The Average 2021 MLB Team: Where Does Your Favorite Fit In?

After reviewing all of the “standard" stats on MLB.com before play began on June 9, 2021, I calculated averages by division, league, and for all of MLB, taking the following into account: Wins, losses, winning percentage, games back, Wild Card games back, runs scored, runs allowed, run differential, home wins, home losses. road wins, road losses, and finally, both wins and losses against teams with a record of greater than .500.

(Author"s note: To ensure accuracy, I recruited my wife for help with data and entry accuracy. Well, she was not happy to have to enter, tally, and average what amounted to something like 664 different sets of numbers in order to bring you this information, but fear not, she"ll get even. I"ll be doing the dishes, sleeping on the couch, and taking cold showers for about the next month… I hope you enjoy…)

I digress.

There"s no question, the Tampa Bay Rays are currently one of the best teams in all of baseball, boasting a 39-23 record, yet their +77 run differential isn"t quite as good as that of the Dodgers, who have outscored their opponents by 85 runs, and it almost pales in comparison with the White Sox who currently claim the greatest run differential in all of MLB at +90. Likewise, the Rays" are 20-16 (.556) against teams with records greater than .500, while the Houston Astros (20-12) have a .625 winning percentage against teams above .500. While the Brewers assumed first place in the NL Central last night after beating the Reds, they have a run differential of literally 0.

Yes, some teams spend more on talent than others. Sometimes it works out, sometimes not so much (just ask the Yankees). There can also be an argument made for which teams fall into what divisions, not to mention the countless injuries to high-profile superstars that may have cost their respective team"s uncountable wins. Despite these factors and others, all teams continue to play on.

So, What Makes Up the “Average" 2021 MLB Team?

Obviously, “average" would be defined as any team who is playing .500 ball, while better than average would constitute a team playing above .500, and below-average would be any team beneath that mark.

While you may find “your team" above, below, or at the perceived average marks, you may be surprised.

When all of MLB is averaged together this season, the “average" 2021 MLB team (to this point) has:

1. A record of 30-30
2. A .500 winning percentage
3. A run differential of zero
4. A home record of 16-47 (.533)
5. An away record of 14-16 (.467)
6. And a record of 14-18 (.438) against teams who are better than .500

Average 2021 MLB Team:

Based only on the following individual statistical categories, as of June 9, 2021, here"s how all of MLB"s team"s fare as far as being average:

Wins – MLB average is 30:

Above Average: The Rays (39), Red Sox (37), Yankees (32), White Sox (37), Indians (32), A’s (36), Astros (34), Brewers (34), Cubs (34), Cardinals (31), Giants (37), Padres (37), and Dodgers (35).

Average: Blue Jays (30), and Mariners (30).

Below Average: Orioles (22), Royals (29), Tigers (25), Twins (24), Angels (29), Rangers (23), the come the entire NL East… Mets (29), Braves (29), Phillies (28), Marlins (26), Nationals (24), Reds (28), Pirates (23), Rockies (24), and D-Backs (20).

Losses – MLB average is 30:

Above Average (less than 30 losses): The Rays (23), Red Sox (24), Yankees (29), Blue Jays (28), White Sox (23), Indians (26), A’s (26), Astros (26), Mets (24), Braves (29), Brewers (26), Cubs (27), Giants (26), Padres (26), and Dodgers (25).

Average (30 losses): The Royals (30), Cardinals (30), and Reds (30).

Below Average (more than 30 losses): The Orioles (38), Tigers (35), Twins (36), Mariners (32), Angels (32), Rangers (39), Phillies (31), Marlins (34), Nationals (33), Pirates (36), Rockies (37), and D-Backs (42).

Winning Percentage – MLB Average is .500

Above Average (Better than .500): The Rays (.629), Red Sox (.607), Yankees (.525), Blue Jays (.517), White Sox (.617), Indians (.552), A’s (.581), Astros (.567), Mets (.547), Brewers (.567), Cubs (.557), Cardinals (.508), Giants (.587), Padres (.587), and Dodgers (.583).

Average (.500): The Braves (.500).

