So far in the 2019 MLB season, even the best teams are showing glaring inequalities in their on-field performance
Whatever happened to balance? It has gone out of fashion so far in the 2019 MLB season. Not one of MLB’s 30 teams ranks among the majors’ top 10 in both runs scored per game and fewest runs allowed per game.
In almost every case, teams featuring strong offenses this year have average-at-best run prevention statistics, and vice versa.
This is a stark departure from the usual winning formula, which emphasizes a balanced approach to run production and run prevention. As recently as last season, six teams – all of which reached the post-season – ranked among the majors’ top 10 in both runs scored per game and fewest runs allowed per game. The World Series-winning Boston Red Sox were among them with a majors’ leading 5.41 runs per game while allowing just 3.99 runs per game, the sixth-best average.
Thus far in 2019, 10 teams have winning percentages of .600 or better. None ranks among the majors’ top 10 in both categories, and only four even rank among the top half in both.
History suggests that must change. Not since 2014, when the San Francisco Giants presented the majors’ 12th best offense and ninth best pitching staff, has a team won the World Series without ranking at least top 10 in both phases of the game.
Some of this is ascribable to the fact that it’s still early in the season. But through two weeks of play, it’s at least fair to ask whether the numbers aren’t revealing potentially fatal flaws in presumed contenders. Here’s a look at the 10 .600 teams and the questions their statistics to date are raising.