There aren't many teams that could send a hitter like Matt Holliday to the disabled list and remain relatively unfazed. The Cardinals, however, boast a 3-1 record since the six-time All-Star tore his quadriceps a week ago, and replacement Randal Grichuk has already notched a home run and a triple in his stead.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
37-26
38-25
2 (-)
Yasiel Puig is a man reborn following the first significant injury of his MLB career. The 24-year-old Cuban is hitting .481/.533/.704 with four extra-base hits and three walks in seven games since returning from the disabled list June 6.
3. Pittsburgh Pirates
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
35-27
37-25
3 (-)
There isn't a swashbuckling pun strong enough to convey how dominant Pittsburgh's rotation has been this year. Propelled by Gerrit Cole and A.J. Burnett, the Pirates' starting corps leads the majors in both quality start frequency (65 percent) and earned run average (2.94), stealing the latter distinction away from the Cardinals in recent weeks.
4. Houston Astros
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
36-28
35-29
4 (-)
Carlos Correa's impressive first week in the majors - the 20-year-old clobbered two homers while posting a .789 OPS - bodes extremely well for the Astros, who have been held to two runs or fewer eight times this month and have been a .500 team (21-21) since the beginning of May.
5. Kansas City Royals
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
34-25
35-24
5 (-)
Despite their recent offensive woes, the Royals continue to dispel the notion that a team needs to score runs to be successful. The transformative powers of Kansas City's bullpen are real, too; Joe Blanton owns a 1.80 ERA over seven appearances, while averaging almost a strikeout per inning since joining the Royals' relief corps in mid-May.
6. Chicago Cubs
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
34-27
31-30
10 (+4)
The Cubs' acquisition of Miguel Montero may have been the most underappreciated move of the offseason. Through 52 games this season, the resurgent 31-year-old boasts an .832 OPS (126 wRC+) with a 15 percent walk rate while trailing only Buster Posey, Derek Norris, and Francisco Cervelli in wins above replacement among NL catchers.
7. Toronto Blue Jays
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
34-30
38-26
15 (+8)
You didn't really think the best offensive team in baseball would finish last in the dismal American League East, did you? Buoyed by a lineup that can do no wrong, the Blue Jays tied a franchise record Sunday with their 11th straight victory and have managed a gaudy .850 OPS while averaging more than seven runs per game since the beginning of June.
8. San Francisco Giants
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
34-30
33-31
7 (-1)
It's entirely plausible that a low batting average on balls in play has caused San Francisco's recent slide - the Giants are just 4-8 this month - but in all likelihood, the reigning champs are scuffling because their emotional leader hasn't taken the field since June 2.
Record with Hunter Pence in the lineup: 12-6 Record without Hence Pence in the lineup: 22-24
9. New York Yankees
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
34-28
33-29
9 (-)
Correlation doesn't equal causation and all that noise, but the Yankees are just 1-3 since Andrew Miller landed on the disabled list, creating a huge void in a bullpen that owns the fifth-worst ERA (3.97) in the American League over the last month.
10. Tampa Bay Rays
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
35-29
34-30
11 (+1)
Though injuries have decimated their pitching staff, the Rays continue to enjoy success on the mound by weaseling out of jams. No team in the the American League owns a higher strand rate this season than Tampa Bay (77.1 percent), who have limited opponents to a .219 batting average with men on base.
11. Washington Nationals
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
33-30
32-31
6 (-5)
It's not at all hard to believe that the Nationals approached the Reds to discuss a deal for closer Aroldis Chapman, as per a recent report from Jon Heyman of FOX Sports. Only two teams in the majors, after all, have tallied more bullpen meltdowns than the Nationals, who can't consistently rely on any reliever other than Drew Storen at this point.
12. New York Mets
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
34-30
32-32
12 (-)
The recent struggles of Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey aren't all that surprising, considering the former was in the minor leagues six weeks ago and the latter is just 20 months removed from Tommy John surgery. What is surprising, however, is that the Mets remain in first place in their division despite their recent woes on the mound.
13. Minnesota Twins
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
34-28
31-31
8 (-5)
Torii Hunter's epic tirade/striptease Wednesday portended the painful regression awaiting the Twins, who rank in the bottom five in the American League in both OPS (.684) and fielding independent pitching (4.16) and, quite simply, aren't as good as their early record suggests.
14. Detroit Tigers
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
33-30
32-31
13 (-1)
Justin Verlander was merely adequate in his season debut Saturday after missing the first 10 weeks of the season with a triceps strain. Still, the six-time All-Star represents a considerable upgrade over Shane Greene, who was optioned to Triple-A last week after stumbling to a 12.27 ERA while allowing 29 hits - including six homers - in his previous four starts.
15. Texas Rangers
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
33-30
33-30
14 (-1)
Adrian Beltre isn't thrilled his thumb isn't healing as quickly as he anticipated, but each day he remains on the disabled list gives general manager Jon Daniels a little more time to figure out what to do with Joey Gallo. All the 21-year-old has done in Beltre's absence is hit .300/.391/.625 with three homers (and a 34.8 percent strikeout rate) in 11 games.
