The Astros have helped pad the stats for teams like the A’s, Rangers and Angels offenses and Run Differentials so far in 2014, Having this cupcake team will definitely help your playoff chances with the weighted divisional play. I will be amazed if they finish out of last in the American League this year, and maybe only the Chicago Cubs will challenge them for the 1st overall pick again for the 2015 MLB Amateur Draft.
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We are now at the 13 – 14% pole of the MLB year. Parity is reigning supreme on the standings.
For the record, while I love the Milwaukee start, they are just too many variables for them to keep up this pace.
Don’t get me wrong, i think this team is capable of making the playoffs, winning 90 games, but it could be eliminated as fast as they have compiled this record.
Ryan Braun’s thumb could require surgery. Ramirez’s knee’s could fail him.
Considering last night’s situation with Braun and Gomez, that could alter the playing field for the NL.
The suspension laid down for the brawl with the Pirates could also sway some momentum. Good on Milwaukee for starting 18 – 6. I just think the Cards will track them down in the next 138 games.
The Jays were riding high after last weeks games, but had just finished playing the Astros, Twins and White Sox. Their opponents this week were the Orioles and the Red Sox, The Jays wrap up against Boston today, before embarking on a 9 game road trip in the cities of Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
Toronto began playing the AL East teams after a steady diet of the AL Central, and turned in a 1 – 5 record for the week. It will do them in as it did in 2013 – “Strength of Schedule”!
Only 6 of 15 AL teams have a positive Run Differential, and that maybe because the Houston Astros are providing a speedbag service to the rest of the teams in the AL West, and the clubs that get to play them elsewhere.
Texas and Oakland have fought off injuries and are looking resilient. The AL central clubs are letting the Tigers off the hook.
The NL West is in a holding pattern until the Dodgers ALL – Star squad starts playing well. They are listed as the #1 favorite to cash in on the Fall Classic for a reason.
The NL East should be a 2 team showdown between the Nationals and Braves, but they other teams are at least throwing their hats in the fire thus far.
We do these odds based on who we think will win the World Series, coupled with current records, strength of divisions, injuries to franchises, and the management factors of whether they will throw down some resources to improve the clubs going throughout the whole year.
Records are before play Sunday Apr.27, 2014
RK Team Last Wk () Current Rec - Last Week Rec
1. LA Dodgers (1) 14 – 11: 3 – 4: This has everything to do with strength of schedule, belief in Yasiel Puig, Hanley Ramirez, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier coming back stronger with better play going forward.
Clayton Kershaw cavalry coming soon. This team is capable of a mega run once that happens,
2. ***Detroit Tigers (2) 12 – 9: 4 – 3: Miguel Cabrera slowly breaking out of early season doldrums. Once the team starts cooking, they could place a big gap on the rest of the clubs.
3. ***Atlanta Braves (6) 16 – 7: 4 – 2: Braves win and that is the bottom line. Unless the Nationals can step up their play by overtaking the Division lead, I have to hold Atlanta higher.
4. Washington Nationals (4) 14 – 11: 4 – 3: Bryce Harper is batting for average yes, but this isn’t the feel of last year before the injury – and now he is going back to the DL.
Ryan Zimmerman injury hurts a little, but Anthony Rendon and Danny Espinosa playing well.
5. *Oakland Athletics (5) 15 – 9: 3 – 4: The A’s are +42 in Run Differential, and while some of that maybe Houston related, Josh Donaldson 7 HRs in the last 2 weeks and many RBI.
This team is stocked with plenty of depth.
6. ***New York Yankees (7) 14 – 10: 4 – 3: Michael Pineda suspension doesn’t mean much in grand scheme of things, as he will be capped at an Innings Limit anyway.
Losing Ivan Nova can also prove to be a blessing disguise if David Phelps or Vidal Nuno pan out.
Mark Teixeira finally homered this week and is walking, Derek Jeter is still in the lineup, and the old guys are clubbing it in Carlos Beltran and Alfonso Soriano.
7. St. Louis Cardinals (3) 13 – 12: 2 – 5: What happened to Allen Craig? Better shape up kind sir, or it maybe you that Oscar Taveras replaces.
Peter Bourjos and Jhonny Peralta have started out slow with new squad.
8. Milwaukee Brewers (9) 18 – 6: 5 – 1: This team seems to revel in the ‘bad boy’ image. This is a house of cards though.
Last nights fiasco with Ryan Braun plunking Carlos Gomez with his bat accidentally may be a bad omen.
9. *Texas Rangers (8) 15 – 9: 4 – 2: Prince Fielder will heat up as the weather does and Adrian Beltre back up in the lineup after 2 weeks.
This team has led the Major Leagues in Pitching Staff ERA since Apr. 7 (2.75 clip). Kevin Kouzmanoff wounded, but in semi-heroic effort.
10. ***San Francisco Giants (10) 14 – 11: 4 – 3: Another winning week. Mike Morse is off to his usual fast start.
Last year was an early HR leader before fading. SF hopes for a different result.
Pablo Sandoval money register is seizing up on power right now. “The Panda” will come around, he has a good track record.
