best pitching performance of the young Major League season. After starting the season 0-5 this was the kind of performance that made Kluber the CY Young winner the previous season.
Jason Kipnis went a ridiculous 14 for 27 .519/.618/.778 slash line, earning top honors of all hitters in the AL Central this week. The Texas Rangers had no answer for Kipnis who went 8 for 14 with 1 HR 2 RBI and 6 R in the 3 game series, as the Indians took 2 of 3. Cody Allen was a perfect 2 for 2 in save opportunities, collecting one save in each series.
Record: 3-3
Position Players of the Week: Jason Kipnis
Pitchers of the Week: Corey Kluber
POWER RANKINGS/ SEASON STANDINGS
1. Kansas City Royals 24-14
2. Detroit Tigers 23-15
3. Minnesota Twins 21-17
4. Chicago White Sox 17-17
5. Cleveland Indians 14-22
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