The Times’ Major League Baseball rankings

The Times’ Kevin Baxter shares his take on how baseball’s 30 teams rank:

1. OAKLAND: Foes hitting only .217 against A’s, who are allowing fewer runners per inning (1.11) than any other team. (2)

2. SAN FRANCISCO: It’s 24-1 when leading in seventh inning; has given up MLB-low 42 runs from seventh inning on. (4)

3. DETROIT: Tigers give up 31 runs in a four-game losing streak, their longest slide in a year. (1)

4. MILWAUKEE: Aggressive Carlos Gomez hitting .531, with four of his 10 home runs, on the first pitch. (3)

5. ANGELS: Last time Angels were seven games over .500 after 47 games was 2008; won MLB-best 100 games that year. (6)

6. TORONTO: Edwin Encarnacion’s 11 home runs in May give the Blue Jays the MLB lead with 68. (15)

7. ST. LOUIS: Cardinals rotation (22-14, 2.97 ERA) is tied for most wins and has third-best ERA in majors. (11)

8. ATLANTA: No team in the National League has more shutouts (seven) or quality starts (34). (9)

9. DODGERS: Yasiel Puig was in minors last May; hitting .418 with NL-best seven home runs, 23 runs batted in this May. (10)

10. MINNESOTA: Second in American League in on-base percentage, but tops MLB at 7.76 runners left on base. (17)

11. COLORADO: Nolan Arenado (.305) out because of a broken finger, leaving Rockies with only seven .300 hitters. (5)

12. BALTIMORE: Chris Davis more than doubles season home run total in last seven days, hitting four. (3)

13. MIAMI: Marlins are a franchise-best 19-7 at home after 26 games but are an MLB-worst 6-17 on the road. (13)

14. SEATTLE: After averaging more than 28 home runs the last five years, Robinson Cano has only two this year. (21)

15. CHICAGO WHITE SOX: Chris Sale (4-0, 1.89) back from DL, retires first 17 batters in first start in more than a month. (14)

16. NEW YORK YANKEES: After first loss in 42 regular-season starts, including Japan, Masahiro Tanaka is 6-1, 2.39. (12)

17. WASHINGTON: Began Saturday with a chance to fall under .500 for the first time since Aug. 22. (8)

18. KANSAS CITY: James Shields wins three straight starts, going seven innings in each. (19)

19. CINCINNATI: Reds right fielders are hitting .192 combined, lowest average in the majors. (18)

20. TEXAS: Neck injury ends first baseman Prince Fielder’s streak of consecutive games at 547. (16)

21. PITTSBURGH: Jason Grilli comes off DL to earn first save since April 14. Pirates have blown MLB-high 11 save chances. (25)

22. CLEVELAND: A playoff team in 2013, Indians haven’t been above .500 this year since April 9. (24)

23. SAN DIEGO: Huston Street (13 saves) has given up one run in 18 games, fewest among full-time closers. (23)

24. NEW YORK METS: Their 6-14 record in May is the worst in the major leagues. (26)

26. TAMPA BAY: Consecutive walk-off wins last week marked first time Rays have done that since July 2009. (22)

25. PHILADELPHIA: With Cliff Lee, Chase Utley and Marlon Byrd, Phillies could make a big splash at the trade deadline. (27)

27. ARIZONA: Rookie Chase Anderson gives up six runs in two starts and wins both. He’s 2-0 with a 5.06 ERA. (28)

28. BOSTON: In losing eight games in a row, Red Sox have first winless homestand of six games or more since 1994. (20)

29. CHICAGO CUBS: Jeff Samardzija is winless in 10 starts despite having an NL-best 1.46 ERA. (30)

30. HOUSTON: Astros have scored three runs in last three games and have an AL-low 172 this season. (29)