It’s September! We’re just a month away from playoff baseball! Where is your team in this week’s MLB betting rankings?
In the middle of a lost season, Dee Gordon has swiped 45 bases and his hitting .332. The only other Marlins to do that well in both categories? Hanley Ramirez (51 SB, .332 in 2007) and Luis Castillo (62 SB, .334 in 2000).
Remember that resurgence after the All-Star break? Yeah, the Phillies are falling back to earth. Against the Mets they are 1-12 this year.
Justin Morneau and Kyle Kendrick are expected back in September, but all they will do is steal playing time from prospects as the rosters expand.
Yes, the Reds are dreadful, but Joey Votto is still raking, with a .312 average and 25 long balls.
In four games last week, the Brew Crew scored at least five runs – but lost all of them thanks to bad pitching.
Yes, it’s time to look ahead to 2016. The Braves have won 1 of their past 13 contests.
Switch-pitcher (yes, you read it right – he pitches with both hands) picked up his first major league win when he tossed two scoreless frames as the A’s rolled over Arizona.
Ten games under .500 means that the wild card is officially out of reach. Justin Verlander is pitching well, though, so 2016 should be better.
The M’s have canned GM jack Zduriencik, as basically none of his draft choices or free agent signings worked out well, with the possible exception of Nelson Cruz.
Ace Clay Buchholz is done for the season, thanks to injuries, but if he passes that physical, the club will exercise its option for 2016.
You can thank Jeff Samardzija for his role in the White Sox collapse after the end of July. His August numbers? 0-6, 8.82 ERA, 47 H, 8 HR, 33.2 IP. Yikes.
Four Tribe hurlers have at least 150 strikeouts this season, and the Indians have won 8 of 10.
The Padres are enjoying the work of Ian Kennedy, who has a nifty 2.32 ERA since the All-Star break.
The D’backs were looking at a wild card run after taking four in a row from the Reds, but then the Cardinals swept them, knocking them back to earth. Arizona needs more solid pitching next year.
Chris Arch has only allowed 15 home runs in 175 innings while striking out 217, good for third in the American League.
It’s been a big collapse since the end of July for Buck Showalter’s team. A telling stat: They are 17-24 in one-run ballgames.
Mike Trout has had a cold August, hitting .227 with just one home run and six RBI. The Angels are floating around .500 but need to surge to think about that second wild card.
The Twins keep beating other contenders and are lurking behind the Rangers, hoping to catch that second wild card. Miguel Sano has six home runs and 12 RBI in his last 15 games.
Jayson Werth needs to bat leadoff more often. He has a .325 average and a .413 OBP in his 40 at-bats in that spot.
The Rangers could catch the Houston Astros, as they are three out in the AL West with seven more games against the division leaders. Delino DeShields has the league’s lowest percentage for swings at pitches that are not in the strike zone (16.9%).
Marlon Byrd has brought life back to the offense, but Hunter Pence and Joe Panik are still on the DL. The team is still on the edge of a division title, 3 1/2 games behind the Dodgers.
Luis Severino has been terrific since his callup, hurling 29 innings with an ERA of 2.17.
The Astros had an impressive streak of nine straight games permitting no more than two runs. Who was the last team to do that? The Pirates in 1992.
Clayton Kershaw has not lost since June 27. Since then, he has 10 starts with a 6-0 record and a 0.92 ERA.
Tyler Clippard has made 18 appearances on the mound. The numbers: 17.2 IP, 0.51 ERA, 1 HR. Not bad.
Toronto has put up at least 9 runs in six of the last 9 games.
Jake Arrieta threw his first career no-hitter on Sunday. In August, he went 6-0 with an ERA of just 0.43.
The Bucs have won 14 of 18 but only gained 2 1/2 games on the Cardinals.
Kendrys Morales could end up leading the American League with RBI and is hitting .350 with runners in scoring position.
Matt Carpenter is hitting well again now that he is back in the leadoff position. Rookie Stephen Piscotty has a nice .576 slugging percentage since coming up in July.
Sources ESPN.com (http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/13558375/colorado-rockies-activate-kyle-kendrick-boone-logan-recall-4-others) Yahoo.com (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7481/)
#30 Miami Marlins
In the middle of a lost season, Dee Gordon has swiped 45 bases and his hitting .332. The only other Marlins to do that well in both categories? Hanley Ramirez (51 SB, .332 in 2007) and Luis Castillo (62 SB, .334 in 2000).
#29 Philadelphia Phillies
Remember that resurgence after the All-Star break? Yeah, the Phillies are falling back to earth. Against the Mets they are 1-12 this year.
