Here’s a rundown of the AL teams, highlighting a statistical quirk to watch for when you see these teams over the rest of the season.
More after the jump.
West Division
The Rangers are on pace to have their first club since 1988 with no players batting .300 or slugging .500 in 300+ PA. Despite that lack of offensive punch, Texas is currently sporting a 29-8 record (.784) in one-run games, a winning percentage more than 150 points higher than the franchise record .629 (22-13) mark in 1974 and a result due in part to a 109 tOPS when behind in a game, tied with the 1969 club for the best mark in franchise history (Tuesday’s game is a perfect example: Texas rallied from two runs down to tie in the 7th, and then came back from a run down in the 9th for a walk-off one-run win to extend their one-run record to 30-8).
Seattle has four players (Adam Lind, Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz and Seth Smith) aged 32 or older who have already played 100 games and four more (Nori Aoki, Franklin Gutierrez, Chris Iannetta and Dae-ho Lee) with a reasonable shot at doing so. If three of the latter four make it, seven players that old with 100 games played would be the most ever on a Mariners team.
One more home run for Astros‘ shortstop Carlos Correa and he will join teammate Jose Altuve to give Houston its first ever keystone combo to each record 20 home runs and 80 RBI. Only four of the previous 54 Astro teams had even one middle infielder with those totals.
Oakland has eleven pitchers who have already started 5 or more games. One more start for Ross Detwiler will make it twelve to tie the 1997 team for the most such pitchers in franchise history.
The Angels have only Mike Trout with 5 or more stolen bases. Three others (including Albert Pujols) have four thefts but if none of them swipes another base, it would be the fewest players recording 5 steals in franchise history.
Central Division
The Indians have five qualified batters (Mike Napoli, Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez and Carlos Santana) with 100 OPS+ but none at the 115 level. If that result holds, it would be first such team in franchise history.
The Royals have a winning record and no qualified batters with 105 OPS+. If that result holds, it would be the first such team in franchise history.
Detroit has three players (Miguel Cabrera, Ian Kinsler and Victor Martinez) with 20 home runs and three more (Nick Castellanos, Justin Upton and J.D. Martinez) just two shy of that mark. If the latter group all reach that milestone, six Tigers with 20 homers would match the 1986 team for the most in franchise history.
The White Sox have two qualified southpaws (Chris Sale, Jose Quintana) with 100 ERA+ and a third (Carlos Rodon) with a chance to join them. If he does, it would be only the third Chicago team and first since 1950 with three such left-handers on its staff.
The Twins have six pitchers (Ervin Santana, Ricky Nolasco, Tyler Duffey, Kyle Gibson, Tommy Milone and Phil Hughes) with 10 starts and a losing record, tied with 9 other Twins/Senators teams for the most in franchise history. One more start for rookie Jose Berrios would make it seven and a new franchise record.
East Division
The Blue Jays have three qualified starters (Marco Estrada, J.A. Happ, Aaron Sanchez) with 125 ERA+. If those three remain above that mark, it would be a new franchise record for the most such pitchers.
Boston has four players (Dustin Pedroia, Travis Shaw, Mookie Betts and David Ortiz) with 30 doubles and three more (Hanley Ramirez, Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley) on pace to reach that total. Seven players with 30 doubles would be one shy of the Red Sox record but would match or exceed the record for 28 of the other 29 franchises.
The Orioles‘ 5 triples as a team is on pace for a franchise low and also a major league record minimum; the next lowest total for any team is 11 triples, recorded twice before (in 1981 and 1998), both times by … the Orioles. Baltimore could also set a franchise low in stolen bases; its current team total of 15 is two less than the mark set by the 1953 Browns.
The Yankees underwent a major makeover in mid-season that included trading away Carlos Beltran, their only 20 home run man. It’s thus possible that New York will finish the season with no players on its roster having 20 homers (currently Starlin Castro is closest, with 18); if that happens it will be the first time for a Yankees team since 1968.
Tampa Bay currently has no players with 40 walks (Evan Longoria leads the club with 39), putting the team on pace to become the first in franchise history without a 50 walk man.