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It feels like baseball weather in some parts of the country and it still feels like winter in some other parts of the country. With two weeks already down in the regular season, some teams will be in for a long season, some are off to a slow start, some are off to a surprising start, and some are off to a fast start. Here are this week's top 10 MLB teams:
10. Atlanta Braves: The Braves have been a scrappy team to start the season. They are off to a 6-5 start and Atlanta has scored 63 runs in the first 11 games of the regular season. Atlanta has already played the Washington Nationals five times this season and they are just 2-3 in those games. Freddie Freeman, Preston Tucker, and Nick Markakis each have two home runs so far this season. Rookie Ozzie Albies has a .250 batting average with three home runs and six RBI's, along with one stolen base. Last week's ranking: not ranked.
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9. Washington Nationals: The Nationals got swept over the weekend at home against the New York Mets, but it isn't stopping Bryce Harper from performing. Harper's batting average is .345 with six home runs and 12 RBI's. Daniel Murphy has yet to play a game for the Nationals in 2018 and they aren't sure when he will start rehabbing. Outfielder Adam Eaton just landed on the DL with an ankle injury. His batting average is .345 with two home runs and five RBI's. The Nationals record so far this season is 6-5. Last week's ranking: 6.
8. Toronto Blue Jays: The Blue Jays have won their past four out of five games and they are looking like they are returning to form. After a bad 2017 season, Toronto hopes to be a lot better in 2018. Their 8-4 start is a good sign for them. Steve Pearce and Josh Donaldson each have three home runs. Justin Smoak leads the team in RBI's with 10. Toronto has a big three-game series this weekend on the road against the Cleveland Indians. Last week's ranking: not ranked.
7. Pittsburgh Pirates: Pittsburgh is off to an 8-2 start to the 2018 MLB season, but I find it hard to believe they will keep this up. They have taken advantage of a weak schedule to start the season and it will be more of a challenge for Pittsburgh when they have to play better competition. Gregory Polanco is sparking the Pirates offense. His batting average is .265 with three home runs and 13 RBI's, along with one stolen base. Six other players each have one home run. Jameson Taillon pitched a one-hit shutout and struck out seven in Sunday Afternoon's 5-0 win at home against the Cincinnati Reds. The Pirates and Chicago Cubs game was postponed on Monday due to snow in Chicago and the game was made up Tuesday Afternoon. The Pirates spoiled the Cubs home opener in a 8-5 win. Last week's ranking: 8.
6. Cleveland Indians: The Indians have given up two runs or fewer in there past five games. Cleveland is 4-1 in that span. Corey Kluber pitched eight innings and struck out 13 batters in Cleveland's 2-0 win on Monday Night at home against the Detroit Tigers. The Indians are off to a 6-5 start. Cleveland doesn't have a high powered offense, but the pitching is hold down the fort for them. The Indians have scored three or more runs just five times to start the 2018 season. Last week's ranking: 10.
5. Los Angeles Angels: Shohei Ohtani is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 18 K's to start the 2018 season. His batting average is .368 with three home runs and seven RBI's. Mike Trout's batting average is just .222 but he has three home runs and eight RBI's. The Angels are off to a 9-3 start and they have a much better roster in 2018. The Angels have scored over 10 runs in one game three times already this season. They have a total of 79 runs scored so far in 2018. Last week's ranking: 9.
4. Arizona Diamondbacks: The Diamondbacks have been clearly the best team in the NL West to start the 2018 season. They are off to a 8-3 start and Arizona has one of the most underrated pitching staffs in all of baseball. Patrick Corbin's record is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA. In just 18.1 innings pitched, he has walked only four batters and struck out 29. Paul Goldschmidt is off to a rocky start with a .158 batting average and one home run and four RBI's. Arizona only has eight home runs as a team to start the season, but they are very good at putting the ball in play. Last week's ranking: 4.
3. New York Mets: The Mets are off to a 9-1 start for the first time in franchise history. Their previous best start was 8-1 back in 2006, when they won the NL East. Different players are contributing each night for New York and manager Mickey Callaway has changed the culture early in the season for the Mets. New York has one of the best bullpens in baseball. Callaway has fixed the pitching rotation so far and they have the talent to keep rolling. New York swept the weekend series on the road against the Washington Nationals. Last week's ranking: 5.
2. Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox have won nine straight games after losing on opening day on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays. Boston has an engineered offense with Alex Cora at the helm. They have scored 56 runs so far this season and they have scored 10 runs or more in two games (4/7 vs TB W, 10-3 & 4/10 W, 14-1 vs NYY). The Red Sox also trailed by five runs entering the eighth inning on Sunday Afternoon against the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston came back to win 8-7. Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts each have two home runs. Hanley Rameriz leads the Red Sox with 11 RBI's. Rookie Rafael Devers's batting average is .294 with one home run and 10 RBI's. Last week's ranking: 2.
1.Houston Astros: Even though the Mets and the Red Sox are both 9-1, the Astros are 9-3 and they are the best team in baseball despite having two more losses. Houston has held its opponents to two runs or less seven out of 12 times so far this season. Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander have been outstanding for the Astros to start the 2017 season. Cole is 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA. In 14.0 innings pitched, he has only walked three batters and struck out 22. Verlander is 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA. In 18.2 innings pitched, he has only walked four batters and struck out 23. Dallas Keuchel has been off to a rocky start with a 0-2 start and a 4.20 ERA. In 15 innings pitched, he has given up 18 hits and seven runs. Keuchel has walked nine batters and only struck out 13. Josh Reddick leads the Astros with three home runs. Carlos Correa's batting average is .297 with two home runs and nine RBI's. Jake Marisnick also has two home runs. Last week's ranking: 1.
