We have a group of experts at MLB.com working hard to look at each team in as much detail as possible and rank them with the best analysis possible. But, we apologize if we say that the fun work of watching baseball is a bit difficult…because organizing the rankings this year has been very difficult!
Here, a great example: There are currently only 11 teams in the Major Leagues that are above .500. There is a team at 500 (For those wondering, it’s the Cardinals). And there are only four clubs with more than six games under .500 (and so it’s easy to consider them practically out of contention for a postseason berth). That means that what separates our No. 11 (the Padres) from our No. 25 (the Mets, who just swept the Padres) is exactly… 1.5 games. So there are 15 teams between them! So how can we classify them? We have no idea, but we try.
These rankings, as always, are determined by MLB.com voters whose names can be seen at the end of this and each story, but the words are my own. Therefore, if you don’t like the rankings, you can complain to each of us. But if you don’t like the words, you are free to complain to me.
*1. Yankees (last week: 2)
**Highest position in the season: 1 | Lowest:7*
The Bombers have been through one of the toughest stretches of the schedule in all of baseball: Since June 4, they have faced the Twins, Dodgers, Royals and finally the Red Sox at Fenway Park. They have a day off on Monday, but there will be no rest after that: They will face the Orioles in what would be a very interesting series at Yankee Stadium, with the Braves arriving immediately after. New York continues to pass every test. And to think that some were nervous going into the season.
*2. Phillies (last week: 1)
**Highest position in the season: 1 | Lowest:8*
The Philadelphia squad returned from London for two road series against teams from the AL East, and it’s worth saying that the Phillies did not have a good time. They fell in two of three against the Red Sox and Orioles, respectively, and the problem was the pitching: They gave up 35 runs in the six games, with both Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola being punished on the road. But they will get some good news this week: Trea Turner will return from the injured list
3. Orioles (last week: 4)
Highest position in the season: 1 | Lowest:5
The highly anticipated pitching matchup between the Orioles’ Corbin Burnes and the Phillies’ Zack Wheeler fell short of expectations on Sunday. The Orioles hit four home runs against Wheeler — the right-hander had allowed just six in the season before Sunday — and to the surprise of some, none of the homers came from Venezuelan Anthony Santander, who leads MLB in that category during the month of June.
*4. Dodgers (last week: 3)
**Highest position in the season: 1 | Lowest:6*
It was an interesting couple of days in Chavez Ravine! The Los Angeles team took two of three against the Royals, but they would have sacrificed one or two of those wins to avoid what happened over the weekend. On Saturday, Yoshinobu Yamamoto had to abandon his appearance with an apparent triceps injury, but on Sunday it was reported that it was a rotator cuff ailment, meaning the right-hander will be out for at least several weeks. Also on Sunday came the disappointing news that Mookie Betts suffered a fractured left hand, the result of a 98 mph hit by right-hander Dan Altavilla in the seventh inning. It seemed very serious when it happened, and while the news wasn’t necessarily good, the fact that manager Dave Roberts indicated after the game that Betts won’t need surgery means that Betts won’t miss the rest of the season. But anyway… it’s a broken wrist. Betts won’t be back for a while. Los Angeles’ season has taken an interesting turn — and quickly.
5. Guardians (last week: 5)
Highest position in the season: 3 | Lowest:21
Cleveland was criticized for not making as many moves this offseason, with some wondering how they would rebound from a disappointing finish to 2023 without adding flashy pieces. But under new manager Stephen Vogt, the biggest improvement has been on defense, especially in the infield, led by Venezuelan shortstop Brayan Rocchio, who has immediately established himself as one of the best gloves in the game. “Our defense has been phenomenal all year,” Vogt stated. “It’s a big reason why we’re in this position right now.”
The rest of the 30 in the ranking:
