Welcome to DLD’s Power Rankings at the All Star Break. At this midseason point, it’s clear who the contenders are and who the pretenders are. As always, power rankings are not necessarily reflective of overall record, but who is playing the hottest and most dominant baseball. Without further ado, let’s get after it.
30. Baltimore Orioles:
If they’re not last, they’re 29th in seemingly every category. This season has somehow been even more of an unmitigated disaster for Baltimore than last season was. Offense, defense, pitching? Terrible, terrible, terrible.
29. Detroit Tigers:
Detroit possesses the second worst record in all of baseball, as do they possess the second worst run differential in all of baseball. If it weren’t for the Orioles triple-A team, Detroit would secure last place.
28. Toronto Blue Jays:
Trading away Marcus Stroman would be wise, as would trading away Ken Giles. Dealing away perhaps the only two bright spots on this roster should help expedite the rebuild north of the border.
27. Chicago White Sox:
At 42-44, the White Sox sit only seven games out of the second wild card spot. However, they’ve been the luckiest team in the league and their pythagorean record indicates they should actually be 36-50.
26. Seattle Mariners:
After getting off to a torrid 13-2 start, the Mariners have gone 26-53, third worst in the Major Leagues, just ahead of the Tigers and Orioles.
25. Miami Marlins:
Don’t look now, but since June 1st, Miami own’s the sixth best ERA in all of baseball. Unfortunately, their brilliant pitching can only get them so far, the offense still has a long way to go, but Miami is trending in the right direction.
24. Kansas City Royals:
Kansas City remains MLB’s least lucky team, with a pythagorean luck of -7, which means they have actually played seven wins greater than their actual record. Nevertheless, they’re one of MLB’s worst teams, with few assets to trade.
23. San Francisco Giants:
A last place team, with a bottom third farm system possesses two major league assets in ace, Madison Bumgarner and closer, Will Smith. These two alone may be enough to propel San Francisco’s farm system into the upper half.
22. New York Mets
The Mets can hit and some of their pitches have some nasty stuff. What can’t they do? Play defense. They rank dead last in both defensive runs saved (DRS) and defensive runs above average (Def), or as it should be known to as the Mets, defensive runs BELOW average. Lol.
21. Pittsburgh Pirates:
Despite possessing the MLB’s worst ERA (5.56) since April 22nd, the Pirates sit only 2.5 games out of first place in the National League Central. This will be the closest to first place they are from here on out.
20. Colorado Rockies:
Speaking of teams hanging around the postseason hunt despite atrocious pitching, the Rockies ironically have the worst pitching staff since April 23rd, posting up a 5.55 ERA. Nevertheless, they stand 2.5 games back of the Philadelphia Phillies for the second wild card spot.
19. Texas Rangers:
As recently as June 28th, the Texas Rangers sat 4.5 games out of first place in the American League Western Division, behind the mammoth Houston Astros. Now, they sit in third place, nine games back. Why, you may ask. Because they’ve been an average to below average team in offense, defense and pitching.
18. San Diego Padres:
After losing nearly 100 games in 2018, the San Diego Padres have come a long way in just one season. With a 45-45 record at the all star break, FanGraphs projects the Padres to finish the season at 81-81, meaning this would be their first non-losing season since 2010!
17. St. Louis Cardinals:
My preseason pick to win the National League Central currently sits two games back of the Chicago Cubs at 44-44. Their pitching has massively underperformed this season, and key offensive pieces like Paul Goldschmidt haven’t lived up to the hype thus far. With that being said, I’m still rollin with the Cards in the central.
16. Philadelphia Phillies:
After a lavish offseason, the Phillies come into the second phase of the season just four games above 500, in control of the second wild card spot. Not necessarily bad for a team who hasn’t played October baseball since 2012, but I’m sure the front office, as well as fan expected better results than this.
15. Anaheim Angels:
Despite a pitching staff that has been one of MLB’s worst in most categories this season, the offense, anchored by Mike Trout, has been something of a pleasant surprise. The emergence of all star, Tommy LaStella, as well as David Fletcher and Brian Goodwin should be a sign of encouragement to the Orange County fans.
