Who’s The Best in the MLB Right Now?

The mid-summer classic is fast approaching as the 2024 MLB schedule slowly approaches the 2024 MLB All-Star break. As the game’s top stars prepare for a chance to compete with the best players in the game of baseball, the rest of the league will have a chance to rest for what looks to be an exciting second half of the baseball season. As the second full week of July has arrived and the dog days of summer have set in, the Philadelphia Phillies have been the team to beat to open up the year while landing on the most recent Top 10 MLB Teams 2024 Rankings list.

Currently sitting atop the National League East with a 58-32 record entering play on July 9^th, 2024, the Phillies hold a commanding 7.5 game lead over the second place Atlanta Braves. In addition to sitting atop their respective division, the Phillies currently post the best record in all of baseball. Chasing the Phillies for the top spot is the red-hot Baltimore Orioles who have won seven of their last ten games to push to the best record in the American League with a 57-33 record. Joining the Phillies and Orioles among the best teams in baseball include the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Guardians, and the New York Yankees.

Here is a look at the Top 10 MLB Teams 2024 Rankings:

Honorable Mention

Houston Astros

MLB Standing: 1st Place AL West

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Just missing the Top 10 MLB Teams 2024 Rankings list is the Houston Astros who are slowly climbing the ranks among the best teams in baseball as they march to the top of the AL West standings.

After a slow start to the season that included the team sitting as far as 10 games under the .500 game mark, the Astros have won 15 of their last 20 overall games to push their record to 47-44 on the season. Over that stretch the Astros picked up a sweep of the first place Baltimore Orioles while winning four of five total series.

On the season the Astros currently lead all of baseball with a .263 team batting average mark while also ranking inside the top 10 in doubles (156), home runs (105), and runs scored (433).

As a team the Astros have four players with at least 10 home runs, six players with at least 40 runs batted in, and five players with at least 42 runs scored. The core of Yordano Alvarez, Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, and Kyle Tucker have combined for 62 home runs while driving in 175 runs.

St. Louis Cardinals

MLB Standings: 2nd Place NL Central

Previous Ranking: Unranked

The National League Central is wide open as the recent hot stretch including winning seven of ten games have helped the St. Louis Cardinals to second place within the division.

However, while the Cardinals continue to win, their team has struggled which has kept them out of a closer division battle and perhaps first place within the division.

Through their first 90 games of the season, the Cardinals have allowed 33 more runs than the team has scored. In the end the Cardinals still continue to figure out ways to win, pick up strong outings from their pitching, and reliable hitting at the plate.

Top 10 MLB Teams 2024 Rankings

10. Seattle Mariners

MLB Standings: 2nd Place AL West

Previous Ranking: 7

Sliding in at number 10 on the Top 10 MLB Teams 2024 Rankings list is the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners currently hold the top spot in the AL West after starting the season with a strong 50-43 record.

While the Mariners continue to lead the division, the team’ has struggled to play good baseball at the same time while their offense has struggled to score runs at times. Through 93 games on the season, the Mariners currently have outscored their opponents by just nine total runs which has led to the team losing four of their last 10 overall games as well as nine of their last 15 games.

Nonetheless the Mariners still have a strong lineup that includes former AL Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez as well as team leader Cal Raleigh who leads the team in home runs (17) and runs batted in (55).

9. Boston Red Sox

MLB Standings: 3rd Place AL East

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Another red-hot team that continues to surge is the Boston Red Sox who have slowly climbed back into the AL East race after winning seven of their past 10 games. A stretch that has seen the team take two of three against the New York Yankees as well a threat game sweep of the Miami Marlins.

In addition, since taking two of three against the Philadelphia Phillies on June 13^th, the Red Sox have crossed the winning record mark and have not looked back. Over that stretch the Red Sox have won six of eight series, lost one series and split another series.

The Red Sox pitching continues to be phenomenal posting a 3.67 team earned run average mark while allowing just .238 opponents’ batting average mark. On the mound Tanner Houck has been brilliant pitching to a 2.68 earned run average while Rafael Devers leads the team in home runs (21), batting average (.296), and runs batted in (58).

8. Minnesota Twins

MLB Standings: 2nd Place AL Central

Previous Ranking: 10

The one team surging to the top of the rankings list as one of the best teams in baseball through early July is the Minnesota Twins. Despite trailing the Cleveland Guardians by 5.5 games in the AL Central, the Twins recent success including winning seven of their last 10 games has landed them with the fourth best overall record in the American League.

The Twins are an interesting team ranking among the leaders in runs scored while the team’s real struggles on the mound have seen the team post the 12^th highest team earned run average (4.16) mark.

Despite the lack of star power, the Twins have seen seven different players drive in 30 or more runs at the plate including four players with at least 40 runs batted in. One of stars helping to carry the load at the plate has been Carlos Correa who currently has a .303 batting average to go along with 12 home runs and a team high 46 runs batted in.

7. Milwaukee Brewers

MLB Standings: 1^st Place NL Central

Previous Ranking: 6

When it comes to the NL Central anything could happen down the stretch with both the Milwaukee Brewers and the St. Louis Cardinals playing well enough to win the division while a team like the Pittsburgh Pirates or Cincinnati Reds have shown their potential.

In the end however, the Brewers currently sit with the third best record in the National League while helping the team build a four-game lead over the Cardinals within the division. Overall, the Brewers do a ton of things right from ranking among the best hitting teams in baseball as well as pitching teams.

