For many years, sharp baseball analysts have used run differential rather than pure won-lost records to evaluate teams. Generally speaking, a team outscoring its opponents over a large sample size is good rather than lucky. Won-lost records can be polluted by good or bad luck in close games.
With that in mind, let’s use run differential to paint a picture of leagues entering the second stage of the season. We’ll start in the American League, where the Yankees have fallen off the pace set by Houston and Boston.
AL Contenders
Team Run Differential
Astros +188
Red Sox +163
Yankees +131
Indians +82
Athletics +24
Mariners -2
Note we only listed teams which are already virtual locks, or who are competing for the final AL wild card.