MLB 2022: Leaders on Memorial Day

We are now through two full months of the 2022 season in Major League Baseball. With Memorial Day weekend passed and the calendar now having flipped to June, it’s a good time to look at the standings and leaderboards across the game.

In the American League, the New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, and Houston Astros have each established themselves at the top of the standings in their respective divisions. Three other clubs, the Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, and Los Angeles Angels hold the Wildcard positions. These are the only six teams in the AL with a winning record into the final day of May.

The National League has three division leaders whose positions appear just as solid. The New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, and Los Angeles Dodgers hold sway for now. The Wildcard spots in the NL are controlled by the San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, and Saint Louis Cardinals. As in the AL, these six are the only clubs with winning marks.

So far, the Twins are easily the best surprise team in the game. After a last place finish in the AL Central Division a year ago, few picked them to contend. However, Minnesota has allowed just 3.7 runs per game, tied for fourth in MLB. They hold a solid lead over the preseason favorite Chicago White Sox, who have struggled along around the .500 mark.

If it’s disappointments that you’re looking for, my hometown Philadelphia Phillies have been as frustrating as any. The Phils hoped to power their way to the postseason. Instead, the club has sunk to seven below the .500 mark through Memorial Day and manager Joe Girardi is clearly on the hot seat. Other disappointing teams would include the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners of the AL.

Baseball’s top offensive team is the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have scored 267 runs across their first 48 games, or more than 5.5 per game. The Dodgers .770 OPS also leads all of MLB.

The Milwaukee Brewers total of 69 home runs leads all MLB clubs. Both the LA Angels and the Yankees have 67 to pace the American League.

In Saint Louis, team speed has helped the Cards take charge of a playoff spot. They lead all of baseball with 39 stolen bases. The Texas Rangers at 36 are pacing the AL in that category.

At 16-31, the Cincinnati Reds are tied with the Kansas City Royals for the worst record in baseball. But it’s not team defense that is hurting either club. Cincy leads all of MLB in team fielding percentage and their 14 errors are the least in the game. The Royals’ fielding percentage is second in the American League.

The following are the individual American League leaders in various offensive categories:

AVG

J.D. Martinez, Bos – .369

Luis Arraez, Min – .361

Tim Anderson, CWS – .356

HR

Aaron Judge, NYY – 18

Yordan Alvarez, Hou – 14

Mike Trout, LAA – 13

Jose Ramirez, Cle – 13

RBI

Jose Ramirez, Cle – 51

Aaron Judge, NYY – 37

Trevor Story, Bos – 37

Runs

Aaron Judge, NYY – 38

Rafael Devers, Bos – 38

Mike Trout, LAA – 37

Steals

Julio Rodriguez, Sea – 14

Jorge Mateo, Bal – 13

Cedric Mullins, Bal – 11

The following are the individual National League leaders in various offensive categories:

AVG

Manny Machado, SD – .353

Paul Goldschmidt, StL – .352

Jose Iglesias, Col – .317

HR

Mookie Betts, LAD – 15

Pete Alonso, NYM – 13

C.J. Cron, Col – 13

RBI

Pete Alonso, NYM – 47

Paul Goldschmidt, StL – 42

Francisco Lindor, NYM – 40

Runs

Mookie Betts, LAD – 50

Francisco Lindor, NYM – 37

Tommy Edman, StL – 37

Steals

Harrison Bader, StL – 13

Tommy Edman, StL – 11

Trea Turner, LAD – 10

The following are the individual American League leaders in various pitching categories:

Wins

Justin Verlander, Hou – 6

Adam Cimber, Tor – 6

Nine pitchers – 5

Quality Starts

Framber Valdez, Hou – 8

Alek Manoah, Tor – 8

Martin Perez, Tex – 7

Saves

Jordan Romano, Tor – 15

Liam Hendriks, CWS – 14

Raisel Iglesias, LAA – 11

Strikeouts

Shane McClanahan, TB – 81

Dylan Cease, CWS – 76

Gerrit Cole, NYY – 72

WHIP

Justin Verlander, Hou – 0.83

Nestor Cortes, NYY – 0.85

Triston McKenzie, Cle – 0.86

The following are the individual National League leaders in various pitching categories:

Wins

Walker Buehler, LAD – 6

Tyler Anderson, LAD – 6

12 pitchers – 5

Quality Starts

Joe Musgrove, SD – 9

Corbin Burnes, Mil – 8

Five pitchers – 7

Saves

Josh Hader, Mil – 18

Taylor Rogers, SD – 17

Kenley Jansen, Atl – 12

Strikeouts

Corbin Burnes, Mil – 78

Aaron Nola, Phi – 74

Carlos Rodon, SF – 64

WHIP

Corbin Burnes, Mil – 0.82

Zac Gallen, Arz – 0.91

Aaron Nola, Phi – 0.94

Several first-year players have begun to assert themselves across the game, some as impact players since Opening Day, others emerging over the ensuing weeks. To this point, the top American League rookies have been shortstop Jeremy Pena in Houston and outfielder Julio Rodriguez in Seattle. In the National League, San Diego pitcher MacKenzie Gore and Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki are the early Rookie of the Year favorites.

There remains plenty of baseball left to be played in this 2022 campaign. Four full months remain on the regular season schedule. The MLB All-Star Game remains seven weeks off in the distance. We’re still a little over a month away from the game reaching the halfway mark. June will be a very important month for the disappointments, both individuals and teams, during which to begin salvaging their seasons.

MORE RECENT BASEBALL PIECES

• 5.17.22 – An Unforgettable 1979 slugfest at Wrigley Field
• 4.07.22 – MLB Opening Day 2022
• 3.17.22 – Saint Patrick’s Day baseball
• 2.07.22 – Examining select Hall of Fame cases of Black players not yet enshrined
• 2.01.22 – Charlie Finley and the Swingin’ A’s
• 1.04.22 – Memo Luna and those baseball lost in 2021
• 1.02.22 – My IBWAA 2022 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot