The Cardinals continue to fall with Albert Pujols out, while the Braves move into the top 10.
Just as a reminder: some of the things that go into these rankings include runs scored and allowed, run distributions, wOBA, wRC, FIP, xFIP, DRS, UZR, etc., Base Runs, BABIP and HR/FB% adjustments, and our guts.
Rank | Team | Wins | Losses | Comments |
1 | Red Sox | 44 | 32 | Despite a repeat of 2010's 3.90 ERA, Jonathan Papelbon has turned things around after a couple years of decline - his K/BB ratio up to 6.7 this season. |
2 | Yankees | 44 | 31 | A third straight season with a declining strike-out rate, but CC Sabathia just keeps chugging along with fewer walks and more groundballs. |
3 | Phillies | 48 | 30 | Guess it's Shane Victorino's turn to take the role as the team's top position player, as his 3.8 fWAR is twice that of any other Phillie. |
4 | Brewers | 43 | 35 | The Brewers have started opening up a real lead in the NL Central, in part because they're the only team in the division with a winning interleague play record. |
5 | Rangers | 41 | 37 | Adrian Beltre's BABIP went from high in 2010 (.331) to low in 2011 (.248), but he's still got the great glove (+8 UZR) and the pop (14 home runs) to keep his value up. |
6 | Cardinals | 41 | 37 | Jamie Garcia has done a nice job building on a solid rookie reason, improving in virtually every facet of his game. He's the one currently leading that rotation. |
7 | Reds | 40 | 38 | Since 2006, the major league leaders in wins are Roy Halladay, CC Sabathia, Justing Verlander, Dan Haren, Josh Beckett, and ... Bronson Arroyo. Nice company. |
8 | Braves | 44 | 34 | Jonny Venters is the only pitcher in the majors with at least 40 IP who hasn't given up a home run. Makes sense given, his absurd 80.2% groundball rate. |
9 | Tigers | 41 | 36 | Alex Avila (.303/.373/.545, 2.7 fWAR) is likely deserving of being the AL's starting catcher for the All-Star game, even given the assist of a .365 BABIP. |
10 | Rockies | 38 | 38 | Carlos Gonzalez's power and BABIP have fallen off this year, not terribly unexpectedly (the latter, at least), but he has upped his walk rate to an above average 9%. |
11 | Diamondbacks | 43 | 35 | Chris Young has done a nice job cutting his strike-out rate in recent years, from 31% to 25% to 21% this season, while still managing to up his ISO. |
12 | Rays | 43 | 34 | James Shields' three consecutive complete games has moved him passed the usual suspects (Doc has 5) into the major league lead in the category. |
13 | Blue Jays | 38 | 39 | Four Jays have recorded a save this year. Three of them (Frank Fransisco, Jon Rauch, Octavio Dotel) have the team's three worst ERAs and FIPs out of the pen. |
14 | Indians | 40 | 35 | Former top prospect turned mild disappointment Carlos Carrasco has done a nice job for Cleveland this year (3.62 ERA, 3.31 FIP, 3.70 xFIP). |
15 | White Sox | 38 | 40 | Remember when it seemed like Paul Konerko was on the decline? He hit 39 home runs last year, ans on pace to approach or even pass that this year. |
16 | Mets | 38 | 39 | A healthy Chris Capuano has been a fine shot n the arm for a Mets' rotation that's needed quality arms. His 3.83 FIP and 3.72 xFIP would be career bests. |
17 | Angels | 39 | 39 | Bobby Abreu is still walking a ton (15.5%) and stealing bases (12 for 15), but where's the power? Only 3 home runs, as he's now hitting the ball on the ground over 50% of the time. |
18 | Giants | 43 | 34 | Tim Lincecum's velocity (~92.7 mph) is back up the the best level it's been at since 2008 (though it looks more like the end of '08 than the beginning). |
19 | Nationals | 39 | 38 | If Danny Espinosa (.242/.323/.466) ever starts hitting for some average, the Nationals might have one of the league's best second-baseman on their hands (if they don't already). |
20 | Dodgers | 34 | 44 | Could we actually see a 40-40 season this year? Matt Kemp (21-21) has a real chance to become the 5th member of that club - the first since Alfonso Soriano in 2006. |
21 | Athletics | 35 | 43 | Of the team's top 5 position players in fWAR, two of them (Jemile Weeks - third at 0.8, and Scott Sizemore - fifth at 0.5) have fewer than 75 plate appearances. |
22 | Marlins | 34 | 43 | No last place team in the majors is further away from moving up a spot, as Florida is 5 games behind 4th place New York. A 3-22 June will do that. |
23 | Mariners | 38 | 39 | Seattle is just a game and a half out of first place, which is pretty neat for a team whose offense (79 wRC+) would be beaten out by a line-up of Clint Barmeses (80 wRC+). |
24 | Royals | 32 | 45 | The Royals have fallen into a tie for last place in the AL Central, but at least the offense is still around average (.264/.330/.393) despite having hit only 56 home runs. |
25 | Pirates | 39 | 37 | As of the last update, Andrew McCutchen (.285/.388/.463, 4 fWAR) was not in the top 15 amongst NL outfielders. That is a real travesty, though I imagine he'll still get selected. |
26 | Orioles | 34 | 40 | Rookie Zach Britton (3.19 ERA, 3.76 FIP, 3.77 xFIP) has been the team's best starter, but the O's are going to have to be careful with his innings sooner or later. |
27 | Cubs | 31 | 45 | Alfonso Soriano might actually get to 25 home runs this year, for the first time since 2008. Only three years and $54 M left on his contract, Cubs fans (after 2011, of course)! |
28 | Padres | 33 | 45 | Tim Stauffer leads the team in pitching fWAR. Number two is reliever Mike Adams. Number three is reliever Cory Luebke. Reliever Chad Quals is tied for the team lead in wins (4). |
29 | Astros | 28 | 50 | Carlos Lee is hitting just .268/.313/.407, but a positive UZR has him at 1.0 fWAR. I'm sure that will last. Only one more year (at $18.5 M) left, Astros fans! |
30 | Twins | 32 | 43 | Danny Valncia is slugging .359 on the season. He's second on the Twins in home runs, with 8. Sure there's a .233 BABIP exerting influence there, but still. |