As of May 1...
The first month of the season is in the books and the Boston Red Sox have fashioned the best record in baseball. Boston has both scored the most runs in the league and allowed the fewest. Bruce Hurst leads the Red Sox staff with a 5-0 record and 2.15 ERA.
Honus Wagner has helped the Pirates jump out to an early lead in the NL East while leading the senior circuit in hitting at .405. Pittsburgh is also being steadied by their closer, Don Robinson, who has the second highest save total in the NL (6) while posting a 1.59 ERA.
The Reds have used the league's second-best bullpen to overcome the league's worst starting rotation and bottom three offense. Frank Williams, Ron Robinson and Bill Landrum have all posted ERAs below 2.00 through the first month for Cincinnati.
The AL West is possibly the league's most competitive as five teams are within 2.5 games of first. Kansas City currently leads the division bolstered by the junior circuit's second-best hitting and base running team.
The Dodgers were bit hard by the injury bug right out of the gate as they lost Clayton Kershaw with a strained forearm in his first start of the season. He's expected to be out another two months before returning to action. The Yankees Rick Rhoden is also a notable injury casualty as he tore his labrum in his first start and will miss the season.
One of the key matchups this week will see Pedro Martinez (3-2, 2.41) of the Expos take on Tom Seaver (2-3, 2.97) at Shea Stadium on Tuesday. We'll also see the Astros' Nolan Ryan (3-1, 2.82) take on the Braves' John Smoltz (2-2, 2.41) on Wednesday from Atlanta. Finally, Friday will see the Angels' Nolan Ryan (2-1, 1.37) square off with the Brewers' Chris Bosio (1-2, 1.85) in a match-up of the first team to score twice probably wins.