Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer/Part Owner) 

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Texas has surged to the best record in the AL, and also have the best record in the MLB since May 8, 2016.

There are 5 clubs that have registered 20 victories since May 8. 2016, and they are:  Texas, San Francisco, Washington, Cleveland – plus the New York Yankees  all have done the feat.

While the Cubs are still playing great baseball in the Windy City, the White Sox have flamed out, going 9 – 22 over their last 31 contests.  That is still only 4.5 GB the Cleveland Indians. so all is not lost for a recovery.  They have plummeted down 14 spots in the rankings.

Cleveland had the biggest pole vault up the list, heading all the way up to 5th – despite losing Michael Brantley to the DL again.

The Yankees have posted a 20 – 14 record since Aroldis Chapman has come in.  Perhaps a lot that has to do with the incredible play of Carlos Beltran.

Kansas City and Detroit have gone on massive streaks either way but are still within earshot of the Tribe.

St Louis has been a lot steadier over the last month, and will still find a tough climb ahead at 9 games out in the NL Central right now.

The O’s are holding steady at 10 games over .500 – riding a favorable home schedule (where they are 24 – 11) but have 8 more games played at Camden than on the road.

Milwaukee has surprisingly been a better squad since early May, and have a winning record.  They are just 4.5 GB the 2nd wildcard spot – but they are in talks to start trading everyone away.

Speaking of deals…I think the Pirates should take a hands off approach to this season considering where they are.  Their talent level is there for that dreaded one game playoff, but adding anyone – other than youngster Tyler Glasnow. who would follow Jameson Taillon‘s making his debut, would be a bad idea.  As presently constituted, they should fight it out with the Dodgers and Cardinals for the 2nd wildcard.

Freefalling since May 8, 2016 at a 9 – 22 record.

I can’t buy into the Marlins at this point, still without Dee Gordon until after the ALL – Star Break, and the recent slumping of Giancarlo Stanton.  I peg them for near .500, but in the end I firmly believe that 90 wins will be necessary to make it to the postseason.

Toronto has been playing a lot better – and have the best pitching in the AL East right this minute.  Save the Rays chat.  Look at their Starter’s ERA’s, and now you are moving Matt Andriese to the pen??  Guy has been dealing.  Other than Jake Odorizzi who has a mid 3 ERA, they have struggled out of the Starters.  Blake Snell should have stayed up the 1st time he was called up.

It looks like Seattle will have to wait until after the ALL – Star Break for their ace Felix Hernandez comes back.  By then. the Rangers may have boatraced everyone.  The M’s should be in contention for a Wild Card berth, and have to be a surprise with their offense clubbing HRs like they have been.  Unlike Tampa, who also has been hitting dingers at a nice clip, Seattle is also hitting for Batting Average as well.

Robinson Cano is playing his best baseball in a Mariners uniform. and may enter the AL MVP race himself.

Boston’s offense is just incredible  Xander Bogaerts is on pace for 225+ hits. and David Ortiz is in line to crack 40+ HRs and rack in over 120 RBI.  They are overshadowing a brilliant start by Jackie Bradley JR., who could easily he an MVP candidate in any other season.

Speaking of MVP chatter. can we all give Daniel Murphy a little more love for his campaign? The Nats 2B leads the MLB with a .369 BA – and has racked up 32 Extra Base Hits thus far, showing that his 2015 postseason was no fluke at all.

In the unheralded category is also Jose Altuve.  This speedster is the quintessential all around player. has steadily improved every year, and has 10 HRs added to his .344 BA and 18 SB.  I win money on his hits Over/Under – taking the over like clockwork.  The Astros MVP is on pace for his 3rd straight 200 hit campaign.

Eduardo Nunez is making a ton of people rich in MLB DFS fantasy, and is 6th overall in MLB Average??  wow!

Biggest renaissance year has to go to Mark Trumbo and his 20 jacks so far.  I am not giving out a Comeback Player Award just yet – however we must give O’s GM Dan Duquette mass respect for pulling that trade off, and perhaps picking off another AL HR champ on the scrap heap – like he did with Nelson Cruz a few years back.

The O’s are on pace for nearly 260 big flies, and I did predict they would challenge the mid 90’s Mariners record of 264.  With Chris Davis, Pedro Alvarez and Adam Jones coming on strong in the last week, they could so bring this down.

Manny Machado is also having an incredible year – with and MLB leading 25 Doubles and 16 HRs – among his .976 OPS.

Houston has to be the biggest disappointment of the year thus far, despite authoring a record of 18 – 15 over their last 33 games. the recent injury of Carlos Correa stunted their good play.  I think it is time to give A.J. Reed a shot.

i may take some heat for this statement again….But how would the team look with Chris Carter (and his 17 HRs) look at 1B right now.  The man had delivered 90 longballs in his previous 3 years with the team before they non-tendered him in the 2015 winter.  All I am saying is that i am glad I wagered a few bucks on his 300/1 odd to win the HR crown in the MLB this season.

Nolan Arenado continues to be a top 5 MLB Player, and could well hit over 40 HRs.

