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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
Marlins lose 4-1 as losing streak continues https://t.co/5LmeOD6trY
— Fish Stripes (@fishstripes) May 12, 2019
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
Déjà vu: bats quiet, starter falters, Jays fall 5-1 https://t.co/HPDl9vJ0Mh
— Bluebird Banter (@bluebirdbanter) May 12, 2019
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.