Below Average (Below .500): The Orioles (.367), Royals (.492), Tigers (.417), Twins (.400), Mariners (.484), Angels (.475), Rangers (.371), Phillies (.475), Marlins (.433), Nationals (.421), Reds (.483), Pirates (.390), Rockies (.393), and D-Backs (.323).

Games Back – MLB Average is 5.75

Above Average (Less than 5.75 GB): The Rays (0), Red Sox (1.5), White Sox (0), Indians (4.0), A’s (0), Astros (1.0), Mets (0), Braves (2.5), Phillies (4.0), Brewers (0), Cubs (0.5), Cardinals (3.5), Reds (5.0), Giants (0), Padres (2.5), and Dodgers (3.0).

Average (5.75 GB): None.

Below Average (More than 5.75 GB): The Yankees (6.5), Blue Jays (7.0), Orioles (16.0), Royals (7.5), Tigers (12.0), Twins (13.0), Mariners (6.0), Angels (6.5), Rangers (13.0), Marlins (6.5), Nationals (7.0), Pirates (10.5), Rockies (14.5), and D-Backs (19).

Wild Card Games Back – MLB Average is 4

Above Average (Less than 4.0 WCGB): The Rays (0), Red Sox (+2.5), Yankees (2.5), Blue Jays (3.0), White Sox (0), Indians (1.0), A’s (0), Astros (0), Mets (0), Brewers (0), Cubs (1.5), Giants (0), Padres (+0.5), and Dodgers (0).

Average (4.0 WCGB): None.

Below Average (More than 4.0 WCGB): The Orioles (12.0), Royals (4.5), Tigers (9.0), Twins (10), Mariners (5), Angels (5.5), Rangers (12.0), Braves (5.0), Phillies (6.5), Marlins (9.0), Nationals (9.5), Cardinals (4.5), Reds (6.0), Pirates 11.5), Rockies (11.5), and D-Backs (16.0).

Runs Scored – MLB Average is 263

Above Average (More than 263 RS): The Rays (305), Red Sox (300), Blue Jays (283), White Sox (297), A"s (270), Astros (320), Angels (285), Braves (286), Cubs (280), Reds (283), Giants (293), Padres (286), and Dodgers (318).

Average (263 RS): The Diamondbacks

Below Average (Less than 263 RS): Yankees (231), Orioles (250), Indians (241), Royals (257), Tigers (222), Twins (274), Mariners (239), Rangers (242), Mets (195), Phillies (250), Marlins (231), Nationals (216), and the Rockies (261).

Runs Allowed – MLB Average is 263

Above Average (Less than 263 RA): The Mets (191), Rays (228), Red Sox (252), Yankees (231), Blue Jays (252), White Sox (207), Indians (247), A"s (261), Astros (245), Marlins (232), Nationals (249), Brewers (236), Cubs (249), Giants (218), Padres (217), and Dodgers (233)

Average (263 RA): None

Below Average (More than 263 RA): The Orioles (296), Royals (275), Tigers (278), Twins (313), Mariners (295), Angels (315), Rangers (297), Braves (285), Phillies (265), Cardinals (282), Reds (309), Pirates (286), Rockies (304), and the D-Backs (330).

Run Differential – MLB Average is 0

Above Average (Above 0): The Rays (+77), Red Sox (+48), Blue Jays (+31), White Sox (+90), A"s (+9), Astros (+75), Mets (+4), Braves (+1), Cubs (+31), Giants (+75), Padres (+69), and Dodgers (+85).

Average (0): The Yankees (0) and Brewers (0),

Below Average (Less than 0): The Orioles (-46), Indians (-6), Royals (-18), Tigers (-56), Rangers (-55), Mariners (-56), Angels (-30), Rangers (-55), Phillies (-15), Marlins (-1), Nationals (-33), Cardinals (-27), Reds (-26), Pirates (-77), Rockies (-43), and D-Backs (-67).

Home Wins – MLB Average is 16

Above Average (Greater than 16): The Red Sox (17), Yankees (17), White Sox (24), A"s (18), Astros (20), Mariners (17), Angels (17), Braves (17), Phillies (17), Brewers (17), Cubs (21), Giants (18), Padres (21), Dodgers (19) and the Rockies (20).

