MLB Standings 2019: Yankees, Cubs Comfortably Ahead Of Red Sox, Cardinals Before Series With Rivals

Two of the best rivalries in baseball will be on display this upcoming weekend, and they hold a lot of importance to the teams looking up in the 2019 MLB standings. The New York Yankees (36-19) have a chance to give themselves a real comfortable lead over the Boston Red Sox (29-27), while the Chicago Cubs (31-23) can do the same over the St. Louis Cardinals (27-28).

A four-game series at Yankee Stadium was turned into a three-game set because of Thursday night’s rainout, giving Boston one fewer opportunity to cut into their 7.5-game deficit behind New York in the AL East. St. Louis is at home for three games against Chicago, who is 4.5 games ahead of the Cardinals in the NL Central.

The Yankees are a half-game ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays (35-19) for first place in the division. The Cubs are a half-game ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers (32-25) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (27-28) are tied with St. Louis.

New York swept Boston in a short two-game series in the Bronx in their only meeting of the season. The Yankees have been the league’s best team since that time, thriving amid injuries to their best players The World Series champs are playing much better than they did in early April, though they have lost two of three games in consecutive series.

J.A. Happ takes on Chris Sale Friday night in a rematch from Game 1 of last year’s ALCS.

The Cubs are another team that got out of the gate slowly only to pick things up in mid-April and take over first place. Chicago’s star hitters have helped them overcome early pitching woes, giving them the third-best record in the NL.

Chicago swept St. Louis at Wrigley Field four weeks ago. The Cardinals are 2.5 games out of the wild-card race.