| Lynn is 6-1 with a 3.27 ERA for the Cardinals in 2013. |
2. Texas Rangers (27-15/1st in AL West)-The Rangers have very quietly continued their dominance of the American League, even without former star players C.J. Wilson and Josh Hamilton. How? By leading the American League in home runs.
3. Baltimore Orioles (23-19/3rd in AL East)-Even though they are third in their division, I still believe that the O's are the best team in their division. Buck Showalter has shown that he is one of the best managers in baseball, and Baltimore's appearance in the playoffs last season proved that this team is no joke. Baltimore also has the fewest errors and best fielding percentage in the American League.
| In 2012, Cabrera became first player since 1967 to win Triple Crown |
5. New York Yankees (27-16/1st in AL East)-It may sound weird to call the Yankees a surprise team, but that's just what they've been this season. With enough players on their disabled list to put a whole new team on the field, the Yankees have boasted 25 wins and a spot atop the AL East. With many of these players set to return this season, things can only get better for the Yankees.
6. Pittsburgh Pirates (25-17/3rd in NL Central)-The Pirates are in a familiar spot at this point in the season. For the third year in a row, the Pirates have started the season well, but Pittsburgh fans are hoping that this year doesn't end like the two before it: with their team sitting at home in October. However, the difference this year is pitching. The Pirates have the 4th best team ERA in all of baseball. Is this the year that the Pirates make their first playoff appearance since 1992?
7. Boston Red Sox (25-17/2nd in AL East)-After an abysmal 2012 season, Boston fans are glad to see their team winning again. clay Buchholz has put up Cy Young caliber numbers so far, going 6-0 with a 1.78 ERA. The Red Sox are also getting the job done offensively, posting a +27 run differential so far this season.
| Giants have won two World Series titles in the last three seasons (2010, 2012) |
9. Cincinnati Reds (26-17/2nd in NL Central)-The Reds are looking to improve on their 97-win season from a year ago, and that is certainly a tough task, but Cincinnati remains solid on both sides of the ball this season. However, it is their pitching that is propelling them this season. Cincinnati's pitching staff has posted the 3rd highest strikeout total at 350, and a team ERA of 3.45, which is also happens to be the 7th best in baseball. The Reds remain in serious contention for a World Series title.
10. Cleveland Indians (24-17/1st in AL Central)-If I were asked to make a bold prediction about this season, it would be that the Cleveland Indians would make the playoffs. So far they are making my case for me. Cleveland ranks in the top ten in the league in almost every offensive category: hits (10th), team batting average (8th), doubles (5th), triples (5th), home runs (3rd), total bases (3rd), RBIs (5th), total runs (8th), on-base percentage (5th), slugging percentage (1st), and OPS--->{on base percentage + slugging percentage}(1st). First baseman Mark Reynolds has 12 home runs and 37 RBIs-top 5 in the American League in both categories. Pitcher Justin Masterson is in top 5 in AL in wins with six. If the Indians pitching staff can stay consistent, Cleveland could be rocking their way into the postseason.
11. Atlanta Braves (23-18/1st in NL East) Coming into the season with such high expectations for their team, I can say with confidence that Braves fans are disappointed with their team's performance after a 12-1 start. The Braves have lost 21 of 27 games since their hot start, and that can be attributed to their all-or-nothing approach to the batters box. The Braves are 5th in the league with 53 home runs (14 of which belong to league leader Justin Upton), but have countered that by striking out 380 times as a team. Only the Houston Astros strike out more often. If the Braves can learn to play small ball, they could solve a lot of their problems.
12.Arizona Diamondbacks (24-18/T-1st in NL West)-Arizona is a curious case to me in the league this year. Most of the other teams can attribute their success or failure to a few things, but as I look at the Diamondbacks this year, nothing particularly stands out. They are in the top ten in a couple of categories, but nothing that would say "That's why." I look at Arizona as a successful 'team'. They are doing all the right things to win. The D-backs also don't make mistakes. They have committed the fewest errors in baseball. Arizona is a very strong team, but as for why, I'm not certain.
13. Kansas City Royals (20-18/3rd in AL Central)-Last season, Royals fans had high hopes for their powerful offense, but they could never get their big bats hot at the same time. This year, the offensive out put is high, but it is the pitching that is telling the story in Kansas City. KC added big names to their rotation in the off season with the additions of James Shields, Wade Davis, and Ervin Santana, and those moves are paying off so far. The Royals are 3rd in earned runs allowed, 2nd in complete games and 10th in ERA.
14. Washington Nationals (23-19/2nd in NL East)-A season ago, the Washington Nationals finished with the best record in baseball at 98-64, and fans expected similar success this year. However, that is not what they are getting. The Nationals are struggling to score runs and have the second lowest team batting average in baseball (.230), ahead of only the Marlins (.223). Washington's top two pitchers, Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez, were supposed to fuel that success, but they have not pitched as expected. The two aces are a combined 5-7 with a 2.65 ERA and the Nationals are 9-9 in games started by either Strasburg or Gonzalez.
