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MLB Power Rankings: Seattle still surging

By Bobby Mueller

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: Nelson Cruz #23 of the Seattle Mariners connects on a broken bat single in the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 21, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: Nelson Cruz #23 of the Seattle Mariners connects on a broken bat single in the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 21, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – JUNE 25: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles bats during a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 25, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

#30 (29) Kansas City Royals, 25-58, .301 (24-59 Expected Record)
-158 run-differential, 5-21 over the last 30 days

How bad are the Royals? They have the second-worst record in baseball, have won just three of their last eighteen games, and have the worst ERA and the second-worst offense in baseball (81 wRC+, meaning they are 19 percent below average on offense after adjusting for league and park effects). They could challenge for the worst record in franchise history. They were 56-106 back in 2005.

#29 (30) Baltimore Orioles, 24-59, .289 (28-55 Expected Record)
-123 run-differential, 6-20 over the last 30 days

Not to be totally outdone by the Royals, the Baltimore Orioles have the worst offense and worst defense in baseball. Their pitching, primarily the bullpen, has been good enough to keep them just out of the bottom spot in the Power Rankings. When they trade Manny Machado, they might have to expand their Kids Cheer Free program to Everyone Cheers Free.

#28 (27) Chicago White Sox, 29-54, .349 (30-53 Expected Record)
-109 run-differential, 12-17 over the last 30 days

One of the early bright spots for the White Sox was third baseman Matt Davidson. In his first 42 games, he had a .368 OBP and .521 SLG. The big change was a much-improved 15.8 percent walk rate and a slightly improved 32.2 percent strikeout rate Then he went on the DL. Since he returned from the DL, he’s walked 10.1 percent of the time and struck out 44.9 percent of the time.

#27 (24) New York Mets, 33-48, .407 (34-47 Expected Record)
-58 run-differential, 6-20 over the last 30 days

Rumor has it that Jacob deGrom is fed up with losing. That’s not surprising. He’s started 17 games this year and has a 1.84 ERA, yet his record is just 5-4. The Mets have won just two of their last twelve games and GM Sandy Alderson is taking a leave of absence to undergo cancer treatment. The front office has until the end of the month to decide whether to blow things up and trade deGrom or Noah Syndergaard or hold on to them and continue to be the Mets we’ve come to know and love.

#26 (28) Miami Marlins, 34-51, .400 (30-55 Expected Record)
-110 run-differential, 14-14 over the last 30 days

If the Power Rankings included attendance figures, the Marlins would be on the very bottom. They averaged 20395 fans per game last year. This year, they’re at 9986, or 49 percent of last year’s total. The next-lowest teams are the Royals and Blue Jays, both at 73 percent of last year’s attendance.

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