The Times’ baseball rankings

CONTINUING TO SET THE PACE

1. ST. LOUIS Division-leading Cardinals have 14 games left with second-place Pirates. (2)

2. BOSTON Red Sox need pitching help but lead MLB in 6 offensive categories. (1)

3. TAMPA BAY Rays are 20-6 since calling up rookie Wil Myers. (3)

4. OAKLAND With AL’s top home mark, schedule favors A’s, who have 36 game left there. (6)

5. ATLANTA Braves — up by 6 1/2 games — have led NL East for all but 1 day this season. (10)

6. PITTSBURGH Pirates are 37 games under .500 after All-Star break the last 2 seasons. (5)

7. DETROIT Tigers must decide to stick with Benoit or trade for a premium closer. (4)

8. TEXAS Rangers near deal for pitching help; Manny may soon join team as well. (9)

9. BALTIMORE Davis on pace for 62 HRs, 155 runs batted in. (8)

10. CINCINNATI Has allowed the fewest baserunners of any team in MLB. (13)

11. CLEVELAND Of their final 66 games, 47 are against teams with losing records at the break. (14)

12. ARIZONA No team has more blown saves than the Diamondbacks’ 19. (11)

13. DODGERS Dodgers are 19-9 when Puig, Ramirez start together. (12)

STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP

14. NEW YORK YANKEES Return of Jeter, A-Rod, Granderson from DL will determine Yankees’ finish. (7)

15. PHILADELPHIA Phillies will be without Ben Revere, Ryan Howard for at least 6 weeks. (15)

16. WASHINGTON No winning team has fewer runs or a lower batting average than the Nationals. (16)

17. ANGELS Angels have caught just 18 of 90 attempted base-stealers. (17)

18. COLORADO Rockies are 10 games under .500 since May 1. (18)

19. KANSAS CITY Free-agent-to-be Santana (6-6, 3.18) would help several contenders. (19)

20. CHICAGO CUBS Garza may not be only Cub to go before the trade deadline. (22)

21. TORONTO Ex-Angel Maicer Izturis hitting .409 in July. (20)

22. SAN FRANCISCO If Giants become sellers, Lincecum, Lopez or both may be on the move. (24)

STOPPED RUNNING A LONG TIME AGO

23. SEATTLE Morales could be answer for Teixeira-less Yankees at first base. (23)

24. NEW YORK METS Byrd generating interest, but Mets won’t let him go cheaply. (21)

25. MINNESOTA Morneau on the market after team rebuffs talk of extension. (28)

26. SAN DIEGO Padres ready to listen to offers for almost anyone on their roster. (26)

27. MILWAUKEE Gallardo (7-8, 4.83) struggling through worst season of his career. (27)

28. CHICAGO WHITE SOX Sox have suitors for Rios, who has limited no-trade clause. (25)

29. MIAMI Marlins already played their best hand, sending Nolasco to Dodgers. (29)

30. HOUSTON In shrinking market for pitching, Bud Norris is drawing attention. (30)