How the Los Angeles Dodgers stack up against MLB’s greatest teams

Adjusted run differential

Due to the difference in era norms, calculating run differential is a complex, three-step process. First, determine each team’s runs scored as a percentage of the league average. Second, do the same thing for runs allowed. Third, add the two percentage increments.

When you do, the 1906 Cubs emerge with the best adjusted run differential. That team scored 704 runs, 128.2 percent of the 1906 NL average of 549. It also allowed just 381 runs, 30.5 percent fewer than the league average. That puts the Cubs adjusted run differential at 158.7.

By that process, three other teams top 150 percent, and the 2022 Dodgers (150.7) are one of them.

The 2001 Mariners, who we’ve been following, manage only a 138.2 adjusted run differential, which by the standard of this elite group is slightly below average.

Here is the rank for this category.

1              1906 Chicago Cubs                           158.7

2              1939 New York Yankees                  151.3

3              1902 Pittsburgh Pirates                  150.8

4              2022 Los Angeles Dodgers             150.7

5              1927 New York Yankees                  148.8

6              1909 Pittsburgh Pirates                  145.0

7              2001 Seattle Mariners                     138.2

8              1998 New York Yankees                  138.0

9              1954 Cleveland Indians                    137.3

10           1907 Chicago Cubs                             134.8

11           1931 Philadelphia Athletics             129.3

The three most recent .700 teams, the 1954 Indians, 1998 Yankees, and 2001 Mariners, all rank below the average of this elite group.