#28 Colorado Rockies
Justin Morneau and Kyle Kendrick are expected back in September, but all they will do is steal playing time from prospects as the rosters expand.
#27 Cincinnati Reds
Yes, the Reds are dreadful, but Joey Votto is still raking, with a .312 average and 25 long balls.
#26 Milwaukee Brewers
In four games last week, the Brew Crew scored at least five runs – but lost all of them thanks to bad pitching.
#25 Atlanta Braves
Yes, it’s time to look ahead to 2016. The Braves have won 1 of their past 13 contests.
#24 Oakland A’s
Switch-pitcher (yes, you read it right – he pitches with both hands) picked up his first major league win when he tossed two scoreless frames as the A’s rolled over Arizona.
#23 Detroit Tigers
Ten games under .500 means that the wild card is officially out of reach. Justin Verlander is pitching well, though, so 2016 should be better.
#22 Seattle Mariners
The M’s have canned GM jack Zduriencik, as basically none of his draft choices or free agent signings worked out well, with the possible exception of Nelson Cruz.
#21 Boston Red Sox
Ace Clay Buchholz is done for the season, thanks to injuries, but if he passes that physical, the club will exercise its option for 2016.
#20 Chicago White Sox
You can thank Jeff Samardzija for his role in the White Sox collapse after the end of July. His August numbers? 0-6, 8.82 ERA, 47 H, 8 HR, 33.2 IP. Yikes.
#19 Cleveland Indians
Four Tribe hurlers have at least 150 strikeouts this season, and the Indians have won 8 of 10.
#18 San Diego Padres
The Padres are enjoying the work of Ian Kennedy, who has a nifty 2.32 ERA since the All-Star break.
#17 Arizona Diamondbacks
The D’backs were looking at a wild card run after taking four in a row from the Reds, but then the Cardinals swept them, knocking them back to earth. Arizona needs more solid pitching next year.
#16 Tampa Bay Rays
Chris Arch has only allowed 15 home runs in 175 innings while striking out 217, good for third in the American League.
#15 Baltimore Orioles
It’s been a big collapse since the end of July for Buck Showalter’s team. A telling stat: They are 17-24 in one-run ballgames.
#14 Los Angeles Angels
Mike Trout has had a cold August, hitting .227 with just one home run and six RBI. The Angels are floating around .500 but need to surge to think about that second wild card.
#13 Minnesota Twins
The Twins keep beating other contenders and are lurking behind the Rangers, hoping to catch that second wild card. Miguel Sano has six home runs and 12 RBI in his last 15 games.
#12 Washington Nationals
Jayson Werth needs to bat leadoff more often. He has a .325 average and a .413 OBP in his 40 at-bats in that spot.
#11 Texas Rangers
The Rangers could catch the Houston Astros, as they are three out in the AL West with seven more games against the division leaders. Delino DeShields has the league’s lowest percentage for swings at pitches that are not in the strike zone (16.9%).
#10 San Francisco Giants
Marlon Byrd has brought life back to the offense, but Hunter Pence and Joe Panik are still on the DL. The team is still on the edge of a division title, 3 1/2 games behind the Dodgers.
#9 New York Yankees
Luis Severino has been terrific since his callup, hurling 29 innings with an ERA of 2.17.
#8 Houston Astros
The Astros had an impressive streak of nine straight games permitting no more than two runs. Who was the last team to do that? The Pirates in 1992.
#7 Los Angeles Dodgers
Clayton Kershaw has not lost since June 27. Since then, he has 10 starts with a 6-0 record and a 0.92 ERA.
#6 New York Mets
Tyler Clippard has made 18 appearances on the mound. The numbers: 17.2 IP, 0.51 ERA, 1 HR. Not bad.
#5 Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto has put up at least 9 runs in six of the last 9 games.
#4 Chicago Cubs
Jake Arrieta threw his first career no-hitter on Sunday. In August, he went 6-0 with an ERA of just 0.43.
#3 Pittsburgh Pirates
The Bucs have won 14 of 18 but only gained 2 1/2 games on the Cardinals.
#2 Kansas City Royals
Kendrys Morales could end up leading the American League with RBI and is hitting .350 with runners in scoring position.
#1 St. Louis Cardinals
Matt Carpenter is hitting well again now that he is back in the leadoff position. Rookie Stephen Piscotty has a nice .576 slugging percentage since coming up in July.
Sources ESPN.com (http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/13558375/colorado-rockies-activate-kyle-kendrick-boone-logan-recall-4-others) Yahoo.com (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7481/)
