Every week, the California Post ranks MLB’s 30 teams and highlights a noteworthy awards race. Here’s the latest update (as of Thursday night):
1.) Braves (30-14)
The Braves have reclaimed first place after a week away and have secured two significant series victories against the Dodgers and Cubs. They’re the first team to reach 30 wins this season. Matt Olson has consistently performed as one of the top hitters in the league, while Chris Sale and Bryce Elder show potential as the best 1-2 pitching duo in the league. (Last week: 3rd place)
2.) Cubs (28-16)
This week has felt a bit like a roller coaster for the Cubs. They won 10 consecutive games twice this season but then lost four games in a row before snagging a win on Thursday against the Braves. Their batting lineup is holding strong, ranking in the top five for OPS and runs, with the pitching staff currently at 10th in ERA. (Last week: 2nd place)
3.) Yankees (27-17)
Gerrit Cole’s return from the injured list won’t be happening soon. The Yankees struggled this week, losing five out of six games, including a sweep by the Brewers, which makes them just 1-8 against teams with winning records. Max Fried also had to exit a game early due to elbow soreness, and he’s hoping it’s nothing serious. (Last week: 1st place)
4.) Dodgers (26-18)
After splitting a series with the Giants, the Dodgers avoided what could have been a tough week. While Shohei Ohtani leads with an incredible 0.82 ERA on the mound, his batting issues could pose a problem. The team needs his hitting to bounce back before they can fully overcome their slump. (Last week: 4th place)
5.) Rays (28-14)
Should the Rays be ranked higher? Possibly. They’ve achieved 16 wins against just three losses over the past three weeks, moving ahead of the Yankees in the American League East. They’re definitely doing well. But whether they’re truly “wonderful” is still up for debate. It’s worth noting that last year, they had a similar stretch but finished below .500. (Last week: 5th place)
6.) Brewers (24-17)
Remember when there was a fuss about Jacob Misiorowski’s All-Star Game selection? That’s likely not happening this year. The second-year right-hander has a strong 2.12 ERA and leads the league with 80 strikeouts. Surprisingly, the only game the Brewers lost this week was when Misiorowski delivered a career-best seven scoreless innings. (Last week: 8th place)
7.) Cardinals (25-18)
The Cardinals continue to exceed expectations, navigating challenging West Coast series and remaining above .500. While their young batting lineup gets attention, 25-year-old pitcher Michael McGreevy has also been impressive, boasting a 2.10 ERA and 0.88 WHIP over nine starts. (Last week: 6th place)
8.) Padres (25-18)
With 19 teams in MLB having a negative run differential, only the Padres stand more than two games above .500. Their odd season was highlighted by a recent win over the Brewers, where they were just an out away from a shutout before allowing a game-winning three-run homer. (Last week: 7th place)
9.) Pirates (24-20)
Paul Skeens is tantalizingly close to a no-hitter. In two of his last four starts, he remained without a hit until the seventh inning. His milestone feels inevitable at this point. Meanwhile, the Pirates have kept a steady record above .500. (Last week: 9th place)
10.) Phillies (21-23)
One sign the Phillies are getting back on track? Kyle Schwarber hit six home runs this week, making his earlier struggles—and those of the team—seem more like a distant memory. (Last week: 11th)
11.) Mariners (22-23)
The Mariners might have an issue with Cal Lowry, who struggled to hit over 38 games before being placed on the disabled list due to a muscle contusion. They lost a series against the White Sox last week but managed to win three out of four games against Houston for a bit of relief. (Last week: 10th place)
12.) Guardians (24-21)
Jose Ramirez is hitting just .207, and Stephen Kwan is at .206… yet the Guardians are still winning. That’s likely due to Chase DeLauter, who has a .294 average, and a solid pitching staff with a 3.81 team ERA. (Last week: 12th)
13.) Reds (23-21)
Ellie Delacruz seems to be clicking as he enters his fourth MLB season. He’s batting .299 and is on track for a 30/30 season, ranking in the top five for position players in WAR. (Last week: 13th)
14.) Rangers (21-22)
The Rangers are having a tough time as they await Corey Seager to improve from his .179 batting average. It would also be beneficial if someone like Jacob deGrom (2.62 ERA) could bring their ERA down below 4.00. (Last week: 15th)
15.) Athletics (22-21)
Current Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz has been hitting over .400 and is moving back into form. Catcher Shea Langalise leads the AL with a .331 batting average, while the pitching staff is beginning to stabilize after some earlier struggles. (Last week: 16th)
16.) White Sox (22-21)