Clayton Kershaw and Jake Arrieta are having even more ridiculous seasons than they did a year ago, and that is a huge statement.  Stephen Strasburg is 10 – 0, marking the 1st time an NL pitcher has done this since the 80’s.

We have about a dozen Starters all on pace to reel in 20 victories right now.  It is truly a great season for the aces!

Have to give it up for journeyman pitcher Rich Hill, who could be a hot commodity in the next 6 weeks.  At 8 – 3, with a 2.25 ERA in 11 Game Starts, he is proving to be one of the best signing in the past offseason.

On the down side for Oakland was a dismal 1st 10 starts for Sonny Gray.  Hopefully he can turn it around.

It should be fascinating to see the A’s trade off some cagey veterans – and revamp their club for their next competitive sequence in the AL West.

I think if I were in the Texas Rangers system right now as a prospect, that I would hit .300 and be a rookie of the year candidate.  Some teams have a great bit of luck with their youngsters, and I am happy for Texas – who has been hampered by a ton of injuries in recent years.

Minnesota can only hope that Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano can go the way of Jurickson Profar.  Sano played well last season. and I think all of the lineup juggling on defense has stunted his offense a little.

The Royals are still holding on despite losing Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas, but will need to make a trade for a Starter, and hope their young players can improve internally on the big squad.

CC Sabathia is one of my favorite players, his 2.28 ERA in 1st 10 Game Starts has to have everyone smiling in the Bronx for not giving up on the heavy LHP.  Keep it up Carsten Charles!!

It is an even year, so expect the Giants to face tough injury adversities, and for Brian Sabean to orchestrate a trade for a guy – who will hit .350 after arriving, and help them in October.  Bruce Bochy has managed his squad into 1st – even with no one on offense having a great year, and on the backs of Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto.

Unexpected power has also come from former Giants OF Adam Duvall in Cincinnati, who has clubbed 17 HRs.

Glad to see Brandon Moss and Mike Napoli both contributing for their respective clubs.  They are awesome “3T0” guys, and I am happy they are playing better than they were to end the 2015 year.

Hands up if you had Jeanmar Gomez and Jeremy Jeffress among the league leaders in Saves??  yeah… Me neither.

June 13, 2016

Disclaimer:  We based these rankings on best strength to win the World Series.  Therefore some teams that have an easier division to play in, with the least path of resistance to the postseason overall may be ranked a lot higher than a club who is equally talented, yet may play in a juggernaut of a division.

Rank – Team Record (Last Month rank) (Up down) (W – L Record Last Month)

(1) (1)  Chicago Cubs (E) (43 – 18) ( E ) (19 – 12): 

(2) (7) Texas Rangers (+5) (39 – 24) (22 – 10): 

(3) (5) Washington Nationals (+2) (19 – 12) (20 – 12):

(4) (6)  San Francisco Giants (+2) (38 – 26) (21 – 10): 

(5) (13) Cleveland Indians (+8) (35 – 27) (20 – 14):

(6) (4) Boston Red Sox (-2) (36 – 26) (19 – 13): 

(7) (3) NY Mets (-4) (34 – 28)  (16 -15):

(8) (9) Baltimore Orioles (+1) (36 – 26) (18 – 14):

(9) (11) Toronto Blue Jays (+2) (35 – 30) (19 – 13):

(10) (12) Seattle Mariners (+2) (34 – 29) (16 – 16):

(11) (16) St. Louis Cardinals (+5) (35 – 28) (19 – 12): 

(12) (10) LA Dodgers (-2) (33 – 31) (17 – 16): 

(13) (14) Kansas City Royals (+1) (32 – 30) (17 – 15):

(14) (8) Pittsburgh Pirates (-6)  (32 – 31) (15 – 18):

(15) (17)  Detroit Tigers (+2) (32 – 30) (18 – 14):

(16) (2) Chicago White Sox (-14) (31 – 32) ( 9 – 22):

(17) (22) NY Yankees (+5) (31 – 32) (20 – 15): 

(18) (16) Miami Marlins (-2) (16 – 14) ( 16 – 17):

(19) (18) Tampa Bay Rays (-1) (29 – 32) (15- 15): 

(20) (19) Colorado Rockies (-1) (30 – 33) (15 – 17):

(21) (27) Milwaukee Brewers (+6) (30 – 33) (17 – 15): 

(22) (20) Arizona Diamondbacks (-2) (28 – 37) (13 – 19)

(23) (24) Houston Astros (+1) (30 – 35) (18 – 15):

(24) (23) Philadelphia Phillies (-1) (29 – 34) (11 – 20):

(25) (21) LA Angels  (-4)(27 – 36) (12 – 19):

(26) (23) Oakland (-3) (26 – 36) (12 – 18):

(27) (26) San Diego Padres (-1) (13 – 19) (4 – 3)

(28) (28) Cincinnati Reds (E) (26 – 38) (13 – 19)

(29) (29)  Minnesota Twins (E) (19 – 43) (11 – 20): 

(30) (30) Atlanta Braves (E) (18 – 44) (11 – 21):

*** 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 other partners.***

A big thanks goes out to our ‘Chief Writer/Part Owner’ Hunter Stokes for preparing today’s featured post.

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