The Times’ baseball rankings

Statistics through Friday’s games. Last week’s rankings in parentheses:

CONTINUING TO HOLD SERVE

1. BOSTON Excellent on clay: DP combo of Pedroia, Drew has fewest errors in AL. (4)

2. PITTSBURGH Top seeding: After 20 losing seasons, Pirates have MLB’s best mark. (1)

3. OAKLAND Passing shot: A’s win 7 of last 9 to move by Texas, into AL West lead. (5)

4. TEXAS Closing it out: Nathan is 0.52 with 12 saves since May 27. (2)

5. DETROIT Ground strokes: Fister has coaxed MLB-high 202 ground balls. (10)

6. ST. LOUIS Overhead smash: Run differential of 120 is largest in MLB. (3)

7. N.Y. YANKEES Return shot: Jeter cleared to begin rehab assignment. (12)

8. TAMPA BAY Service ace: Price returns from DL with 10 Ks in 7 shutout innings. (14)

9. ATLANTA Unforced errors: Uggla leads 2nd basemen in errors (10) and strikeouts (106). (9)

10. BALTIMORE Doubles partners: Machado (38), Davis (26) 1-2 in MLB in 2-base hits. (8)

11. ARIZONA Grand slam event: 2 of Goldschmidt’s 3 bases-loaded hits are homers. (7)

12. DODGERS Big serve: rookie Dominguez tops 100 mph in MLB debut. (16)

COULD SOON BE FACING BREAK POINT FOR THE SEASON

13. CINCINNATI Courting perfection: Bailey’s no-hitter a walk short of a perfect game. (11)

14. CLEVELAND First serve: Leadoff hitters batting .298, 31 points better than 2012. (6)

15. WASHINGTON Service fault: Haren on DL with NL-high 19 HRs allowed, MLB-worst 6.15 ERA. (13)

16. ANGELS Finding his stroke: Hamilton batting .382 in 10-game hit streak. (18)

17. COLORADO After 27-game hit streak ends, Cuddyer is 4 for 9 with 4 runs in 3 games. (20)

18. KANSAS CITY Davis Cup: Wade Davis’ 7 losses, 5.42 ERA top Royals. (22)

19. TORONTO After slow start, R.A. Dickey is 4-1, 3.51 since June 1. (17)

20. PHILADELPHIA Cliffhanger: Lee hasn’t lost in 2 months, going 8-0, 2.40. (19)

IF LOVE MEANS NOTHING, IT COULD BE A SUMMER OF LOVE FOR THESE TEAMS

21. SEATTLE Shades of ageless Navratilova: Ibanez, 41, heading toward career high in HRs. (24)

22. N.Y. METS Serve and volley: Mets headed toward most losses in a decade. (25)

23. CHICAGO CUBS Double fault: Cubs start makeover by trading Marmol, Feldman. (26)

24. MINNESOTA 4-game sweep by Yanks leaves Twins 7-30 in last 37 games with N.Y. (23)

25. CHICAGO WHITE SOX Sale (5-7, 2.79) getting AL-low 2.73 runs of support. (27)

26. MILWAUKEE Worst rotation in NL (5.07 ERA) backed by third-best bullpen (3.00). (28)

27. SAN FRANCISCO Broken racket: Winless in July, Giants have dropped 12 of last 14. (21)

28. SAN DIEGO Game, set, match: Padres have given up 4 walk-off homers. (15)

29. MIAMI Ruggiano’s team-high 12 HRs have all come on road, tying 46-year-old mark. (30)

30. HOUSTON Futures Tours: Astros starting 6 players ages 26 or younger. (29)