Some major changes in the rankings since the last installment.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (80 pts)
Record: 31-23, on pace for 93-69 (23 pts)
Pythagorean: 101-61 (28 pts)
Minors: 2nd (29 pts)
Last Week: 5th, 69 pts
Battling injuries, but still climbing in the standings. Plus, Gagne is back.
2. Detroit Tigers (79 pts)
Record: 36-18, on pace for 108-54 (30 pts)
Pythagorean: 103-59 (30 pts)
Minors: 12th (19 pts)
Last Week: 3rd, 73 pts
Slightly playing over their heads, but young pitching is carrying them.
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (76 pts)
Record: 31-22, on pace for 95-67 (24 pts)
Pythagorean: 99-63 (26 pts)
Minors: 5th (26 pts)
Last Week: 2nd, 74 pts
New front office has pushed the team in the right direction. Look for a new, younger outfield by the end of the year.
4. Chicago White Sox (71 pts)
Record: 33-20, on pace for 101-61 (28 pts)
Pythagorean: 98-64 (25 pts)
Minors: 13th (18 pts)
Last Week: 1st, 77 pts
Must feel weird looking up at the Tigers.
5. New York Yankees (70 pts)
Record: 31-21, on pace for 97-65 (25 pts)
Pythagorean: 102-60 (29 pts)
Minors: 15th (16 pts)
Last Week: 6th, 68 pts
Pitching is struggling, but they are still scoring.
6. Boston Red Sox (68 pts)
Record: 31-20, on pace for 98-64 (26 pts)
Pythagorean: 91-71 (22 pts)
Minors: 11th (20 pts)
Last Week: 4th, 71 pts
With Crisp back, look for a push up.
7. Cleveland Indians (68 pts)
Record: 27-26, on pace for 83-79 (17 pts)
Pythagorean: 92-70 (24 pts)
Minors: 4th (27 pts)
Last Week: 11th, 55 pts
Pitching needs to match strong offense to keep contending.
8. St. Louis Cardinals (63 pts)
Record: 34-19, on pace for 104-58 (29 pts)
Pythagorean: 99-63 (27 pts)
Minors: 24th (7 pts)
Last Week: 7th, 64 pts
Injuries and a weak system are holding back the Redbirds.
9. New York Mets (56 pts)
Record: 32-20, on pace for 100-62 (27 pts)
Pythagorean: 92-70 (23 pts)
Minors: 25th (6 pts)
Last Week: 9th, 56 pts
Lastings has made Diaz and/or Nady expendable.
10. Toronto Blue Jays (53 pts)
Record: 29-23, on pace for 90-72 (18 pts)
Pythagorean: 90-72 (20 pts)
Minors: 21st (15 pts)
Last Week: 16th, 46 pts
Off-season moves working, but not enough.
11. Atlanta Braves (53 pts)
Record: 28-26, on pace for 84-78 (18 pts)
Pythagorean: 86-76 (20 pts)
Minors: 16th (15 pts)
Last Week: 14th, 48 pts
Closing games is tough for the Braves, but help could be on the way.
12. Colorado Rockies (52 pts)
Record: 27-26, on pace for 83-79 (16 pts)
Pythagorean: 75-87 (12 pts)
Minors: 7th (24 pts)
Last Week: 8th, 64 pts
Coming back to Earth, and quickly.
13. Texas Rangers (49 pts)
Record: 28-25, on pace for 86-76 (20 pts)
Pythagorean: 84-78 (18 pts)
Minors: 20th (11 pts)
Last Week: 13th, 48 pts
Top in a weak division.
14. Minnesota Twins (46 pts)
Record: 24-29, on pace for 73-89 (9 pts)
Pythagorean: 70-92 (7 pts)
Minors: 1st (30 pts)
Last Week: 19th, 39 pts
Great pitching loses to weak hitting. Minors are loaded with talent, but too many pitchers.
15. Philadelphia Phillies (42 pts)
Record: 27-26, on pace for 83-79 (14 pts)
Pythagorean: 81-81 (16 pts)
Minors: 19th (12 pts)
Last Week: 18th, 39 pts
Cole Hamels should be back next week. An outfielder could be gone too.
16. Milwaukee Brewers (42 pts)
Record: 26-28, on pace for 78-84 (12 pts)
Pythagorean: 69-93 (5 pts)
Minors: 6th (25 pts)
Last Week: 10th, 56 pts
So much potential, so little results.