11. Boston Red Sox (14) 12 – 13: 4 – 3: John Lackey helped salvage series against the Yankees, and now they have found their get well card in the Blue Jays.
12. Cincinnati Reds (17) 11 – 13: 4 – 3: A great climb to .500 – with an 8 – 3 streak, downgraded a little by dropping 2 straight since.
13. LA Angels (15) 11 – 12: 3 – 3: They can make it to .500 (have several times), just can’t cross the barrier.
They will definitely get there with Albert Pujols and Mike Trout though.
The rest of the squad is fanning more than 1 time per game – and Raul Ibanez would be a better PH – than a full time DH.
14. Tampa Bay Rays (11) 11 – 13: 2 – 4: Mired with injuries, it is another slow start to a campaign. A good week in the AL East could still vault you from last to 1st.
15. Kansas City Royals (12) 11 – 12: 2 – 5: Mike Moustakas with consecutive 2 HRs weeks – but what has gone wrong with the “Country Breakfast” Billy Butler?
Hanging around .500 won’t cut it in the long term.
16. Baltimore Orioles (16) 12 – 11: 4 – 3: The O’s may turn out to have a winning April without their superstar in the rising at 3B (Manny Machado). But he is coming back.
Nelson Cruz is the best of the bunch in the former PED Users.
17. Toronto Blue Jays (13) 11 – 13: 1 – 5: Yep. That is the Mark Buerhle we know. Not an ace, but a solid pitcher.
Brett Lawrie is proving that HRs and RBI don’t equal the be all – end all.
18. Chicago White Sox (20) 12 – 13: 4 – 3: Jose Abreu looking like the real deal. Could be a steal at a 6 YRs/$68 MIL by the time it is all done.
Alexei Ramirez and Dayan Viciedo off to quick starts. Chris Sale DL stint hurts big time.
19. Colorado Rockies (18) 13 – 12: 3 – 3: This team has a solid offensive lineup like always.
Great for fantasy and for player who like that sort of thing. Charlie Blackmon adequately replacing Dexter Fowler and then some.
Troy Tulowitzki hitting his stride, and when Wilin Rosario and Nolan Arenado keep improving throughout the year, look the hell out!
20. Philadelphia Phillies (26) 12 – 12: 5 – 2: The “Old Boys” played well this week including: Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Carlos Ruiz.
With 38 games this year against the Mets and Marlins, there is a chance!
21. Cleveland Indians (22) 11 – 13: 4 – 3: The club may need to send down Danny Salazar. This club will not do well as the season prolongs on, more weaknesses will come up.
22. Pittsburgh Pirates (19) 10 – 15: 2 – 5: 2nd straight 2 – 5 week speaks of massive trouble looming. A lot of the Brewers, Cards and Reds will equal a return to mediocrity.
Brutal offseason catching up with Neil Huntington. They are already 8.5 Games behind the “Brew Crew”
23. Minnesota Twins (24) 12 – 11: 4 – 2: Who would have placed the Twins to lead the league in Walks and OBP thus far? Hands up??
Chris Colabello is one of the better stories going around right this minute.
24. New York Mets (25) 13 – 11: 5 – 2: Smoke in mirrors. This team also survives April well over the last few years. It is May – September that is always tough to digest.
25. San Diego Padres (23) 11 – 14: 2 – 5: Chase Headley joins a mounting pile of injuries on this team.
A lot of underachieving going and tough opponent offenses to contend with in the NL West.
26. Seattle Mariners (21) 9 – 14: 2 – 4: Robinson Cano is already being pitched around. This team is flawed with prospects turning into suspects, and injury prone veterans.
The team needed Hisashi Iwakuma, James Paxton and Taijuan Walker to compete. 2015 is looming large already.
27. Miami Marlins (26) 11 – 13: 3 – 3: The Marlins can score in bunches with the likes of Giancarlo Stanton possessing world class power.
Not enough gas in this tank. Although the team should improve on a 63 win campaign in 2012.
28. Arizona D’Backs (27) 8 – 19; 3 – 4: Mark Trumbo being injured is a huge kick into the testicles for the franchise. There is no traction being seen anywhere.
It may time for Kirk Gibson to go.
29. Chicago Cubs (29) 7 – 16: 2 – 5: How classic was the 100th birthday party at Wrigley. A Cake fiasco in the dumpster, and then a dumpster fire 9th inning by the Bullpen.
I can’t believe I am actually suggesting the team brings back Kevin Gregg to the Relief Core.
30. Houston Astros (30) 8 – 17: 3 – 4: Chris Carter finally showing some power. Hey a 3 – 4 work is bad for most clubs, the Astros would take 20 more weeks of that for sure!
The New York Mets have started 13 – 11 – which has been the normal record for the team the last few years. They need Granderson to turn it around soon, and for Bartolo Colon to pitch like he did in his last outing. Oddsmakers still have them ranked right about where I put them for the week,
*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com and their partners***
A Big thanks goes out to our chief writer Hunter Stokes for preparing today’s feature post
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