Average (16): The Rays (16), Royals (16),

Below Average (Less than 16): The Blue Jays (13), Orioles (11), Indians (14), Tigers (14), Twins (12), Rangers (14), Mets (15), Marlins (13), Nationals (13), Cardinals (15), Reds (12), Pirates (13), and the D-Backs (11).

Home Losses – MLB Average is 14

Above Average (Less than 14 home losses): The Rays (13), Blue Jays (13), White Sox (10), Indians (12), Astros (13), Mets (5), Phillies (12), Marlins (12), Cubs (10), Giants (9), Padres (13), and the Dodgers (10).

Average (14 home losses): The Red Sox (14), Mariners (14), and the Rockies (14).

Below Average (More than 14 home losses): The Yankees (16), Orioles (20), Royals (15), Tigers (15), Twins (16), A"s (17), Angels (16), Rangers (16), Braves (17), Nationals (15), Brewers (15), Cardinals (15), Reds (15), Pirates (17), and the D-Backs (16).

Away Wins – MLB Average is 14

Above Average (More than 14 road wins): The Rays (23), Red Sox (20), Yankees (15), Blue Jays (17), Indians (18), A"s (18), Brewers (17), Cardinals (16), Reds (16), Giants (20), Padres (16), and the Dodgers (16).

Average (14): The Astros (14) and Mets (14).

Below Average (Less than road wins): The Orioles (11), White Sox (13), Royals (13), Tigers (11), Twins (12), Mariners (13), Angels (12), Rangers (9), Braves (12), Phillies (11), Marlins (13), Nationals (11), Cubs (13), Pirates (10), Rockies (4) and the D-Backs (9).

Away Losses – MLB Average is 16

Above Average (Less than 16 road losses): The Rays (10), Red Sox (10), Yankees (13), Blue Jays (15), White Sox (13), Indians (14), Royals (15), A"s (9), Astros (13), Braves (12), Brewers (11), Cardinals (15), Reds (15), Giants (13), Padres (13), and the Dodgers (15).

Average (16): The Angels (16).

Below Average (More than 16 road losses): The Orioles (18), Tigers (20), Twins (18), Mariners (18), Rangers (23), Mets (19), Phillies (19), Marlins (22), Nationals (19), Cubs (17), Pirates (19), Rockies (23), and the Diamondbacks (26).

Wins Vs. Teams Above .500 – MLB Average is 14

Above Average (Greater than 14 wins versus .500 teams): The Rays (20), Red Sox (16), Yankees (17), Blue Jays (22), Astros (20), Mariners (15), Angels (16), Phillies (19), Brewers (18), Cubs (18), Reds (17), and the Padres (18).

Average (14 wins versus .500 teams): The Orioles (14), Tigers (14), Marlis (14), and the Dodgers (14).

Below Average (Fewer than 14 wins versus .500 teams): The White Sox (10), Indians (11), Royals (11), Twins (8), A"s (12), Rangers (13), Mets (7), Braves (12), Nationals (11), Cardinals (8), Pirates (12), Giants (11), Rockies (10), and the D-Backs (6).

Losses vs Teams Above .500 – MLB Average is 18

Above Average (Less than 18 losses versus .500 teams): The Rays (16), Red Sox (11), White Sox (12), Indians (10), Royals (16), A"s (15), Astros (12), Mets (13), Braves (15), Brewers (11), Cardinals (15), and the Giants (9).

Above Average (18 losses versus .500 teams): The Twins (18), Cubs (18), and the Dodgers (18).

Below Average (Greater than 18 losses versus .500 teams): The Yankees (20), Blue Jays (19), Orioles (25), Tigers (24), Mariners (19), Angels (22), Rangers (21), Phillies (22), Marlins (22), Nationals (24), Reds (20), Pirates (24), Padres (20), Rockies (27), and the D-Backs (26).

Well, that"s it – that"s what constitutes average, so far, this season. Draw your own conclusions. If you"d like to browse the stats, here they are, by both division and league.

Average 2021 MLB Team: American League by Division

Average 2021 MLB Team: American League (Overall)

Average 2021 MLB Team: National League by Division

Average 2021 MLB Team: National League (Overall)

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