The Times’ baseball rankings
Last week’s ranking in parentheses, statistics are through Friday’s games:
1. ANGELS: If Chris Iannetta had more plate appearances, his .385 OBP would tie for third in the AL. (1)
2. BALTIMORE: Seven with at least 10 HR: N. Cruz, C. Davis, A. Jones, S. Pearce, J. Schoop, N. Markakis, M. Machado. (2)
3. WASHINGTON: Closer Rafael Soriano’s ERA before All-Star break: 0.97; after All-Star break: 6.98. (3)
4. DODGERS: Clayton Kershaw hits 200-K mark for fifth straight year. NL record: Nine straight 200-K years, by Tom Seaver. (4)
5. SAN FRANCISCO: NL pitcher of month: Bumgarner in May, Kershaw in June, Kershaw in July, Bumgarner in August. (5)
6. KANSAS CITY: James Shields one of two pitchers with at least 13 wins five years running. The other? Kershaw. (7)
7. ST. LOUIS: Them again? (14)
8. SEATTLE: Kendrys Morales: 2 HR on Friday, 1 HR in 154 AB for Twins. Thanks for almost nothing. Love, Minnesota. (12)
9. DETROIT: Starting pitcher for Tigers ($170-million payroll) on ESPN tonight? Six-year minor leaguer Kyle Lobstein. (9)
10. OAKLAND: Adam Dunn’s first four games with A’s: 11 AB, 5 H, 2 HR. Backing off retirement talk faster than he runs. (8)
11. ATLANTA: Craig Kimbrel: 91% save percentage in first 200 opportunities. Only pitcher to do better: Eric Gagne (93%). (6)
12. CLEVELAND: Saturday promotion: “Tribute to Huey Lewis and the News.” San Francisco, maybe, but Cleveland? (11)
13. NY YANKEES: On Jeter farewell day, who was the next-to-last Yankee to wear No. 2? IF Mike Gallego. (15)
14. TORONTO: First (maybe only?) pair of 30-HR teammates this year: Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. (16)
15. MILWAUKEE: Jonathan Lucroy: 39 doubles as a catcher. NL record: 44, set last year by Cardinals’ Yadier Molina. (10)
16. PITTSBURGH: Pirates announce postseason ticket protocol when they’re 71-68 — and 1 1/2 out in wild-card race. (13)
17. MIAMI: Kershaw’s MVP competition: Stanton leads NL in HR, RBI, OBP, SLG, walks, total bases, extra-base hits. (18).
18. TAMPA BAY: Rays on pace to draw MLB-low 1.4 million, their lowest since dropping “Devil” from nickname in ’08. (19)
19. NY METS: David Wright, age 31: OPS down from .904 last year to .698 this year. Mets owe him $107 million from 2015-20. (22)
20. HOUSTON: The Great State of Dysfunction: Astros fire their manager four days before Rangers’ manager quits. (27
21. PHILADELPHIA: Ben Revere, second OF taken in ’07 draft (after Jason Heyward) leads NL with .316 BA. (25)
22. BOSTON: Yoenis Cespedes, first 32 games with Red Sox: .297, 26 RBIs. (24)
23. SAN DIEGO: Best part of CHP report on Everth Cabrera’s pot arrest: “Released to custody of his mother-in-law.” (20)
24. CINCINNATI: Impressive: Billy Hamilton’s 56 SB. Not so impressive: Hamilton’s 21 CS, 73% success rate. (17)
26. CHICAGO WHITE SOX: AL ERA leader: Chris Sale, 2.09. NL ERA leader: Kershaw, 1.70. (23)
25. CHICAGO CUBS: Mega-prospect 3B Kris Bryant, 43 HR. Last to do it in minors: Angels 3B Brandon Wood (’05). (21)
27. MINNESOTA: Kevin Correia, traded from Twins to Dodgers a month ago, still leads AL in losses. (26)
28. COLORADO: Jorge De La Rosa, who forgoes free agency to stay in Colorado: 53-23, 4.45 at Coors Field; 30-44, 4.73 away. (29)
29. ARIZONA: Playoff appearances: 3 in 7 years under former owner Jerry Colangelo, 2 in 10 years under Ken Kendrick. (28)
30. TEXAS: Interim manager Tim Bogar played last MLB game with ’01 Dodgers. Jeff Reboulet pinch-hit for him. (30)
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