As the MLB season resumes today, there’s a lot to look at, with no more than 73 games left for each team. Let’s start with the best teams in each league.
American League Best Team: Tampa Bay Rays (58-35, 1st in AL East)
The Rays own the American League’s best record at the All-Star break. However, they have slowed, losing 7 of their last 10 games. The team consists of two All-Star starters in first baseman Yandy Diaz (.323 AVG, .923 OPS, 13 HRs, 43 RBIs) and outfielder Randy Arozarena (.279 AVG, .855 OPS, 16 HRs, 58 RBIs). They have two other All-Stars on their roster, including ace Shane McClanahan (11-1, 2.53 ERA, 101 Ks), who is injured currently but should be good to go as the break ends. The other is shortstop Wander Franco (.278 AVG, .797 OPS, 11 HRs, 44 RBIs), who has put himself in the conversation as the team’s best player. The Rays are second in runs scored with 506, only the Rangers have more (531), and third in home runs with 137, behind the Braves (169) and Dodgers (149). The pitching staff holds a WHIP average of 1.20, only behind the Twins (1.16) and Mariners (1.17) in the MLB. They’ve allowed the third-least amount of runs with 357, behind the Braves (352) and Twins (353). The Rays resume with a trip to Kansas City tonight.
National League Best Team: Atlanta Braves (60-29, 1st in NL East)
This one’s quite obvious. The Braves have the best record in baseball, four games ahead of the Rays. The Braves had three All-Star starters, including catcher Sean Murphy (.306 AVG, .999 OPS, 17 HRs, 55 RBIs), shortstop Orlando Arcia (.294 AVG, .769 OPS, 7 HRs, 28 RBIs), and, of course, outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr., who I will talk about later. They have three All-Star reserves: first baseman Matt Olson (.254 AVG, .927 OPS, 29 HRs, 72 RBIs), second baseman Ozzie Albies (.262 AVG, .826 OPS, 22 HRs, 63 RBIs), and third baseman Austin Riley (.266 AVG, .775 OPS, 16 HRs, 44 RBIs). They’re a force offensively, but led by Bryce Elder (7-2, 2.97 ERA, 80 Ks), and Spencer Strider (11-2, 3.44 ERA, 166 Ks), they’re also hard to hit against. The Braves are better than all teams in ERA (3.63) and runs allowed (352). Offensively, they’re third in runs (499), first in home runs (169), third in RBIs (480), second in batting average (.271), and first in OPS (.831). They’re the best team in baseball, and it’s not close.
American League MVP: Shohei Ohtani, SP/DH, Los Angeles Angels
Ohtani has been the face of baseball for a while now, as a pitcher or in the batter’s box. As a pitcher, he has a 7-4 record, with a 3.32 ERA and 132 strikeouts (4th in MLB). As a batter, his average is .302, with a league-leading 32 home runs and 1.050 OPS, and he’s third in RBIs with 71, behind Adolis García (75) and Matt Olson (72). His opponents’ batting average is a league-best .189.
National League MVP: Ronald Acuña Jr., RF, Atlanta Braves
Acuña leads the majors in runs (79), is second in batting average (.331), and is second in OPS (.990). He also has 41 stolen bases this season, which beats everyone except Esteury Ruiz, who has 43.
American League Cy Young: Framber Valdez, Houston Astros
It’s a close race for the AL Cy Young Award, but Valdez is considered the favorite over Kevin Gausman, Gerrit Cole, Shane McClanahan, and Nathan Eovaldi, who I think are the other top pitchers in the American League. Despite a 7-6 record, Valdez leads all pitchers in ERA with 2.51, and he’s 10th in the American League in strikeouts with 116. Valdez has to add more wins and strikeouts while maintaining one of the best ERAs in the majors to secure the award.
National League Cy Young: Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks
Gallen started the All-Star Game on the mound for the National League, becoming the first Diamondback since Curt Schilling in 2002 to do so. While helping Arizona contend for the top of the NL West standings, he holds an 11-3 record. Only two other pitchers can say they have 11 wins: Shane McClanahan and Spencer Strider. Strider and Clayton Kershaw are the other top contenders for this award. Gallen has a 3.04 ERA (6th in NL), 125 strikeouts (10th in MLB), and 1.05 WHIP (t-best in NL). Opponents’ batting average against him is .226 (8th in NL).
American League Rookie of the Year: Masataka Yoshida, LF, Boston Red Sox
One of the best acquisitions this offseason was Yoshida coming to the Red Sox, and he has yet to disappoint. He leads all qualified rookies in batting average (.316), third in OPS (.874), tied for fourth in the AL in home runs (10), and tied for fourth in the MLB in RBIs (44). It’s a neck-and-neck race with Rangers third baseman Josh Jung, but Yoshida has my pick, at least for now.
National League Rookie of the Year: Corbin Carroll, LF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Carroll is the odds-on favorite to win the award, with the only contender being Reds rising star Elly De La Cruz, who hasn’t played the entire season. Out of qualified rookies, Carroll leads in OPS (.915), is fourth in batting average (.289), second in home runs (18), and third in RBIs (48).
American League Manager of the Year: Bruce Bochy, Texas Rangers
Bochy is no stranger to success as a manager. He won the 1996 NL Manager of the Year in his second season with the Padres. The three-time World Series champion, all with managing the Giants, came out of retirement and has made the Rangers one of the best teams in baseball.
National League Manager of the Year: Skip Schumaker, Miami Marlins
To many people’s surprise, the Marlins would be second in the NL East and have the top Wild Card spot. However, they have done exactly that so far. Schumaker has impressed in his first year of managing after being a coach for the Padres and Cardinals. It’s a close race between him and Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo, but I’ll give it to Schumaker.
Most Surprising Team: Texas Rangers (52-39, 1st in AL West)
I didn’t think the Rangers would have the majority of the American League All-Star starting lineup, along with a Cy Young contender in Nathan Eovaldi, but here we are. They’re two games ahead of the defending World Series champion Houston Astros.
Most Disappointing Team: New York Mets (42-48, 4th in NL East)
The Mets have the highest total payroll in the MLB. Their roster is among some of the most talented in the league. Their rotation consists of Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and Kodai Senga as leading starting pitchers. It’s a shame that closer Edwin Díaz is on the 60-day IL, as he was one of the reasons the Mets had success last year, finishing with a 101-63 record. They have a threatening infield headlined by a trio of Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, and Francisco Lindor, but only Alonso was named an All-Star this season.
Calhoun's Corner 