The MLB 50-Game Checkpoint

05/25/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

MLB Power Rankings, Stat Leaders & Season Analysis After 50 Games

The MLB season is roughly 50 games down, and that means we’re nearing the 1/3-mark of the season. We’ve learned a lot about who’s who in 2023, and we’ve also learned how the new rules have impacted the game. Things change fast. New teams get hot. Hot teams go cold. And we’re still waiting on the first no-hitter of the season. Maybe the shift rule and pitch clock are at fault? That’s my guess. Let’s take a stab at our 50-game power rankings, including the top 10 and teams above .500, and toss in some highlights from Wednesday.

 

MLB Power Rankings

1. Rays (36-15)

2. Dodgers (31-20)

3. Yankees (30-21)

4. Braves (30-19)

5. Rangers (31-18)

6. Orioles (32-17)

7. Astros (28-21)

8. Brewers (27-22)

9. Angels (28-23)

10. Diamondbacks (29-21)

 

Honorable Mentions: Twins (26-24), Red Sox (26-24), Blue Jays (26-24), Mets (25-25), Pirates (25-24), Marlins (25-25), Mariners (25-24)

 

The AL East Beasts

All five teams from the AL East are above .500 after 50 games — Rays, Yankees, Orioles, Red Sox, and Blue Jays. And while Toronto just rung 20 runs on Tampa Bay, they’ve lost eight of their last ten. The biggest surprise has been the Orioles, who now own the second-best record in baseball.

 

Biggest Surprises

We mentioned the O’s above, but the Rangers and Diamondbacks are carrying their hot starts into the summer out west. Both clubs are 7-3 in their last 10. The Rangers are leading the pack in the AL West (Astros and Angels) while the D-Backs are just 1.5 games back of the Dodgers in the NL West while leading the Giants and Padres.

 

Stat Leaders (Team)

• Runs Scored: Rangers (310)
• Runs Allowed: Astros (156)
• Batting Average: Rays (.271)
• Home Runs: Rays (97)

 

Stat Leaders (Players)

• Home Runs: Pete Alonso (Mets) — 18 HRs
• RBIs: Adolis Garcia (Rangers) — 49 RBIs
• Batting Avg: Luis Arraez (Marlins) — .371
• Wins: Shane McClanahan (Rays) — 8-0 (WL)
• ERA: Sonny Gray (Twins) — 1.82 ERA
• Strikeouts: Spencer Strider (Braves) — 97 Ks

 

MLB Quick-Hitters

• Rays’ McClanahan Throws Another Gem to Reach 8-0 Start
• Orioles Rally Against Yankees With 8-Run 7th Inning in the Bronx
• Braves’ Albies Hits Walk-Off Sac-Fly to Prevent Dodgers Sweep
• Angels’ Mike Trout Passes Joe DiMaggio on All-Time HR List
• Phillies Rally From 5-0 Deficit to Beat D-Backs in 10-Inning Thriller

 

Photo: G Fiume / Getty Images