Cardinals on top of MLB Power Rankings

As the Cardinals roll along with the best record in baseball, they get contributions from all over -- their OPS leaders this month are 2B Kolten Wong (1.043) and CF Peter Bourjos (.975), not exactly middle-of-the-order sluggers.

Key Injuries: LHP Jaime Garcia (shoulder), RHP Adam Wainwright (Achilles).

He's 35, and despite being 6-foot-10, isn't remotely overpowering at this stage of his career, but RHP Chris Young has been a useful addition to the Royals, moving from the 'pen to throw 11 shutout innings in two starts and could be even more important as injuries deplete the rotation.

Key Injuries: RF Alex Rios (hand), LHP Jason Vargas (elbow).

Scuffling offensively, with a .648 team OPS in May, the Tigers haven't picked up for 1B Miguel Cabrera, who is hitting .176 with a .598 OPS in May. That has dropped Miggy's OPS to .947 for the season.

Key Injuries: RHP Justin Verlander (triceps), RHP Joe Nathan (elbow).

The Dodgers offence is blowing away the rest of baseball and, at least lately, it's being led by C Yasmani Grandal, who is 15-for-28 (.536 AVG) with 13 RBI and a 1.575 OPS in the past nine games.
Key Injuries: RHP Kenley Jansen (foot), LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (shoulder), RF Yasiel Puig (hamstring), LF Carl Crawford (oblique), RHP Brandon McCarthy (elbow).

LHP Dallas Keuchel is off to a ridiculous start, holding opposing hitters to a .163 batting average and .447 OPS, and he does it while striking out 6.4 batters per nine innings. Since 2000, Matt Cain in 2005 is the only starting pitcher to hold hitters to an average under .190 with fewer than than seven strikeouts per nine innings. 
Key Injuries: SS Jed Lowrie (thumb), RF George Springer (concussion).

The Mets can't hit, but they're still competitive because of a killer pitching staff, one that has just added top prospect Noah Syndergaard. He had some control issues in his first start, but had a 1.82 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in five starts at Triple-A.
Key Injuries: RHP Zack Wheeler (elbow), RHP Jenrry Mejia (suspension), 3B David Wright (hamstring), C Travis d'Arnaud (hand), RHP Dillon Gee (groin).

Pitching was supposed to be the dominant feature for the Nationals this year, but it hasn't worked out that way. Admittedly, a 6.06 ERA for Stephen Strasburg is unexpected, but the Nats have been able to ride the offensive breakout of LF Bryce Harper, who has 7 HR and 16 RBI in the past six games.
Key Injuries: 3B Anthony Rendon (knee).

The number of major leaguers with 7 HR, 7 SB and more walks than strikeouts: 1.

That would be Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo.

Key Injuries: None.

CF Billy Hamilton has stolen 17 bases in 19 attempts, but it's a good thing that he's being selective, because he's not getting on base nearly enough (.202 AVG, .259 OBP).
Key Injuries: RHP Homer Bailey (elbow), .

Despite having one of the game's premier offensive talents, the Angels can't hit worth a lick, so it's a good thing that the top end of their rotation has been so good (combined for a 2.51 ERA in 18 starts).
Key Injuries: RHP Tyler Skaggs (elbow).

As the Jose Bautista injury drags on, limiting him to DH-only action, the Blue Jays are regularly going with an outfield of Chris Colabello, Kevin Pillar and Ezequiel Carrera. It's working for now -- Colabello has a 1.302 OPS in his first seven games -- but this is a troublesome situation. 
Key Injuries: RHP Marcus Stroman (knee), 2B Maicer Izturis (groin), SS Jose Reyes (rib), DH Dioner Navarro (hamstring), LF Michael Saunders (knee).

The Padres pitching has slipped from its early start, and RHP James Shields' 5.22 ERA over his past five starts, along with the injury to Brandon Morrow, has contributed to that decline.
Key Injuries: LHP Cory Luebke (elbow), RHP Brandon Morrow (shoulder), 1B Yonder Alonso (shoulder).

South Korean SS Jung Ho Kang has forced his way into the lineup, hitting .309 with an .852 OPS. Jordy Mercer may have a good glove, but it's tough to defend enough to justify a .462 OPS.

Key Injuries: RHP Charlie Morton (hip).

It's not easy to be nine games under .500 while scoring more runs than allowed, but that's where the A's are at the moment. That's probably due for some good fortune in close games going forward but, right now, it leaves them in last place in the AL West.

Key Injuries: RHP A.J. Griffin (elbow), RHP Jarrod Parker (elbow), LF Ben Zobrist (knee), RHP Sean Doolittle (shoulder).
 

Baltimore's most effective starting pitcher has been RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, who was battling just to get a spot in the rotation, and is having success (2.41 ERA in six starts) despite decreasing velocity (90.1 MPH average fastball). 
Key Injuries: C Matt Wieters (elbow), 2B Jonathan Schoop (knee).

RHP Daniel Hudson is a remarkable story of perseverance. Over the previous two seasons, he pitched a total of 2 2/3 innings. The 28-year-old has worked his way back from two Tommy John surgeries, is throwing 95 MPH and has struck out 10 in 6 1/3 IP over his past three appearances. 
Key Injuries: LHP Patrick Corbin (elbow), RHP Bronson Arroyo (elbow), 3B Jake Lamb (foot), RHP Archie Bradley (face).

It's one thing to have awful pitching, and the Red Sox have that nailed down, but their .619 OPS is worst in the American League this month. No hitting, no pitching, no problem?

Key Injuries: C Christian Vazquez (elbow), RF Shane Victorino (hamstring), C Ryan Hanigan (hand).

Signs of progress for the White Sox, though it's not easy when ace starters Chris Sale and Jeff Samardzija are getting hit hard -- they have combined for a 4.93 ERA over 13 starts.
Key Injuries: None.

It's less than ideal when the closer has a 10.32 ERA, but that's where Steve Cishek sits these days. Velocity is down, but he's on the wrong end of just about everything (.371 BABIP, 49.8% strand rate).
Key Injuries: RHP Jose Fernandez (elbow), RHP Henderson Alvarez (shoulder).

Pitching has been a problem for the Tribe, one that will surely be fixed by adding LHP Bruce Chen to the rotation. Er, maybe not.
Key Injuries: 1B Nick Swisher (knee), RHP Gavin Floyd (elbow), C Yan Gomes (knee).

The Brewers are 5-4 under new manager Craig Counsell, which counts as progress, but it was due to happen. In any case, the Brewers are probably not long for the basement at this rate.
Key Injuries: C Jonathan Lucroy (toe).