17. San Francisco Giants (41 pts)
Record: 27-26, on pace for 83-79 (15 pts)
Pythagorean: 84-78 (17 pts)
Minors: 22nd (9 pts)
Last Week: 25th, 31 pts
The Barry Bonds Show isn’t selling like it used to.
18. Houston Astros (41 pts)
Record: 27-27, on pace for 81-81 (13 pts)
Pythagorean: 74-88 (11 pts)
Minors: 14th (17 pts)
Last Week: 15th, 46 pts
Will the Rocket launch a Renaissance?
19. Baltimore Orioles (41 pts)
Record: 25-29, on pace for 75-87 (10 pts)
Pythagorean: 71-91 (8 pts)
Minors: 8th (23 pts)
Last Week: 23rd, 33 pts
Corey Patterson sightings have been reported.
20. San Diego Padres (40 pts)
Record: 28-25, on pace for 86-76 (19 pts)
Pythagorean: 85-77 (19 pts)
Minors: 29th (2 pts)
Last Week: 21st, 36 pts
Pitching is getting there, bats should follow.
21. Los Angeles Angels (40 pts)
Record: 23-30, on pace for 70-92 (8 pts)
Pythagorean: 69-93 (4 pts)
Minors: 3rd (28 pts)
Last Week: 17th, 46 pts
Time to let the young guys play.
22. Cincinnati Reds (37 pts)
Record: 29-24, on pace for 89-73 (21 pts)
Pythagorean: 80-82 (15 pts)
Minors: 30th (1 pts)
Last Week: 12th, 51 pts
See Colorado.
23. Tampa Bay Devil Rays (36 pts)
Record: 22-32, on pace for 71-91 (5 pts)
Pythagorean: 71-91 (9 pts)
Minors: 9th (22 pts)
Last Week: 26th, 29 pts
Scott Kazmir is the real deal; is any other pitcher on the staff?
24. Oakland Athletics (30 pts)
Record: 25-29, on pace for 75-87 (11 pts)
Pythagorean: 80-82 (14 pts)
Minors: 26th (5 pts)
Last Week: 22nd, 35 pts
The return of Harden should help. Thomas is hitting like his old self.
25. Pittsburgh Pirates (30 pts)
Record: 20-34, on pace for 60-102 (3 pts)
Pythagorean: 77-85 (12 pts)
Minors: 17th (14 pts)
Last Week: 29th, 15 pts
Minor league system won’t help the hitting this year.
26. Florida Marlins (29 pts)
Record: 17-34, on pace for 54-108 (2 pts)
Pythagorean: 69-93 (6 pts)
Minors: 10th (21 pts)
Last Week: 20th, 39 pts
Young core should continue to improve.
27. Seattle Mariners (21 pts)
Record: 23-32, on pace for 68-94 (7 pts)
Pythagorean: 74-88 (10 pts)
Minors: 27th (4 pts)
Last Week: 27th, 22 pts
King Felix’s season mirrors the teams.
28. Chicago Cubs (19 pts)
Record: 20-32, on pace for 62-100 (4 pts)
Pythagorean: 60-102 (2 pts)
Minors: 18th (13 pts)
Last Week: 24, 32 pts
The team is almost back to full health, but could it already be too late?
29. Washington Nationals (12 pts)
Record: 22-32, on pace for 66-96 (6 pts)
Pythagorean: 63-99 (3 pts)
Minors: 28th (3 pts)
Last Week: 28th, 21 pts
With a new owner, the fire sale could start soon.
30. Kansas City Royals (10 pts)
Record: 13-38, on pace for 41-121 (1 pts)
Pythagorean: 43-119 (1 pts)
Minors: 24th (8 pts)
Last Week: 30th, 12 pts
New management better have taken more than just a person from the Braves; take the map of their system.
Real Record Playoffs
AL East – Red Sox
AL Central – Tigers
AL West – Rangers
AL Wild Card – White Sox
NL East – Mets
NL Central – Cardinals
NL West – Diamondbacks
NL Wild Card – Dodgers
Pythagorean Record Playoffs
AL East – Yankees
AL Central – Tigers
AL West – Rangers
AL Wild Card – White Sox
NL East – Mets
NL Central – Cardinals
NL West – Dodgers
NL Wild Card – Diamondbacks