Surprisingly, the White Sox are above .500 as of mid-May, which is quite unexpected. They’ve got an important series against the Cubs coming up and could potentially be contenders in the mediocre AL Central, being just one game behind the Guardians. (Last week: 23rd)
17.) Diamondbacks (20-22)
Top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt has made a solid impact since his MLB debut. However, the D-backs often seem to take two steps forward and one step back, as seen in last weekend’s series win against the Mets followed by a blown lead against the Rangers. (Last week: 14th)
18.) Orioles (20-24)
The Orioles won two of three against the Yankees for their best series performance this season. Still, their pitching remains a significant concern, with every player who’s started at least twice this year carrying an ERA above 4.00. (Last week: 18th)
19.) Blue Jays (19-24)
Things aren’t looking great in Toronto. The Jays won seven out of ten but needed a walk-off to avoid being swept by the Rays. A worrying stat is that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hasn’t hit a homer in nearly a month, and his on-base percentage is currently higher than his slugging percentage. (Last week: 17th)
20.) Mets (18-25)
Someone pour the champagne—the Mets actually won a series! Admittedly, defeating the struggling Tigers isn’t a huge feat, especially considering their hefty salary. Still, they’re making efforts to dig themselves out of the hole they’ve created. (Last week: 27th)
21.) Red Sox (18-25)
The Red Sox find themselves at the bottom of another disappointing season. Their only series win since a managerial change came against the floundering Tigers. They may have playoff aspirations, but not yet. (Last week: 20th)
22.) Marlins (20-24)
The Marlins’ early-season excitement has faded rapidly. After finishing April on a high note, they dropped a series against the Twins and now sit with a 5-8 record. (Last week: 19th)
23.) Nationals (21-23)
While the Nats might not be headed anywhere this year, the future looks good. They currently have seven under-27 players with an OPS of .747 or higher, with shortstop CJ Abrams drawing attention with a .292 average and .922 OPS. (Last week: 24th)
24.) Royals (19-25)
The Royals are starting to improve. After a five-game winning streak, they’ve unfortunately lost six of eight, with the last four being straight defeats—the longest active losing streak in the majors. (Last week: 21st)
25.) Twins (20-24)
We need to mention the Twins, as stipulated. However, it’s challenging as they seem to be stuck at the bottom of the standings. (Last week: 26th)
26.) Giants (18-26)
Just when it seemed the Giants were finding their stride, they missed a chance to take the series against the Dodgers and saw veteran Willie Adams make a key baserunning mistake. (Last week: 28th)
27.) Tigers (19-25)
This season is becoming a nightmare for the Tigers. They’ve lost eight out of nine games since Tarik Skubal’s injury. Even with their 11th-ranked offense by OPS, they’re only 19th in runs scored. (Last week: 22nd)
28.) Rockies (17-27)
A recent unassisted double play from Jake McCarthy was a highlight, showcasing a good moment in an otherwise difficult time for the Rockies. The usual struggles seem to be creeping back in. (Last week: 29th)
29.) Astros (17-28)
The Astros now find themselves with the worst run differential and team ERA in the league. Their only hope is to stay close enough to the other weaker teams in the American League West. Meanwhile, Yordan Alvarez has struggled this month, hitting below .200. (Last week: 25th)
30.) Angels (16-28)
Remember when the Angels had a promising start at 11-10? They’ve since spiraled to a 5-18 record, with star shortstop Zach Neto calling attention to the potential need to trade Mike Trout. (Last week: 30th)
Awards: National League Cy Young
1.) Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (3 wins, 2 losses, ERA 0.82, 44 innings, 50 strikeouts, WHIP 0.82)
If Ohtani maintains this level, the Cy Young race could get intriguing. He’s falling behind some competitors in terms of workload, and concerns about his hitting affect his dual-role status. Nevertheless, he looked enthusiastic on the mound, and for the Cy Young, he’ll need stronger stats compared to others. So far, he’s delivering.
2.) Paul Skeens (6-2, 1.98 ERA, 50 innings, 56 strikeouts, 0.64 WHIP)
Skeens has bounced back from a rough debut season. After his initial five-run blowup, he’s allowed just six runs in eight innings and has struck out over ten times as many batters (55 strikeouts) as walks (5). His starts are not to be missed, as he’s on a remarkable path.
3.) Jacob Misiorowski (3-2, 2.12 ERA, 51 innings, 80 strikeouts, 0.90 WHIP)
Only three pitchers have recorded 250 strikeouts in a season this decade. Misiorowski seems poised to join that list, with 81 strikeouts—13 ahead of the next pitcher. His .162 batting average against is second only to Skeens and Ohtani. Plus, he’s clocked at least 100 mph numerous times in his last few outings, possessing the hardest average fastball at 99.6 mph.
