The Times’ MLB rankings
Last week’s ranking in parentheses, statistics are through Friday:
1. KANSAS CITY: The Royals gave up one run in a four-game stretch, and they weren’t even playing the Dodgers. (5)
2. WASHINGTON: The Nationals haven’t been shut out three times all season. (7)
3. ST. LOUIS: The Cardinals had their own record chase going, 23 scoreless innings before breaking through Saturday. (2)
4. SAN FRANCISCO: Seven-game winning streak has Giants rising faster than San Francisco apartment prices. (16)
5. DETROIT: James McCann has two home runs in his career. One was a walk-off against Houston on Thursday. (3)
6. HOUSTON: Dallas Keuchel’s 6-0 record is the team’s best start since Roger Clemens in 2004. (6)
7. CHICAGO CUBS: Infield is so loaded, there’s no room for Javier Baez, who hit nine home runs in 52 games last season. (4)
8. DODGERS: It’s pretty clear that San Francisco owns the Dodgers, so maybe the Giants can fix the TV situation? (1)
9. ANGELS: Mike Trout is the best at a lot of things. Sliding now can be added to the list. (9)
10. TAMPA BAY: The Rays have the worst record of any division leader. (10)
11. MINNESOTA: Joe Mauer hit his first home run of the season during the week. (8)
12. NEW YORK METS: David Wright’s rehab has been shut down indefinitely. Offense is not on the way. (12)
13. ARIZONA: Nick Ahmed has two career home runs, and one was off $155-million Cubs ace Jon Lester on Friday. (21)
14. ATLANTA: The Braves are the early winners of the Shelby Miller for Jason Heyward trade. Miller is 5-1. (17)
15. BALTIMORE: Jimmy Paredes has reached base in every game this month, 24 in a row overall. (24)
16. CHICAGO WHITE SOX: The team retired Paul Konerko’s number. They might consider asking him to DH, too. (14)
17. SEATTLE: If he can keep this up and stay healthy, Nelson Cruz has a reasonable shot at 60 home runs. (20)
18. CLEVELAND: Winners of five games in a row … and still in last place in the division. (25)
19. TEXAS: Prince Fielder is back. He’s batting .351 with eight home runs and 30 runs batted in. (23)
20. NEW YORK YANKEES: Had they lost eight of nine when George Steinbrenner was owner, pink slips would abound. (11)
21. SAN DIEGO: Matt Kemp is tied for the worst wins above replacement in May in the major leagues. (13)
22. BOSTON: Hanley Ramirez, another former Dodger, is tied with Kemp in the dubious WAR statistic (see above). (19)
23. PITTSBURGH: Pirates don’t crack the top 20 in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging or runs. (22)
24. CINCINNATI: Manager Bryan Price was ejected before Saturday’s game. He doesn’t want to watch team, either. (15)
25. TORONTO: Starters’ earned-run average of 5.20 is rising dangerously close to Colorado Rockies levels.(18)
26. PHILADELPHIA: Party like it’s 2011. Ryan Howard leads the Phillies in home runs and RBIs. (27)
27. MILWAUKEE: Will Smith was suspended for having a foreign substance on his arm. (28)
28. COLORADO: The Rockies started out 4-0. That was a long, long time ago. (30)
29. MIAMI: Losers of eight games in a row, Marlins are now behind even the Phillies. (26)
30. OAKLAND: Really, nothing has gone right for the Athletics since last year’s trade deadline. (29)
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