Less than a month into the season, Cora is already out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As we wait to see which manager might be next, and as Boston tries to claw its way out of the doldrums, we\u2019ll use this week\u2019s power rankings to identify at least one area of concern for every team.<\/p>\n
They\u2019ve allowed the fifth-most runs and scored the fifth-fewest runs in MLB, so take your pick at which issue stands out most. We\u2019ll focus here on the late-game pitching; the White Sox have blown nine saves \u2014\u00a0second-most in MLB \u2014 and have a 5.58 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in the seventh inning or later, both of which rank in the bottom four in MLB.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just when it seemed like a series win against the Twins might jumpstart the slumping group, the Mets then went and got swept by the Rockies, scoring four runs over three games. That\u2026can’t happen. Their offense ranks last in MLB in runs scored, on-base percentage and slugging. Yikes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
(Photo by Rich von Biberstein\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) <\/p>\n
The Phillies finally ended their losing skid at 10 games this weekend, but they still lost the series in Atlanta. The offense is a problem \u2014 they\u2019ve scored the third-fewest runs in MLB \u2014 but the bigger and more surprising issue is a starting rotation that has allowed the most hits and runs in the sport. Their MLB-worst minus-54 run differential is\u2026almost unfathomable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maybe a sweep of the Angels will get them on track. Bobby Witt Jr. is finally getting going. He hit his first home run of the year on Sunday, but Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez still have batting averages that start with a “1.” The bigger issue? The bullpen is 3-8 with a 5.75 ERA, the second-worst mark in MLB.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Rockies already have more wins before the end of April than they had by the end of May last year. Their bullpen has performed surprisingly well, logging a 3.61 ERA that ranks eighth in MLB; the starting rotation, however, ranks 27th in WHIP and 28th in batting average against. Don\u2019t be surprised if that group\u2019s 4.60 ERA continues to climb; Colorado starters have the highest expected ERA in MLB.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The team can hit; It just can\u2019t stop anyone else from hitting. The Nationals rank third in runs scored\u2026and 29th in runs allowed. They\u2019ve allowed the most home runs and committed the most errors in MLB.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u00a0(Photo by Houston Astros\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n
Their starters rank 29th in ERA. Their bullpen ranks 30th in ERA. Hunter Brown and Josh Hader \u2014\u00a0among many injured Astros \u2014 can\u2019t get back soon enough.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a commendable start to the year, the Angels have now lost seven of their last eight games. One of the team\u2019s biggest problems last year still persists: The Angels have the most strikeouts and highest whiff rate in MLB.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
(Photo by Brian Fluharty\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n
As previously mentioned, the offense is concerning. The Red Sox rank 27th in OPS and 28th in slugging and are tied for last in home runs, even after plating 17 runs on Saturday. The bigger surprise about the team’s dismal start, though? The starting rotation ranks 27th in ERA.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Twins (Brooks Lee, 111 wRC+) and Mets (Francisco Alvarez, 117) are the only teams who have just one qualified hitter batting above league average. As a team, Minnesota’s offense ranks 24th in wRC+ over the last two weeks. The bullpen, decimated at last year’s deadline, ranks 23rd in ERA on the season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Marlins have the third-most errors in MLB and rank 29th in defensive runs saved.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Giants have the lowest walk rate in MLB and just 19 home runs on the year, tied for the fewest in MLB. That’s a tough offensive recipe for success, though the team has been performing much better lately.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The most obvious flaw is the team\u2019s health. Trey Yesavage and Jose Berrios are due back shortly, but fellow starters Shane Bieber, Cody Ponce and Bowden Francis are also on the IL, as are George Springer, Alejandro Kirk, Addison Barger, Nathan Lukes and Anthony Santander. Those position player absences hit the hardest: the Blue Jays have the fourth-fewest runs scored and the highest chase rate in MLB.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The five starters who\u2019ve thrown the most innings for the Orioles this year all ERAs over 4.00. Baltimore needs to hit to its potential to mask the issues on the mound.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Their pitchers have the lowest strikeout rate and worst K-BB% in MLB. They\u2019ve thrown 182 strikeouts as a team; every other team has at least 200.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Brandon Nimmo has given the Rangers everything they could\u2019ve asked for, and a leap forward from Josh Jung has provided a boost. But questions loom about a Texas offense that ranks 22nd in on-base percentage and 20th in OPS.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u00a0(Photo by Steph Chambers\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n
The Mariners have the second-highest whiff rate and fourth-most strikeouts in baseball. Those issues can be mitigated by their ability to power away, but their slugging (21st in MLB) has been limited to this point. Cal Raleigh\u2019s heating up, though.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As is often the case, the Guardians offense lacks the pop you\u2019d expect from a contender. They have the second-lowest hard-hit rate in MLB and rank 19th in OPS and 20th in slugging; those rankings, however, represent significant improvements from last year\u2019s playoff team. They\u2019re also 21st in bullpen ERA, though I\u2019m more confident that number will improve.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Aaron Civale signing has helped, but that wasn\u2019t going to be enough to fix a rotation that ranked 27th in ERA last year. This year, A\u2019s starters rank 26th in ERA. The team’s bullpen, however, has been much better than expected, and the A\u2019s are in first place despite their offense not yet playing to its potential.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Brewers rank 29th in slugging percentage and last in expected slugging percentage. It doesn\u2019t help that Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn are all injured.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
