The St. Louis Cardinals are riding the highs sparked by its young and talented pitching staff, which leads Major League Baseball in ERA (3.11) and is second in quality starts (32). Shelby Miller (2.02 ERA), Trevor Rosenthal (2.16), Adam Wainwright (2.48) and Lance Lynn (2.95) have all been lights out on numerous occasions. It therefore comes as no surprise that the Cardinals own the best record in all of baseball, leading to a top ranking in the latest edition of MLB Power Rankings at The Wife Hates Sports.
The rest of the top five features three American League teams. The Miguel Cabrera-sparked Detroit Tigers land in second, followed by the Rangers, Reds and Red Sox.
This week’s big winners are the Los Angeles Angels, a talented bunch that vaulted nine spots in the ranks, while the Cleveland Indians are the big losers after falling eight slots and out of the top ten.
The entire list of MLB Power Rankings is as follows, featuring some specific team or player related statistics, along with the clubs that had positive or negative jumps in the latest poll:
Shelby Miller and the St. Louis Cardinals have been dominating opposing hitters this season (Credit: StLToday.com)
KP’s MLB Power Rankings: May 28, 2013
Note: Stats and point totals as of Tuesday morning (5/28/13) and do not include night games
1. St. Louis Cardinals (142 points) – Last Week: #2
The Cardinals have nine pitchers on its roster with an ERA below 3.00, including two 22-year-olds, Shelby Miller (5-3, 2.02 ERA, 65 K’s) and Trevor Rosenthal (2.16 ERA, 37 K’s in 25 IP).
2. Detroit Tigers (112 points) – Last Week: #8
Miguel Cabrera is once again triggering Triple Crown chatter in the American League, what with this .377 average (1st in AL), 14 HR (2nd to Chris Davis) and 57 RBI (1st in AL).
3. Texas Rangers (111 points) – Last Week: #1
In limited time, highly touted prospect Jurickson Profar has impressed at the plate, posting a .304 average in 23 at bats, with one home run and five runs batted in.
4. Cincinnati Reds (108 points) – Last Week: #4
Dusty Baker and the Reds are off to a hot start
Cincinnati’s statistical pitching leaders show that the staff is balanced, with Bronson Arroyo leading in wins, Mike Leake in ERA and Homer Bailey in strikeouts.
5. Boston Red Sox (106 points) – Last Week: #7
Veteran David Ortiz has been a surprising unsung hero in 2013, once again posting high quality numbers, batting .346, with 11 doubles, 8 HR and 34 RBI in 33 games.
6. Atlanta Braves (91 points) – Last Week: #9
Of the team’s five current starters, each has posted at least five quality starts, and only Tim Hudson (5.37 ERA in 11 starts) has an ERA over 4.00.
7. Arizona Diamondbacks (90 points) – Last Week: #6
Paul Goldschmidt is carrying Arizona’s offense, leading in average (.324), home runs (12), RBI (40) and on base percentage (.407).
8. Pittsburgh Pirates (78 points) – Last Week: #10
A.J. Burnett has posted 8 quality starts with 85 strikeouts and a 2.57 ERA over 11 appearances, yet has posted a 3-5 record on the season.
9. New York Yankees (74 points) – Last Week: #3
With 72 2/3 innings pitched over 11 starts, C.C. Sabathia continues to be a workhorse, but his 3.96 ERA is more than four tenths higher than his career average of 3.52.
10. Colorado Rockies (64 points) – Last Week: #11
Tulo has been hitting for power again this season
Each batting over .300 on the season, the trio of Carlos Gonzalez, Michael Cuddyer and Troy Tulowitzki has combined to hit 31 home runs.
11. Oakland Athletics (63 points) – Last Week: #16
Living up to his name, Grant Balfour has as many walks (11) as he has saves this season.
12. Baltimore Orioles (63 points) – Last Week: #13
Sure, the pitching has struggled, but opponents should beware of Baltimore’s offense, which is second in baseball in batting average (.275), first in slugging percentage (.459) and first in home runs (69).
13. Cleveland Indians (45 points) – Last Week: #5
Mark Reynolds (.259 average, 12 HR, 40 RBI) is enjoying a slight career resurgence this season.
