The Chicago Cubs still aren't the best team in baseball! That honor goes to the New York Yankees, who have won eight straight games despite not having Gary Sanchez or Didi Gregorius in their lineup.
| Rank | Team | nERD | Record | Playoff Odds | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Boston Red Sox | 0.42 | 8-5 | 81.00% | +5 |
| 10 | Oakland Athletics | 0.42 | 5-8 | 7.60% | +1 |
| 9 | Atlanta Braves | 0.55 | 6-6 | 16.40% | +11 |
| 8 | Chicago Cubs | 0.62 | 6-7 | 87.90% | -1 |
| 7 | Milwaukee Brewers | 0.90 | 8-6 | 12.10% | +16 |
| 6 | Cincinnati Reds | 1.22 | 8-5 | 7.20% | -2 |
| 5 | Houston Astros | 1.33 | 9-4 | 81.40% | +9 |
| 4 | Washington Nationals | 1.44 | 7-5 | 79.50% | +4 |
| 3 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 1.68 | 7-7 | 74.10% | -2 |
| 2 | Minnesota Twins | 2.06 | 7-6 | 9.60% | +1 |
| 1 | New York Yankees | 2.10 | 9-4 | 42.60% | +5 |
Biggest Rise: Milwaukee Brewers
So, how about that Eric Thames guy? The Milwaukee Brewers' offense has posted the seventh-highest wRC+ (107) and the highest Isolated Power (ISO, at .234) over the past week, and it's because of their new first baseman.
Over his past 27 plate appearances, Thames has collected 6 home runs, 11 runs scored and 9 RBI. His ISO is an eye-popping .833 and he's been worth 1.0 fWAR to the Brewers during this short span of time. He's hit a homer in five straight games, which ties a franchise record, and his seven homers this season is as many as the entire Blue Jays offense. It's also one more than the Boston Red Sox as a squad.
Biggest Drop: Los Angeles Dodgers
After L.A. ran the show last week by taking the top two spots, they're both experiencing slides, although the Dodgers' drop isn't nearly as precipitous as their counterpart.
In fact, not much at all has really changed. Yes, their nERD has dropped from 2.38 to their current mark of 1.68, but their record remains at .500 and their playoff odds actually increased after coming in at 73.5% last week.