(Photo by Dylan Buell\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n
Over the last week, the Tigers\u2019 bullpen has a 6.99 ERA. On the year, Detroit relievers rank 19th in ERA and 23rd in strikeout rate. The bats are heating up, though, and Spencer Torkelson\u2019s suddenly on a home-run tear after a slow start.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
(Photo by YURI CORTEZ \/ AFP via Getty Images) <\/p>\n
Michael Soroka and Eduardo Rodriguez have both pitched well, but the rest of the pitching staff has not. The usual problem persists, as D-backs starters and relievers both rank in the bottom 10 in MLB in ERA. The offense, however, \u2014 led by uhh\u202634-year-old veteran Ildemaro Vargas?! \u2014 is getting it done. (Seriously, if you haven\u2019t yet, take a look at what Vargas is doing.)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u00a0(Photo by Julio Aguilar\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n
The Rays\u2019 bullpen ranks 27th in ERA, and their offense has the lowest hard-hit rate in MLB. But the lineup\u2019s contact-heavy approach has worked to this point: Tampa Bay, with the highest zone contact rate and fifth-highest batting average in MLB, has the second-most wins in the American League.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u00a0(Photo by John Fisher\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n
Over the last week, the Pirates have the lowest on-base percentage and slugging percentage in MLB. For the year, they\u2019re now down to a bottom-10 OPS. Is that a sign of things to come after the hot start?\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
(Photo by Dylan Buell\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n
It\u2019s kind of amazing considering they lead the NL Central, but the Reds have the lowest batting average overall (.213) and batting average with runners in scoring position (.197) in MLB.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u00a0(Photo by Ryan Sun\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n
The Cubs had already lost standout starter Cade Horton when star closer Daniel Palencia went down with a lat strain \u2014 no matter, they still rattled off 10 straight wins before seeing the streak snapped this weekend in Los Angeles. They\u2019re on the rise, but the pitching depth is a concern given the injuries.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u00a0(Photo by Hector Vivas\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n
Depth, both in the rotation and the field, is the team\u2019s biggest concern. Clearly, A.J. Preller agreed, which is why the Padres just signed free agent starter Lucas Giolito. Nick Pivetta, Joe Musgrove and Griffin Canning are all on the shelf, and while Randy Vasquez has been terrific (2-0, 1.88 ERA), the group gets thin after Michael King. Offensively, the Padres rank 23rd in OPS, yet they’ve won 16 of their last 20 games.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u00a0(Photo by Tim Warner\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n
The Yankees rank fifth in OPS, but Ben Rice, Aaron Judge and the heart of the order is doing most of the damage. The depth of the lineup has left some to be desired. The Yankees’ Nos. 7-9 hitters rank 24th in batting average and 16th in OPS. Trent Grisham\u2019s hitting .160, and Austin Wells (81 wRC+), Jazz Chisholm Jr. (81) and Ryan McMahon (66) have been well below league-average hitters.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u00a0(Photo by Todd Kirkland\/MLB Photos via Getty Images) <\/p>\n
To this point, the Braves have admirably withstood a litany of injuries, particularly in their rotation. Their biggest issue might be outfield depth. A bounceback start to the season from Michael Harris II has been huge, but as a group, Atlanta\u2019s outfielders have hit below league average. Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. has yet to get going, Mike Yastrzemski has been the team\u2019s worst hitter, and Jurickson Profar’s PED suspension could wind up being costly.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
(Photo by Ronald Martinez\/Getty Images) <\/p>\n
Their big signings, and many of their top stars, have yet to get going. Edwin D\u00edaz has a 10.50 ERA and then underwent an elbow procedure. Kyle Tucker has been a below-league average hitter. So has Teoscar Hern\u00e1ndez. Mookie Betts was hitting .179 before hurting his oblique. Will Smith has a .729 OPS. Freddie Freeman\u2019s 118 OPS+ would be his lowest mark in a season in 14 years\u2026and yet the Dodgers are 19-9 with the highest OPS in MLB.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Alex Cora didn\u2019t assemble the Red Sox team that ranks tied for last in home runs, 27th in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":610092,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[4260,2317,4818,2111,371,374,479,2318,2319,2320,1230,372,373,2321,2322,2323,13090,2324,2325,2326,363,1189,369,480,2240,2328,2329,481,3956,99,1610,974,2330,364,2331],"class_list":{"0":"post-610091","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mlb","8":"tag-aaron-judge","9":"tag-arizona-diamondbacks","10":"tag-athletics","11":"tag-atlanta-braves","12":"tag-baltimore-orioles","13":"tag-boston-red-sox","14":"tag-chicago-cubs","15":"tag-chicago-white-sox","16":"tag-cincinnati-reds","17":"tag-cleveland-guardians","18":"tag-colorado-rockies","19":"tag-detroit-tigers","20":"tag-houston-astros","21":"tag-kansas-city-royals","22":"tag-los-angeles-angels","23":"tag-los-angeles-dodgers","24":"tag-major-league-baseball","25":"tag-miami-marlins","26":"tag-milwaukee-brewers","27":"tag-minnesota-twins","28":"tag-mlb","29":"tag-new-york-mets","30":"tag-new-york-yankees","31":"tag-philadelphia-phillies","32":"tag-pittsburgh-pirates","33":"tag-san-diego-padres","34":"tag-san-francisco-giants","35":"tag-seattle-mariners","36":"tag-shohei-ohtani","37":"tag-sports","38":"tag-st-louis-blues","39":"tag-tampa-bay-rays","40":"tag-texas-rangers","41":"tag-toronto-blue-jays","42":"tag-washington-nationals"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/610091","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=610091"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/610091\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/610092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=610091"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=610091"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=610091"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}