14. San Francisco Giants (41 points) – Last Week: #12
Marco Scutaro (.323) and Buster Posey (.311) are the only Giants hitters batting over .300.
15. Tampa Bay Rays (33 points) – Last Week: #15
At this point in the season, who could have predicted that Jeremy Hellickson and David Price would have as many combined quality starts as Alex Cobb (8)?
16. Los Angeles Angels (21 points) – Last Week: #25
Mike Trout (10 HR, 37 RBI, 12 SB, .304 batting average) has been a major spark for an Angels team that has finally begun to wake up.
17. Chicago White Sox (15 points) – Last Week: #18
Barring a major team winning streak, Jake Peavy (6-2, 2.97 ERA), if healthy, appears to be a logical choice to be trade bait once the July trade deadline arrives in a few months.
18. Kansas City Royals (14 points) – Last Week: #14
While many of KC’s bats have struggled, Alex Gordon (.338 average, .377 OBP) has not.
19. Washington Nationals (11 points) – Last Week: #20
While the Nats have struggled offensively, it’s still a bit surprising to see a combined record of 6-8 between Gio Gonzalez and Stephen Strasburg over 22 starts.
20. Chicago Cubs (1 point) – Last Week: #17
Alfonso Soriano has posted a .278 average on the season, yet has just six walks in 180 AB’s.
21. Los Angeles Dodgers (-5 points) – Last Week: #21
In his first season with the Dodgers, Hyun-Jin Ryu is 5-2 with a 3.30 ERA and has settled in as the Dodgers’ second most consistent starter behind Clayton Kershaw.
22. Philadelphia Phillies (-7 points) – Last Week: #23
Acquired for his bat – and not his defense – Michael Young has struggled, batting just .260, with only 1 HR and 10 RBI in 173 AB’s.
23. San Diego Padres (-13 points) – Last Week: #19
It’s clear that the Padres need a power arm, as Eric Stults and Andrew Cashner are the current team leaders, with only 38 strikeouts each.
24. Toronto Blue Jays (-18 points) – Last Week: #28
Adam Lind (.304 average, 10 doubles, 4 HR in 115 AB) is having a bounce back year for the Jays.
25. Milwaukee Brewers (-31 points) – Last Week: #26
Jean Segura (6 doubles, 5 triples, 8 HR, 21 RBI, 14 steals, .347 average) continues to be the biggest surprise in the National League this season.
26. Minnesota Twins (-32 points) – Last Week: #22
Kevin Correia (5-4, 3.96 ERA) is the only Minnesota starter to have an ERA under 4.00 this year.
27. Seattle Mariners (-33 points) – Last Week: #24
Replacing the recently demoted Dustin Ackley, the Mariners hope Nick Franklin can add some spark to the team’s offense and middle infield.
28. New York Mets (-35 points) – Last Week: #27
Despite being surrounded by a struggling offense, David Wright (7 doubles, 4 triples, 7 HR, 29 RBI, .291 average) continues to post solid numbers in New York.
29. Houston Astros (-83 points) – Last Week: #30
Bud Norris leads the team in wins (4), qualifying ERA (3.71) and strikeouts (38).
30. Miami Marlins (-92 points) – Last Week: #29
The Marlins would be wise to try and move Ricky Nolasco (3-5, 3.65 ERA, 56 K) for prospects at the trade deadline in July.
* All stats per MLB.com
Note: RED = Falling 3+ spots from last week, GREEN = Rising 3+ spots from last week
The Wife Hates Sports MLB Power Rankings system has a method to its madness, attempting to be different and not just rank by popularity and record. It mixes a secret formula of six completely different categories, meshed into a points system. The categories don’t just include team results regarding record, but how each team has performed recently, as well as incorporating some statistics on both a team’s offense and pitching staff, too.
The Rays are a perfect example of ‘If it’s not one thing, it’s another.’
Last season, their pitching, both starters and bullpen, were lights out and their offense was non-existent.
This year, they already have four guys in double digit home runs but their #1 and 2 starters are struggling and their bully has Joe Maddon’s hair turning greyer than it already is.