MLB Regular Season: the lowdown and most anticipated games in June

MLB Regular Season: the lowdown and most anticipated games in June

The MLB, or Major League of Baseball, is the most important baseball league in the world. Even if this sport is not as popular as it was some decades ago, it is still widely followed in the US. Part of its success is due to the fact that it is played during the summer, while American football, basketball and ice hockey are on a hiatus. The MLB is divided into two great conferences, as it is often the case in American sports: American League and National League. They go, for short, as AL and NL. These are split in ulterior divisions, based on franchises’ provenience: East, Central or West.

In this focus we are going to present the most anticipated games in the month of June, giving some perspective on the league and what to expect now that the season enters its central phases.

What’s happening in the AL

Let’s start with the American League. In the East division we have the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the top two positions. Their never ending rivalry is ignited once more this year. In order to reach the playoffs with the best possible ranking, these two teams must secure their division. Games within the same division are always crucial. In June, these matches begin to define divisional hierarchies and have a significant impact on the playoff race. Games such as Yankees vs Red Sox have a very important specific weight for the top of the standings. 

Given the importance and historical rivalry between these teams, making predictions on the outcomes of the match-ups is not easy. Those who would like to bet and experience baseball with extra excitement can go to Oddschecker to see more picks and parlays from sports betting experts. On the platform it is possible to stay updated on news, statistics, results and everything MLB.

In the Central division, the Detroit Tigers are making a statement at the moment. They were the first team to reach 30 wins, they have the best run differential in baseball and are scoring like crazy. Fans can’t ask for much more. Javier Báez has been the most surprising player in the team, obviously, but as long as Spencer Torkelson can play like that, baseball enthusiasts in Michigan can sleep between two pillows.

In the West, where everyone was expecting a two-headed challenge between the Houston Astros and the Arlington-based Texas Rangers, the Seattle Mariners are instead leading the pack. They have only a couple of wins more than the two Texan powerhouses, but the standings are showing a determined Mariners team. Should they keep this position whenever George Kirby re-enters the rotation after his injury (it’s only a matter of days, as it seems), a lot of people would be happy in the Pacific North-West. In June, the Astros and Rangers will both play against Seattle. Those series will tell us a lot about contenders and pretenders in the AL West.

The NL is ridiculously stacked

Obviously, nobody can deny the charm of a classic like Yankees vs Red Sox and that series will be an absolute must watch in June, but what about the NL? The conference is stacked with talent. In the East, the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets are at each other’s throats and everything points to a very close battle, in the next weeks, between these two teams. The Phillies aren’t suffering a lot because of the 80-games suspension for José Alvarado and are still in full swing, but the Mets could gain the edge during the summer, given the talent of their roster.

In the Central division, the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals are fighting for the crown. Their series will start on the 24th and, should they get there in the same positions they are now, we will get a terrific series.
Now, what to say about the West? We are sorry for the Colorado Rockies, but they are playing in the best division in the MLB and their opponents are simply too much for them. The LA Dodgers are the favourite to win it all in October and are the top-ranked team in the nation (as they have always been this season); the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres are showing that California is a pretty nice place to play base while the Arizona Diamondbacks are just a couple of wins behind. All these teams are top-13 in the Power Rankings, so it goes without saying that every match-up in the NL West is quite anticipated, at this point of the season.

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