Over those 92 games, the Brewers currently ranked eighth in baseball with 441 runs scored while the team’s pitching has allowed the 11^th lowest earned run average (3.85). At the plate Willy Adames continues to produce at a high level while leading the team in both home runs (13) and runs batted in (58).

6. Atlanta Braves

MLB Standings: 2^nd Place NL East

Previous Ranking: 9

The loss of Ronald Acuna laid a major impact blow on the overall talent of the Atlanta Braves; however, the team has not let that slow them down as they have played to a 51-39 record to start the season. As you look at the Braves the team has produced enough offense to remain alive within the NL East while the team’s pitching has been among the best in all of baseball.

Through the team’s first 90 games, the Braves currently rank second in all of baseball with a 3.40 team earned run while also ranking sixth in team WHIP (1.19) and seventh in opponents’ batting average (.232). Three of the team’s five starting pitchers have posted at least seven wins including Chris Sale who currently sits with 12 over his first 17 outings.

In addition, the strong pitching has allowed the Braves to win four straight games including two of three against the first place Phillies while allowing just a run against two high powered offenses.

5. New York Yankees

MLB Standings: 2nd Place AL East

Previous Ranking: 2

Rounding out the top currently among the Top 10 MLB Teams 2024 Rankings list is the New York Yankees. While the Yankees have struggled of late dropping seven of their past 10 games while failing to win a series in each of their past seven dating back to the team’s series win against the Kansas City Royals between June 10^th and June 13^th.

However, the team still sits with the third best record within the American League and just three games behind the Baltimore Orioles for the top spot within the AL East. Over their first 93 games of the 2024 MLB schedule, the Yankees are currently tied for second in all of baseball with +99 run differential while outscoring their opponents 467 to 368.

In the end, the Yankees are still loaded with talent including Aaron Judge who is off to another historic start while off-season acquisition Juan Soto is playing as an AL MVP candidate. That said, another tough stretch could see the Yankees drop outside of the top five teams in baseball and possibly out of the top 10.

4. Cleveland Guardians

MLB Standings: 1^st Place AL Central

Previous Ranking: 4

As you start to look around at the top teams in baseball, it is hard to look past the Cleveland Guardians who have racked up a 57-33 overall record while winning six of their last 10 overall games.

The recent trend has allowed the AL Central Leading Guardians to maintain a 5.5 game lead over the second place Minnesota Twins as the 2024 MLB All-Star game approaches. Since July 18^th, the Guardians have won four of their last five series including taking series against the first place Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles.

Overall, the Guardians currently rank in the upper half of all of Major League Baseball in a wide range of statistics including ranking eighth in all of baseball with a 3.70 team earned run average and opponent batting average (.233).

Headlining their early season success is Steven Kwan who currently leads all of baseball with a .363 batting average while Jose Ramirez sits second with 77 runs batted in.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

MLB Standings: 1^st Place NL West

Previous Ranking: 5

After another spending spree during the MLB off-season the Los Angeles Dodgers entered the season as one of the early favorites to compete for the best team in baseball and a team that has the talent to win another World Series.

Through their first 92 games that has been the case as the Dodgers have rolled to 55 wins over those games while building a 7.5 game lead over the second place San Diego Padres in the NL West.

The Dodgers like the other top teams have done it with all around strong play on the mound, in the field, and at the plate. Through their first 92 games of the season, the Dodgers currently rank in the top five in home runs (125), runs scored (459), doubles (169), on base percentage (.335), WHIP (1.17), opponent batting average (.224), and fewest number of hits allowed (683).

The Dodgers star roster includes five players led by Shohei Ohtani to have at least 40 runs batted in and at least 10 home runs while the team’s pitching staff featuring Gavin Stone include four starting pitchers to post at least six wins to start the season.

2. Baltimore Orioles

MLB Standings: 1st Place AL East

Previous Ranking: 3

The next best team in baseball makes a valid case of their own to sit at the top of the MLB team rankings after winning seven of their last ten games to jump back to the top of the AL East division.

The Baltimore Orioles who currently sit with a 57-34 overall record have outscored their opponents by 99 runs over their first 91 games while posting possibly the top ranked offense in all of baseball.

An offense that features seven different players with at least 11 home runs and four different players with at least 49 runs batted in. Pacing that offense is AL MVP candidate Gunnar Henderson who leads the team in both home runs (27) and runs batted in (61).

The Orioles currently lead the Majors in home runs (147), runs batted in (451), and slugging percentage (.458). Meanwhile the Orioles pitching has been strong posting a 3.61 earned run average and a 1.1 WHIP.

1. Philadelphia Phillies

MLB Standings: 1^st Place NL East

Previous Ranking: 1

In at number one on the Top 10 MLB teams 2024 Rankings right now is the Philadelphia Phillies who are currently atop the NL East while sitting tied for the best record in baseball leading into June 5^th, 2024.

The red-hot Phillies became the first team of the season to reach the 40-win mark while helping the team build a seven-game lead over the Atlanta Braves who currently sit as the only other team in the NL East with a winning record.

Overall, the Phillies have been hot both at the plate as well as on the mound as the team currently ranks among the best teams in a wide range of statistics. This includes leading MLB with 303 runs batted in, ranking 6^th in team batting average (.255), and fourth in total hits (536).

Meanwhile on the mound the Phillies have pitched to the second lowest earned run average in baseball and the fourth lowest WHIP (1.13).

How would you rank these teams going into the 2024 MLB season? Rank below to be added in the MLB Power Rankings or go to https://www.fanrankings.com/rankings/teams-mlb and click “User Rankings”.

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