MLB division rankings: All six division standings by run differential

One look at the standings in the middle of June offers some surprises around MLB.

The Tampa Bay Rays continue to play well and are the class of the American League East two and a half months into the season, while the Minnesota Twins are in first place in the American League Central which nobody wants to take control of. In the American League West, the Texas Rangers continue to lead followed by the Houston Astros.

In the National League, the Atlanta Braves continue to lead the East and is being followed by the upstart Miami Marlins. The National League Central looks similar to the AL Central with the Pittsburgh Pirates leading the way, followed by the Milwaukee Brewers and after that everyone else in under .500. In the NL West, the Arizona Diamondbacks have a lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in somewhat of a surprise.

A lot can change and a lot will change over the summer. There is the trade deadline and this season, it looks like it’s going to be a tough call for some teams on whether or not they are going to be buyers or sellers and a lot of that will be determined over the next month. The standings in both the division and Wild Card will have a lot to say about that.

With that said, let’s take a fun look at what each MLB division’s standings would currently be based on run differential so far in 2023.

AL Central standings based on run differential

1. Minnesota Twins – +42

2. Cleveland Guardians – -21

3. Chicago White Sox – -56

4. Detroit Tigers – -82

5. Kansas City Royals – 104

Ok, someone has to win this division. Those are the rules. Someone is going to be playing playoff baseball. Who that is remains to be seen, but the Twins are setting the pace both in the record and run differential.

After that, it’s a mess. The Guardians could be forced to trade pitcher Shane Bieber, but they’re just 2.5 games behind Minnesota. Pitching has been inconsistent as well as their offense except for Jose Ramirez. It seems like it’s a fight every night for them to get a win and a lot of things have to go their way.

The White Sox were not expected to be a playoff team before the season started and their pitching has made sure that most likely does not happen. They are a team stuck in the middle of trying to compete and rebuild. Not a great position to be in.

The Tigers played well early in the season, but June has not been too kind to them. They have been swept by the White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, and Arizona Diamondbacks. The worst loss happened on Sunday when they took a 5-3 lead into the top of the ninth only allowing four runs in a 7-5 loss. They snapped their June swoon Monday night with a 6-5 walk-off win over the Braves. Go figure. Then there’s the Royals who continue to find ways to lose games at home and one the road. Is it time they trade catcher Salvador Perez this summer?

AL West standings based on run differential

1. Texas Rangers – +142

2. Houston Astros – +60

3. Los Angeles Angels – +21

4. Seattle Mariners – +10

5. Oakland Athletics – -192

The biggest surprise this season is hands down the Rangers. They have an offense that can punish any pitching staff on a nightly basis. It’s a fun offense to watch. Nathan Eovaldi has been a huge addition to their rotation and they will be looking to add more pitching after Jacob deGrom announced that he needs Tommy John surgery. Tough blow to both deGrom and Texas.

Of course, the Astros are going to be a team that will have to be reckoned with as Jose Altuve has come back and they are putting up runs and their pitching is turning a corner after struggling early in the season. The Angels are the wild card in this division. Shohei Ohtani has been doing it both on the mound and at the plate. Monday night against Texas, he blasted a 453-foot home run to center field. Offensively, they should be putting up more runs.

One disappointment this season has been the Mariners. After beating the Blue Jays last season in the Wild Card game, they have not been able to hit when they have been getting good pitching performances and they have not been able to pitch well enough when their offense breaks out. Tough to be successful when you can consistently get both.

Then there is the Oakland A’s. What is there to say? They look like an organization that’s going to end up in Las Vegas, they are going through one of the more painful rebuilds in recent memory, but to their credit, they show up on a nightly basis and compete. They just don’t have much MLB talent.

NL East standings based on run differential

1. Atlanta Braves – +68

2. Philadelphia Phillies – -22

3. New York Mets – -23

4. Miami Marlins – -33

5. Washington Nationals – -50

The Braves, to no one’s surprise, lead the division in both record and run differential. Spencer Strider has become a strikeout machine and their offense can erupt at any time. They have had their struggles at times this season, but they without a doubt the division’s most consistent team.

Right behind them in run differential is the Mets, who are sitting four games under .500, nine games back of Atlanta, but they are second in run differential. A lot of reasons can be for that, but they are battling injuries right now, most notably Pete Alonso. This is one of if not the most, disappointing team this season.

Miami is hanging around the Braves and is the only other team in the division owning a record over .500 at 37-30. Luis Arraez leads the majors in hitting and is a big reason they are having success this season. Speaking of disappointing, the Phillies have not been able to go on a consistent run and their pitching has been shaky. Kyle Schwarber is doing all he can to keep Philadelphia in the race, but they need to fix their pitcher sooner rather than later.

The Nationals are like the Royals in a rebuild but have been more competitive as of late. Still, they will be sellers at the trade deadline looking ahead to the future.

NL Central standings based on run differential

1. Chicago Cubs – -5

2. Pittsburgh Pirates – -6

3. St. Louis Cardinals – -10

4. Milwaukee Brewers – -23

5. Cincinnati Reds – -32

In terms of the standings based on wins and losses as compared to run differential, the NL Central is by far the most upside-down division.

The Pirates lead the division in terms of wins and losses with a 34-30 record, while the Brewers are right behind at 34-32 as the only other team in the division over .500. The Reds, Cubs, and Cardinals round out the division in terms of wins and losses, but that’s not what the run differential numbers tell us.

St. Louis is third in run differential but in last place 8.5 games behind Pittsburgh. Chicago, in fourth place in terms of wins and losses, is first in run differential. Milwaukee did not do themselves any favors last weekend by getting swept at home by Oakland, but their pitching has struggled most of the season.

Cincinnati is in third place by wins and losses, but they are bringing up the rear in run differential. Overall, this division is up for grabs for any team. One winning streak in late June or early July can help a team turn things around, but the division having the biggest margins in the standings from wind and losses to run differential is the NL Central in 2023.

NL West standings based on run differential

1. Los Angeles Dodgers – +66

2. Arizona Diamondbacks – +29

3. San Francisco Giants – +24

4. San Diego Padres – +22

5. Colorado Rockies – -67

The Diamondbacks have taken over first place by four games over the Dodgers and they are doing this by winning games in multiple ways, a low-scoring pitchers duel or a slugfest. Corbin Carroll is turning into one of the better younger players on a team that has been knocking on the door to be a contender.

The Dodgers have slipped recently because of their bullpen, which ranks near the bottom of the majors. Their offense has been its job, but once manager Dave Roberts needs to go to the bullpen, it is hope for the best. They recently lost two games to the Yankees at home and Reds on the road with bullpen implosions. It’s an area they need to address at the trade deadline to have playoff success.

San Diego, on paper, has one of the best rosters, but as we know, paper doesn’t win anything. There is too much talent in the lineup and on the mound to be this inconsistent and need to turn things around soon. They have added some big names at the trade deadline in 2022 and in free agency and just hasn’t worked out yet. Heck, Gary Sanchez is having a turnaround with them that not many people saw coming.

San Francisco has been a surprise being over .500, but just how good are they? They are a team that could be either a buyer or seller at the trade deadline. Colorado? Well, at least their fans have the Nuggets to celebrate winning the NBA title Monday night.