15. Colorado Rockies (22-20/3rd in NL West)- The Rockies are quite literally powering themselves into the conversation to win a competitive race for the NL West crown. Colorado leads the major leagues in home runs and is averaging nearly 5 runs per game. I guess it helps that the play all of their home games in the launching pad that is Coors Field.
| David Price expected to miss 2-3 starts with injury (triceps) |
17. Seattle Mariners (20-23/3rd in AL West)-The Mariners have not made the playoffs in twelve years, and they had hoped that ace pitcher Felix Hernandez would be the answer they needed to return to glory. However, even after that, Seattle's inability to score runs often trumped Felix's success. This season however, the Mariners are averaging 3.7 runs runs per game and are currently in third place in their division, just behind Oakland. If Seattle can keep scoring runs, they could find themselves in the postseason for the first time since 2001.
18. Minnesota Twins (18-20/4th in AL Central)-The league seems to be full of surprise teams this season, and the Twins are no exception. Minnesota was in the playoffs are few short seasons ago, and they are looking to return. This year, they are doing it with offense. The Twins are averaging 4.6 runs per game this season and former batting champion Joe Mauer is third in the American League with a .349 batting average. In past seasons, it was Minnesota's pitching that was the source of their troubles, but so far this year, the pitching has been solid.
19. Oakland Athletics (21-22/2nd in AL West)-Last season, the Oakland Athletics surprised the league by making into the playoffs. This year, no team is surprised by Bob Melvin's talented squad, but the A's are hanging with Texas regardless. It will be interesting to see if Oakland can make lightning strike twice come October.
20. Chicago White Sox (19-22/5th in AL Central)-The AL West is looking surprisingly competitive this season from top to bottom, but someone's got to be on the bottom, and that's just where the White Sox are. The White Sox are struggling to score runs this season-only the Marlins and the Dodgers have scored fewer-and not even the stellar numbers of ace pitcher Chris Sale can help them. You can't win if you can't score, and if Chicago hopes to stay relevant in the division, that's what they'll need to do.
21. Philadelphia Phillies (20-23/3rd in NL East)-Four years removed from a World Series title, the Phillies have not looked quite like the same team. Philadelphia's starting rotation is full of former All-Stars and Cy Young winners, but they have not played as such, and with Roy Halladay being shipped to the disabled list, it doesn't appear that the Phillies are getting any closer to returning to championship form.
22. Los Angeles Dodgers (17-23/5th in NL West)-Much like their American league counterpart, the Dodgers haven't been playing up to expectations this season. They are in the cellar of the NL West. However, Clayton Kershaw has been looking like a Cy Young contender, and Zack Greinke looking spectacular in his first start since his return from the disabled list. I have to believe that, with the talent this team possesses, their struggles will be short-lived.
| Rizzo signed 7-year/$41 million extension with Cubs last week |
24. San Diego Padres (18-23/4th in NL West)-The Padres have had a better than usual start to the season, but they find themselves in 4th place. They are still in the race at this point, but with the rest of the teams in the NL West looking tough, and the lack of sustainable talent in San Diego, I don't see this success lasting for the Padres.
25. New York Mets (16-24/4th in NL East)-The Mets haven't been in the playoffs since 2006, and don't appear to be any closer this year. Despite solid starts by David Wright and John Buck, and a phenomenal start for pitcher Matt Harvey, the Mets are struggling to win games and once again find themselves near the bottom of the division.
26. Milwaukee Brewers (16-24/5th in NL Central)-The Brewers have been a very confusing team this season. The struggled to start the season, going 2-8, but then won 9 in a row, then began to struggle again. However, it was not hard to figure out why they have been struggling. They have committed 28 errors, they are 27th in the league in team ERA (4.55), and has a run differential of -30.
27. Toronto Blue Jays (17-26/5th in AL East)-The Blue Jays have not been what they were expected to be. Personally, I am not surprised at all. The nucleus of this new Toronto team is the exact same group that struggled in Miami a year ago. Also, Toronto should've examined both R.A Dickey and Mark Buehrle a little closer before signing them. Dickey's success depends on the success of his knuckleball, which relies on the wind to be effective. Toronto plays in a dome, so when the roof is closed, there is no wind and Dickey struggles. As for Buehrle, he now plays in the same division as the Yankees, and Buehrle career numbers against the Yankees are terrible, with an ERA of 6.17 and an opponent batting average of .308 against the Yankees in the last three years alone. However, it seems as though Toronto's offense is starting to heat up, so they may not be in last place for long.
| The Angels, who many expected to reach World Series scuffle to 16-27 start |
29. Houston Astros (11-31/5th in NL Central)-Houston seems to be in over its head in the American League. It seems like the winner of the AL West will be the team that can beat up on the Astros the most.
30. Miami Marlins (11-31/5th in NL East)-It is no surprise that the Marlins are the worst team in baseball. They don't score any runs, gave all of their good players to Toronto, and seem to care more about building a cool stadium to watch the team in, rather than building a team that fans actually want to watch. The Marlins have a lot of work to do before they can even begin to regain relevance.
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