14. Washington Nationals:
The 2019, Harper-less version of the Nationals is just an exaggerated version of the team they’ve been over the past few seasons. Outstanding starting rotation, middle-of-the pack offense, spotty bullpen and porous defense. Seems good for 14 on this list.
13. Milwaukee Brewers:
As we all expected, the Milwaukee Brewers are being carried by Christian Yelich and their well above average bullpen, led by Josh Hader. With that being said, all star starter Brandon Woodruff represents a formidable ace and Zach Davies is an above average mid rotation guy. This team can hold its own.
12. Cincinnati Reds:
Don’t let record deceive you, the Cincinnati Reds have a +27 run differential, good for 13th in all of baseball. Brilliant pitching from all stars, Sonny Gray and Luis Castillo have kept this team afloat in the central. With former all star, Alex Wood potentially making a return in August and an offense, that got off to a slow start, starting to find its way, the Reds are a dark horse postseason pick.
11. Atlanta Braves:
I’ve been saying this for a while now, once Atlanta figures out its pitching staff, it’s over for the National League East. Well, the rotation and pen are still finding their ways, keeping an otherwise, all worldly talented Braves team just outside the top ten.
10. Cleveland Indians:
Cleveland has come a long way this season, from being down double digit games in their own division, to controlling the second wild card spot. Outstanding pitching and phenomenal defense have saved this team’s season. However, I won’t take them seriously in the apocalyptic wasteland known as the American League, if they don’t add some offense at the deadline.
9. Oakland Athletics:
How do the A’s do it? Year in and year out. Trades, free agency departures, injuries? That’s no problem for the low budget geniuses up in Oakland. A team ravaged by injury is very much alive in the American League postseason hunt, and they’ve been trending in the right direction of recent.
8. Chicago Cubs:
With a +55 run differential and top ten placement in most offensive and defensive categories, it’s somewhat of a surprise the Cubs haven’t been able to get some separation in the Central. Their pitching staff is even in the upper half of the league in most categories.
7. Boston Red Sox:
After getting TOTALLY wasted in 2018, the Red Sox hobbled into 2019 hunched over, with sunglasses and a trash can at their side. That’s right, they had a BAD case of World Series Hangover. They slept it off through roughly the first month of the season, and since the end of April, the Red Sox have really turned it around, possessing MLB’s eighth best run differential (+58), despite a bullpen that leads the league in blown saves.
6. New York Yankees:
Injuries haven’t stopped this team from having the best record in the American League. Key contributions from unsung heroes like DJ LeMahieu, Gleyber Torres and Gio Urshela have propelled this team into first place in the competitive American League East. Their lights out bullpen hasn’t hurt either.
5. Arizona Diamondbacks:
Hear me out okay, Arizona the best defensive team in all of baseball. They’re number one in Def and third in all of baseball with 68 defensive runs saved. They can also slug it, placing in the top ten in all of baseball with a WAR of 14.9. The rotation isn’t too shabby either.
4. Tampa Bay Rays:
Now we’re getting down to the elites. Tampa Bay possesses the American League’s best pitching staff and it’s not even close. Charlie Morton, Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell lead a Rays starting rotation that has been unreal and incredibly efficient this season. It also helps that the Rays are one of the best defensive teams in all of baseball.
3. Houston Astros:
Despite quite a skid at the end of June, the Astros remain one of MLB’s premier teams. They possess arguably the best offense in all of baseball, Verlander and Cole are two of baseball’s most dominant pitchers, they own MLB’s best bullpen and with 65 defensive runs saved, they play stellar defense. They’re really the whole package.
2. Minnesota Twins:
What a first half for the Twins, huh? It’s almost as if an intelligent young writer for Dodgers-Lowdown told you all about this team and what a sleeper they are. Huh. Anyways, Minnesota owns a premier offense, well above average pitching staff and phenomenal defense led by center fielder Byron Buxton. They won’t go away quietly.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers:
Alas, the crown jewel of the league, the best of the best, the head honcho, the GOAT. Okay, I’ll stop. But the Dodgers are everything you could want and more. If they’re not first they’re second or third in seemingly every category, be it offense, defense or pitching. This team is firing on all cylinders and if they were to let the deadline pass with zero acquisitions, they’d still be the favorites to win it all.
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