The Red Sox are barely holding off the Rays in the AL Wild Card race, but 7 games versus the Orioles (instead of versus the Yankees and Blue Jays, like Tampa Bay) gives them an edge above and beyond their 2 game lead.
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 | Yankees | 91 | 60 | It's no longer the 20% it was earlier in the season, but the Yankees 14.6% HR/FB ratio is easily the highest in the majors. |
2 | Phillies | 98 | 53 | Raul Ibanez's 19 home runs are second most for the team this year, but he's got just a .309 wOBA overall (and -1.2 fWAR). |
3 | Red Sox | 87 | 65 | It only took 9 games, but Tim Wakefield finally picked up career win number 200 - the 2nd oldest pitcher to ever get there. |
4 | Rangers | 88 | 65 | Ian Kinsler has a .239 BABIP, but still deserves some MVP votes given that he's 5th in the AL with 6.6 position player fWAR. |
5 | Brewers | 90 | 63 | Yovani Gallardo has been on a roll the last month, with a 13 K/9 and a 2.10 xFIP - but also 2.4 HR/9 bringing his ERA up to 3.82. |
6 | Tigers | 89 | 64 | If Jose Valverde saves every one of Detroit's remaining games, he'll tie Eric Gagne for the most saves in a season with 0 blown. |
7 | Rays | 85 | 67 | Johnny Damon's 7.4% walk rate would be the lowest he's had in a season since 1996. Same with the 1.1 fWAR. |
8 | Cardinals | 83 | 69 | Yadier Molina has doubled his usual home run production (13), while also walking less frequently than in any season of his career. |
9 | Diamondbacks | 88 | 65 | Joe Saunders has a 1.6 K/BB ratio in 199 IP this year - the lowest mark for anyone who's tossed that many innings this year. |
10 | Angels | 83 | 69 | 27 home runs have helped make Mark Trumbo the most productive hitter in the majors (107 wRC+) with a sub .300 OBP. |
11 | Braves | 87 | 66 | Atlanta is just 22nd in the majors with a .307 wOBA, and they have only 3 players with at least 200 PA that are over even .330. |
12 | Dodgers | 76 | 76 | Over the last month, Clayton Kershaw is 4-0 with a 0.77 ERA, a 1.42 FIP (best in the majors), and a 2.45 xFIP. |
13 | White Sox | 74 | 78 | Including the minors, Brent Lillibridge had 14 home runs in 1,190 PA from '08-10. He has 13 homers in just 216 PA this year. |
14 | Giants | 83 | 70 | Aubrey Huff is no longer last on the team in fWAR! That distinction now belongs to Orlando Cabrera (-0.7 in only 37 games). |
15 | Blue Jays | 77 | 75 | Brett Lawrie has played in only 41 games, but a .420 wOBA has him third on the team in position player fWAR at 2.5. |
16 | Mets | 73 | 80 | After a break-out season last year (112 wRC+, +15 UZR, 5.4 fWAR), Angel Pagan isn't doing so well in '11 (98 wRC+, -13 UZR, 0.9 fWAR). |
17 | Reds | 74 | 79 | With 44 home runs allowed already, Bronson Arroyo has a chance at the all-time record (he's given up 3+ HR in a game 6 times). |
18 | Rockies | 70 | 82 | Dexter Fowler has hit 5 home runs this year. All 5 of them have come since August 30th, including 2 in one game against Arizona. |
19 | Athletics | 69 | 84 | The A's gave Scott Sizemore playing time, and he's rewarded them with a fair amount of pop (10 home runs in 84 games, .334 wOBA). |
20 | Royals | 67 | 87 | Billy Butler is the only guy on the team with more than 4 home runs (he has 19) who hasn't stolen at least 10 bases (1). |
21 | Marlins | 69 | 84 | Anibal Sanchez's ERA and FIP are very similar to 2010, but he's dropped his xFIP closer to a full run by upping his K rate by 2 per nine. |
22 | Indians | 75 | 75 | September has been ugly (5.63 ERA, 5.18 FIP, with even a 4.11 xFIP), but Justin Masterson is still 7th in the AL in fWAR with 5.1. |
23 | Nationals | 72 | 79 | Jayson Werth's power looked a tiny bit off with a .200 ISO in April (~.234 previous 3 years). Fair chance that'll be his best month this year. |
24 | Padres | 65 | 88 | Mat Latos this month; 10.3 K/9, 1.3 BB/9 and a 2.41 xFIP. Since April when his FIP was 5.23, it's been a much more 2010-like 3.07. |
25 | Cubs | 67 | 86 | Randy Wells, coming off of back-to-back 3+ win seasons, has regressed to a 4.93 ERA, 5.04 FIP, 4.36 xFIP, and only 0.2 fWAR. |
26 | Orioles | 62 | 89 | Nick Markakis' SLG is back below .400, and it looks like he'll fail to get to 43+ doubles for the first time since 2006. |
27 | Mariners | 63 | 89 | Their .284 wOBA would be the worst for a team since the 1981 Jays (.281), but at least the M's are beating them in fWAR (6.1 to 0.5). |
28 | Astros | 52 | 100 | They've lost 100 games for the first time in franchise history, and a bad last 10 gm. could leave them with the worst run differential too. |
29 | Pirates | 68 | 85 | James McDonald is the team's only starter (min. 40 IP) striking out more than 5.8 batters per nine - he's way up at 7.5 K/9. |
30 | Twins | 59 | 92 | The Twins have never lost 100 games, and need to go 4-7 to keep it that way. They're only 1-14 in their last 15 games though. |