The Times’ MLB rankings

Last week’s ranking in parentheses, statistics are through Friday’s games:

1. KANSAS CITY: Yordano Ventura threatened a beanball if the Royals weren’t atop the rankings. (2)

2. ST. LOUIS: The Cardinals’ 1.92 earned-run average leads the league. (3)

3. BOSTON: The Red Sox’s batting average is the lowest to start a season in 23 years, yet they’re still producing runs. (4)

4. DETROIT: The Tigers were outscored 33-8 during a four-game losing streak. (1)

5. SAN DIEGO: Only the Padres and Royals rank in the top six in runs scored and ERA. (6)

6. DODGERS: The Dodgers were ahead of schedule in San Francisco. Normally the hitting doesn’t disappear until Oct. (5)

7. COLORADO: Nolan Arenado has a 1.035 OPS, and he has already saved four runs with his defense. (9)

8. CHICAGO CUBS: All four infielders are under 25, and Javier Baez isn’t even up yet. (10)

9. N.Y. YANKEES: This week’s biggest movers are scoring the second-most runs in baseball. (27)

10. N.Y. METS: Of course the Mets’ league-high winning streak would end against the Yankees. (15)

11. TORONTO: The Blue Jays’ 5.7 runs per game leads the majors. (12)

12. PITTSBURGH: At 38, A.J. Burnett can still pitch. He’s striking out almost a batter an inning. (16)

13. WASHINGTON: The Nationals are second to last in defensive runs saved. (7)

14. HOUSTON: The Astros are batting .219 as a team — and lead the American League West. (24)

15. ANGELS: Three regulars, Albert Pujols, Matt Joyce and Chris Iannetta, are batting below the Mendoza Line. (11)

16. OAKLAND: The Athletics pitched a one-hitter and still lost to the Angels. (13)

17. TAMPA BAY: How about some run support? Chris Archer owns a 1.07 ERA yet somehow is only 2-2. (20)

18. BALTIMORE: The Orioles didn’t lose five in a row all of last year. They’ve done it in the first month this year. (8)

19. SEATTLE: Felix Hernandez gives up .79 walks or hits per inning, third-best among American League starters. (21)

20. CLEVELAND: The Indians’ talented rotation has been middling. It ranks 14th in earned-run average. (17)

21. CINCINNATI: Joey Votto is tied for the National League lead in home runs, with six. (19)

22. CHICAGO WHITE SOX: The White Sox fight better than they play. (18)

23. ATLANTA: How you know it has gotten dire for the Braves this past week: They lost to the Phillies. (14)

24. ARIZONA: Hey, at least they’re ahead of the Giants in the West. (22)

26. TEXAS: Rangers fans chanted “crackhead” at Josh Hamilton two years ago. Now he’s headed back. (23)

25. MIAMI: Dee Gordon has settled in nicely. He is batting .370 with eight stolen bases. (25)

27. MINNESOTA: Torii Hunter is 39 years old. He tried to steal home last week. He failed. (26)

28. SAN FRANCISCO: Swept the Dodgers, still are not good. (30)

29. PHILADELPHIA: The Phillies are so bad, they’re ranked below even the Giants. (28)

30. MILWAUKEE: Brewers own the second-worst ERA and score second-fewest runs. So there’s still room for regression. (29)