Kevin Baxter’s Major League Baseball rankings

Summer isn’t very old, but baseball is approaching the midpoint of its 162-game schedule. So in honor of that, resident Bard Kevin Baxter offers a Shakespearian “Midsummer Night’s Dream” team rankings (records through Thursday’s games):

“BE NOT AFRAID OF GREATNESS”

1. PHILADELPHIA (51-31): Much of the rotation, three closers are on the DL. But Cliff Lee’s healthy.

2. N.Y. YANKEES (48-31): Patient Yanks lead majors in walks, runs, HRs and slugging percentage.

3. BOSTON (46-34): Slugging Sox averaged more than six runs a game in June.

4. MILWAUKEE (44-38): Prince Fielder topped baseball with 10 HRs, 27 RBIs last month.

5. SAN FRANCISCO (46-36): Aubrey Huff leads with eight HRs — same as Rod Barajas.

6. ST. LOUIS (44-38): Cardinals lost five of first six without Albert Pujols.

7. TAMPA BAY (45-36): Baseball-best 13-7 in one-run games.

8. DETROIT: (44-38): Verlander 6-0, 0.92 in June; rest of staff 10-12, 5.18.

9. ATLANTA (47-35): Baseball’s best bullpen has 2.71 ERA.

10. TEXAS (43-39): Five Rangers have at least 10 HRs.

11. CLEVELAND (42-37): Lost AL-high 17 games in June and are now without Choo, LaPorta.

12. ARIZONA (44-38): Closer Putz had 6.17 ERA, four blown saves in June, is now on DL.

“TO BE OR NOT TO BE” (IN CONTENTION)

13. CINCINNATI (42-40): Leads NL in runs; third in earned runs allowed.

14. ANGELS (42-40): Walden blows three straight saves; Angels win two anyway.

15. COLORADO (39-42): Batting average up 34 points, runs up 1.6 at mile-high home.

16. PITTSBURGH (41-39): Pirates are just two games off the lead in the NL Central.

17. TORONTO (40-42): After blazing start, Bautista hit .258 with four HRs in June.

18. CHI. WHITE SOX (40-42): Paul Konerko (.321, 21 HRs, 61 RBIs) having career year.

19. SEATTLE (39-42): Last in baseball in most significant offensive categories.

“ALL THE GLISTENS IS NOT GOLD”

20. MINNESOTA (34-45): Second in majors with 17-9 record in June.

21. N.Y. METS (41-40): Outscored all NL clubs last month.

22. WASHINGTON (40-41): Lost a manager but won an NL-best 17 games in June.

“OFT EXPECTATION FAILS”

23. SAN DIEGO (37-45): One of two staffs in baseball without a complete game.

24. DODGERS (36-46): Despite bullpen woes, unbeaten in extra innings.

25. CHI. CUBS (34-48): Opponents hitting league-high .269.

26. BALTIMORE (35-43): Last with 34 quality starts, second to last with 4.42 ERA.

27. OAKLAND (36-46): Only Philadelphia’s rotation has a lower ERA than Athletics’ 3.14.

28. FLORIDA (36-45): Lost more games in June (23) than in April and May combined.

29. KANSAS CITY (33-48): Flying Royals lead AL with 81 stolen bases.

30. HOUSTON (29-53): Hopeless? Top six minor league affiliates are 58 games under. 500.

kevin.baxter@latimes.com