1. RED SOX: Lost in Bloody Sock-gate is Josh Beckett's tremendous April (5-0, 2.48 ERA, 28 strikeouts in five starts). Last week (2)

2. METS: Team ERA is 2.88; team batting average is .295. This team has it all. (1)

3. BREWERS: Is Francisco Cordero (10 saves, no runs allowed) the best closer in the NL now? (6)

4. BRAVES: John Smoltz's contract extension is nice, but Tim Hudson is the reason they're back in contention. (5)

5. GIANTS: Randy Winn, Pedro Feliz, Dave Roberts and Omar Vizquel are cold but they're winning. (26)

6. INDIANS: Cliff Lee is scheduled to come off the DL this week, and he'll bring a new weapon, a slider. (17)

7. DODGERS: The way 2B Jeff Kent has made contact (.326), expect the power numbers to pick up soon. (4)

8. TIGERS: Once again, Magglio Ordonez is off to a quiet, MVP-type season (.330, 24 RBIs). (8)

9. ANGELS: With Bartolo Colon back and healthy, the Angels should take control of the AL West soon. (19)

10. PADRES: Looks like Jake Peavy (3-0, 1.67 ERA) is enjoying the effect of having Greg Maddux as a teammate. (10)

11. TWINS: Sidney Ponson (8.44 ERA in four starts) is making Minnesota really miss Francisco Liriano. (3)

12. ATHLETICS: If they can't start hitting, they're going to need injured Rich Harden and Esteban Loaiza back soon. (12)

13. PIRATES: It might be time for Shawn Chacon to replace Tony Armas (11.57 ERA) in the rotation. (23)

14. DIAMONDBACKS: Nice to get Randy Johnson back, but the addition of Yusmeiro Petit to the rotation might be more significant. (7)

15. WHITE SOX: They need innings from Jose Contreras (19 IP in four starts), or they'll fade into obscurity in the AL Central. (14)

16. BLUE JAYS: Now C Gregg Zaun is hurt; but they still have Roy Halladay, A.J. Burnett. Is it enough? (11)

17. MARLINS: Four different pitchers have saves, none of whom is named Jorge Julio. (18)

18. CARDINALS: Who knew Braden Looper (3-1, 1.91 ERA in five starts) would be this team's April MVP? (28)

19. PHILLIES: Here they come. As long as they don't lose Ryan Howard for a long time, they'll be fine. (27)

20. ORIOLES: The $42 million bullpen is the only thing keeping them afloat, Thursday's blowup notwithstanding. (16)

21. MARINERS: Hard to score runs when the heart of your order (Richie Sexson, Raul Ibanez, Adrian Beltre, Jose Guillen) is batting a combined .220 or so. (20)

22. REDS: With Ken Griffey's diverticulitis flareup, where would they be without home runs leader Josh Hamilton? (15)

23. ASTROS: Craig Biggio needs 47 hits to reach 3,000. (13)

24. ROCKIES: Equilibrium has returned to Colorado; Todd Helton is hitting, the Rockies are losing. (24)

25. DEVIL RAYS: Without Akinori Iwamura, this once-potent lineup looks startlingly average. (Which still isn't bad for Tampa Bay.) (21)

26. RANGERS: Sammy Sosa needs five more home runs to reach 600. (22)

27. YANKEES: They shouldn't stay this low for long, but right now they're putrid. (9)

28. CUBS: Why is it news in Chicago when Lou Piniella declines postgame interviews? Happens everywhere he goes. (25)

29. NATIONALS: So far, the bright spot is Canadian RHP Shawn Hill (2-2, 2.76 ERA in five starts). (29)

30. ROYALS: They're still waiting for rookie 3B Alex Gordon (.169) to get it going. (30) 
 

FANTASY CORNER

MIKE CAMERON, Padres: The veteran OF is a notoriously slow starter, which is why it's no surprise he’s batting .190 with four RBIs. His career average in April is .240. Last year, he had no RBIs and a .185 April average before batting .252 with 16 RBIs in May.

PLACIDO POLANCO, Tigers: Don't be fooled by this one-dimensional hitter. Sure, he's batting .364.  But only five of those hits were for extras bases (one homer) and his 14 runs scored are low for someone who's on base so often. 

AL Extra Bases

The Tigers are reaping the benefits of an AL championship, averaging more than 32,000 fans at home. They're on pace to shatter last year's Comerica Park attendance record of 2.59 million. … The Yankees hadn't been in last place this late in the season since 1997. 

NL Extra Bases

San Francisco's Omar Vizquel became the 17th player since 1901 to play SS at age 40 or older when he reached the big 4-oh on Tuesday. Barry Larkin was the most recent to do it, in 2004. … In 12 starts with the Phillies since being traded by the Mariners late last year, LHP Jamie Moyer is 7-3 with a 3.80 ERA and Philadelphia has won nine of his starts. … Here's something pretty amazing: Even though Cubs RHP Mark Prior has been on the DL nine times in his career, the season-ending shoulder surgery performed this past week by James Andrews was the first time Prior went under the knife.