TOP OF THE ORDER
Zach Helfand ranks the 30 teams. Last week’s ranking in parentheses; statistics are through Friday’s games:
1. 6-5 without3. 2. homegrown. DODGERS:DETROIT:ST. with four LOUIS:him. Yasielof five(1) (2) Miguel RecipePuigThe starters Dodgersand Cabrerafor 17-7 are success: are has season,career.4. league CHICAGOCUBS:has averaged games.(4)24 and RBIs now35 (10) homein has his 400 Kris first runsin Bryant27 his per big
5. haveany leagues.6. the KANSAS HOUSTON:leagueother more (6) teamin two-outCITY:an Thein unusualthe The runs Astros major Royalsthan trio: lead 7. home bases. WASHINGTON:has runs, blasted(5) strikeoutseight Bryce home and Harperruns stolen in8. at MINNESOTA:his39, leadslast nine the games.Twins Torii with(8) Hunter,21 RBIs. (7)
9. givenhis ANGELS:last up 161⁄ one3 innings. JeredWeaverrun and (16) one walkhas in
10. staff batting TAMPA boasts average BAY:the lowestin The baseball. pitching opposing(12)
11. didn’tin a N.Y. game score YANKEES:during more their than The four-gametwo Yankeesruns 12. skid. N.Y. (3) METS: have Offensively averaged challengedMets2.4 runs in their last 12 games. (9)
13. been SAN surprisinglyDIEGO: Matt durable. Kemp He has leads37 games.the Padres(11) by appearing in
14. CHICAGOWHITE SOX: The White Sox have finally hit a stride. They’re winners of five of six. (21)
15. CINCINNATI: Billy Hamilton has 17 stolen bases. The Dodgers’ whole team has nine. (15)
16. SAN FRANCISCO: The Giants have settled into .500 baseball. Mediocrity, thy name is San Francisco. (13)
17. ATLANTA: Scary moment: Braves’ single-A affiliate team’s bus crashed this week, but team avoided serious injuries. (17)
18. TORONTO: Starters’ earned-run average is better only than the Rockies’. (14)
19. stinks BOSTON:but at least The the pitching lineup stillis hitting … .207 this month. (29)
20. pace SEATTLE:for 69 home Nelson runs, Cruz139 RBIsis on and 227 hits. (25)
21. ARIZONA:have the The worst Diamondbacksrecord of any differential.team that (19) has a positive run
22. are PITTSBURGH:batting over .300. No (26) starters
23. TEXAS: Josh Hamilton is nearing a return and has plenty of time to prepare for a July 3 game against the Angels. (20)
24. BALTIMORE: Last year’s ace, Chris Tillman, owns a 6.34 earned-run average. (23)
25. CLEVELAND: Not a bad first 2015 win for Corey Kluber. He struck out 18 in eight innings. (24)
26. MIAMI: Heard that Giancarlo Stanton’s home run was spotted in orbit by the International Space Station. (18)
27. PHILADELPHIA: Jonathan Papelbon is Phillies’ all-time saves leader, much to the chagrin of Philadelphians. (28)
28. MILWAUKEE: The Brewers are dead last in on-base percentage and 25th in ERA. Not a great combo. (27)
29. OAKLAND: Can Steph Curry play baseball? (22)
30. COLORADO: Seems the only way Rockies don’t lose these days is when the game is canceled. (30)