16. Los Angeles Angels
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
32-31
31-32
17 (+1)
The resemblance between Albert Pujols and Albert Pujols (circa 2009) has been uncanny of late, as the resurgent 35-year-old has crushed 10 homers in his last 16 games, posting an unfathomable .387/.433/.903 line over that span.
17. Baltimore Orioles
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
31-31
33-29
18 (+1)
Winners of six of their last seven games, the Orioles' recent success has coincided with an increased reliance on the bullpen by manager Buck Showalter. The club's relief corps owns a sterling 1.67 ERA (2.08 FIP) with a league-best 32 percent strikeout rate since the beginning of June, logging more innings than all but four teams over that span.
18. San Diego Padres
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
32-33
32-33
16 (-2)
A.J. Preller deserves credit for optioning Jedd Gyorko and his $35-million contract to Triple-A last week amid continued struggles at the plate. It would take some serious gumption, however, to do the same with Matt Kemp, whose 78 wRC+ is the 23rd-lowest among baseball's 166 qualified hitters.
19. Cleveland Indians
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
29-33
30-32
18 (-1)
The arrival of top prospect Francisco Lindor, 21-year-old shortstop and veritable toolshed, should help ameliorate the Indians' defensive shortcomings and subsequently help whittle down the pitching staff's abnormally high .318 batting average on balls in play.
20. Arizona Diamondbacks
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
30-32
32-30
20 (-)
How quickly can the Diamondbacks get Dansby Swanson, the first overall pick in last week's draft, in uniform? Through the first 10 weeks of the season, Arizona's shortstops - Nick Ahmed and Cliff Pennington - have combined to hit just .199/.291/.271 (53 wRC+) with a 21 percent strikeout rate.
21. Atlanta Braves
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
30-33
30-33
21 (-)
As their focus turns toward development rather than a futile attempt at a playoff berth, the Braves would probably like to see more from their young assets like Mike Foltynewicz and Christian Bethancourt. The former can't keep the ball in the yard - he owns 5.19 ERA while surrendering 1.38 homers per nine innings - and the latter hasn't hit at all (.528 OPS) in 2015.
22. Cincinnati Reds
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
28-34
29-33
25 (+3)
Walt Jocketty received additional incentive to blow up his roster when shortstop Zack Cozart - inexplicably one of the team's best hitters through the first 10 weeks of the campaign - suffered a season-ending knee injury Wednesday.
23. Seattle Mariners
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
28-35
26-37
22 (-1)
You know things aren't going right for the Mariners when even Felix Hernandez looks mortal. The 29-year-old stumbled through the worst outing of his career Friday in Houston, recording just one out while allowing eight runs as his ERA jumped from 2.25 to 3.38.
24. Colorado Rockies
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
28-34
28-34
26 (+2)
Not only has the Rockies' pitching staff enjoyed the fewest 0-2 counts this season, they've also stumbled into more 3-0 counts than any other team in the majors. Pitching in Colorado is one of the most unenviable tasks in baseball, but the Rockies' hurlers sure aren't making it easy on themselves.
25. Boston Red Sox
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
27-37
26-38
23 (-2)
A team that was merely struggling a few weeks ago has devolved into a laughingstock, losing their last six games - and eight of their last 11 - in rather inglorious fashion. A lack of timely hitting and some embarrassing defensive play have plagued the Red Sox of late, while the recent confrontation between Wade Miley and John Farrell very much encapsulated the mounting frustration in Boston.
26. Chicago White Sox
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
28-33
25-36
24 (-2)
With a lineup that owns an appalling .652 OPS, the White Sox would be pretty much unwatchable if not for Chris Sale, who boasts a 1.52 ERA since May 12 and has struck out 79 batters while walking just 10 (!) over that span.
27. Oakland Athletics
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
26-39
34-31
27 (-)
Though Billy Beane continues to take flak for the Josh Donaldson trade, the Brad Pitt-lookalike executive may have found himself a legitimate asset in Kendall Graveman, who owns a 2.20 ERA with a 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his last five starts and remains under team control through 2020.
28. Miami Marlins
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
27-37
29-35
28 (-)
Jose Fernandez notched four strikeouts over five scoreless innings in his second rehab start Saturday, while Giancarlo Stanton will head into Monday's series opener on pace for about 60 homers this season. Ipso facto, the Marlins should be more fun to watch in the second half.
29. Milwaukee Brewers
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
24-40
25-39
30 (+1)
Maybe the Brewers ought to consider a new approach at the plate. No team in baseball swings more often than Milwaukee, who also chase pitches out of the zone more frequently than any team in the National League. Taking a pitch every now and then might help the Brewers improve their .284 on-base percentage, the worst mark in the majors.
30. Philadelphia Phillies
RECORD
PYTHAG RECORD
PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
22-42
21-43
29 (-1)
Jonathan Papelbon is doing everything in his power to ensure he's shipped out of Philadelphia as soon as possible. The 34-year-old closer owns a 1.05 ERA (343 ERA+) through 25 appearances this season while posting a 28 percent strikeout rate, his best mark since 2012.
