Tank Race Tuesday: Marlins losing streak at five, continue to pad lead

The Marlins still yearn for more cheap, controllable, high-upside talent to elevate their farm system to an elite level and lay the foundation for sustainable success. Stinking against major league competition this season is a critical step in that process. We don’t need to call it “tanking,” but let’s just say—behind closed doors—Miami’s front office will tolerate plenty of 2019 losses if it means selecting near the top of the 2020 MLB Draft and maximizing their 2020-21 international bonus pool. Fish Stripes will be monitoring this “race” for you.

FanGraphs ran performance projections for every team prior to Opening Day, but also continues to provide rest-of-season projections as the real games get played. See below for details regarding the five worst teams, including the Marlins, Royals, Orioles, Nationals, and Athletics.

Marlins

2019 record and run differential (entering Tuesday): 10-29, minus-91

2019 projected record and run differential: 60-102, minus-199

Upcoming schedule: 5/14-5/15 vs. Rays, 5/17-5/19 vs. Mets, 5/21-5/23 at Tigers, 5/24-5/27 at Nationals

Miami lost all five games it played last week and was mercifully rained out against Noah Syndergaard on Sunday. The team’s run differential fell minus-19, and its projected season record added a loss.

Royals

2019 record and run differential (entering Tuesday): 14-27, minus-20

2019 projected record and run differential: 67-95, minus-93

Upcoming schedule: 5/14-5/16 vs. Rangers, 5/17-5/19 vs. Angels, 5/21-5/22 at Cardinals, 5/24-5/26 vs. Yankees

The Royals went 2-3 and are now three games behind the Marlins. They extended their lead over the third-place Orioles by a half game, however. Kansas City’s end-of-season record projection remains unchanged since last week.

Orioles

2019 record and run differential (entering Tuesday): 14-26, minus-75

2019 projected record and run differential: 60-102, minus-230

Upcoming schedule: 5/14-5/15 at Yankees, 5/16-5/19 at Indians, 5/20-5/23 vs. Yankees, 5/24-5/26 at Rockies

The Orioles won a game but still have the same projected record as the Marlins. They were rained out Monday with a make-up double header scheduled Wednesday, so they still have seven chances to lose this week.

Nationals

2019 record and run differential (entering Tuesday): 16-24, minus-25

2019 projected record and run differential: 83-79, plus-33

Upcoming schedule: 5/14-5/16 vs. Mets, 5/17-5/19 vs. Cubs, 5/20-5/23 at Mets, 5/24-5/27 vs. Marlins

Washington D.C.-area fans were expecting this from the Orioles, but not from the Nats, who lost two wins and 26 runs from their end-of-season projections with a 2-4 week.

Blue Jays

2019 record and run differential (entering Tuesday): 16-24, minus-34

2019 projected record and run differential: 71-91, minus-92

Upcoming schedule: 5/14-5/15 at Giants, 5/16-5/19 at White Sox, 5/20-5/23 vs. Red Sox, 5/24-5/26 vs. Padres

The Jays move into a tie with the Nationals for fourth after a 1-4 week.