Somehow, we’re more than a third of the way through the season already. We’ve seen some incredible pitching, top prospects debut, and we’ve started to get a feel for the contenders and pretenders.

As with April, it’s time for the Dugout Dispatch’s teams of the month!

The rules are simple.

One player for each position + DH, three starters each (similar to a playoff series rotation), and one reliever.

The most important factor for pitchers is their results. If a pitcher has a low ERA but a high FIP/xERA/xFIP (all predictive stats on how a pitcher should perform), the pitcher will still be preferred over pitchers with a higher ERA and a lower FIP. The reason is simple.

Would you rather have a pitcher throw 6 shutout innings, or throw 6 innings of two-run ball? Would your answer change if the advanced stats said the pitcher who threw the shutout was expected to allow 3 runs while the pitcher who allowed two runs was expected to allow those runs? No, because the pitcher who threw the shutout performed better that day and gave the team a better chance to win.

Additionally, volume will be another crucial factor in the evaluation. If Pitcher A has a 1.14 ERA across 28 innings, and Pitcher B has a 1.50 ERA over 40 innings, Pitcher B will get the selection over Pitcher A. The length they provided for their teams makes up for the slight difference in ERA.

For position players, defense will be a factor to some extent. Premium defensive positions like catcher, shortstop, and centerfield will result in a higher consideration in defense. Offense-heavy positions like the corner outfields and first base, defensive issues would potentially be overlooked if the offensive output warrants it.

Let’s dive into the teams of the month for March/April.

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TOTM 1st Team

Position Players:

Catcher: Cal Raleigh, Mariners

Raleigh could’ve probably taken a week off and still would’ve been the easy option here. After a strong April, Raleigh had an even better May and it’s looking like he might’ve been underpaid. Raleigh finished the month with a slash line of .304/.430/.739 for a ridiculous 227 wRC+, an insanely high mark for any position, let alone a defense-first position like catcher. Raleigh slugged 12 homers, scored 25 times, and drove in 18 RBIs en route to accumulating 2.2 fWAR in one of the best catcher months in recent memory. Raleigh has cleared every other catcher in the MLB for the title of best in the sport this season, and we should expect him to frequent these monthly teams.

1st Base: Freddie Freeman, Dodgers

Freeman looked better than ever in May and it’s easy to forget his injured ankle thats lingered since October. Freeman quietly hit over .400 in May, slashing .410/.462/.638 for a 201 wRC+. Of his 43 hits in May, 15 went for extra bases, as Freeman hit 10 doubles, 1 triple, and 4 home runs, driving in 20 Dodgers while scoring 20 times himself for a 1.7 fWAR in May.

2nd Base: Brandon Lowe, Rays

Playing half his games in Steinbrenner Field rather than the Trop must’ve been enticing for the Rays lefty, and we got a peak into the offensive production he can have there this month. Lowe hit 7 home runs with 16 RBIs and 21 runs while slashing .281/.349/.563, good for a 161 wRC+ and 1.2 fWAR. His slug from 2nd base is unique and gives him the nod over the Blue Jays Ernie Clement.

3rd Base: Jose Ramirez, Guardians

The most underrated player in the sport had another phenomenal offensive month. It feels like he’s going to continue to be a perennial top 5 MVP candidate but never bring home the award, and his May was a microcosm of that. Ramirez hit a ridiculous .386/.451/.634 (206 wRC+), while slugging 5 home runs and stealing 8 bases. Ramirez has always been known as a pesky hitter who doesn’t strike out, and in May he stuck out exactly as many times as he walked (9.7%) and accumulated 1.8 fWAR, the fourth highest mark in the sport in May.

Shortstop: Jacob Wilson, Athletics

Wilson bat-to-ball skills are already elite, shown by his 6.7 K% and he walked more than he struck out in May (9.2 BB%). The leadoff man for the A’s should be the early favorite for AL ROY, and was the best offensive Shortstop in the sport in May while still being a positive defender (1.2 DEF). Wilson slashed .368/.437/.538 for a 180 wRC+ and accumulated 1.7 fWAR.

Right Field: Aaron Judge, Yankees

Aaron Judge “cooled off” in May after a torrid April, slashing only .364/.453/.798 and 11 home runs. Judge drove in 18 and scored 25 runs for the Yankees, and remains the best hitter in the sport and has been a slight plus defensively per Fangraphs. Judge was tied with Raleigh for the most fWAR among players in May with a 2.2 mark.

Center Field: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs

PCA’s offensive output looks more and more like a trend rather than a flash. While he might be the best defensive player in the sport, PCA slugged 9 home runs while stealing 5 bases for the Cubs in May. While the BB% leaves a lot to be desired, if he continues to slug at this rate the Cubs will happily live with it, as PCA slashed .269/.296/.593 with 29 RBIs for a 142 wRC+ and 1.5 fWAR.

Left Field: James Wood, Nationals

The rookie slugger might be making his case to be the best LF in the sport already after a second dominant month. We knew about the power already, but Wood is doing some work with his legs as well and stole 6 bases for the Nats in May. Of course, he was doing it with the bat as well, slashing .330/.410/.604 with 7 home runs, 19 runs, and 23 RBIs, for a 177 wRC+ and 1.5 fWAR

Designated Hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers

Ohtani had a better May (1.9 fWAR) than April (1.3 fWAR) and his power looks better than ever. Ohtani was tied with Raleigh for the most home runs in the month, slugging 15 from the lead off spot, which is more than 1 home run every other game (27 G). While he didn’t steal bases at his usual rate, he still scored a ridiculous 31 times while driving in 27 from the lead off spot, essentially being responsible for about 2 runs every game. Ohtani finished May with a 213 wRC+.

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Starting Pitchers:

Andrew Abbot, Reds

Abbot had the best ERA among starters in the month of May with a mark of 0.55. He was an ace every time he took the mound for the Reds and his dominance makes up for the slightly lower innings count (32.2 IP in 6 GS).

Kris Bubic, Royals

Bubic has been the best pitcher on the Royals stellar pitching staff. If the schedule lined up for one more start, Bubic would easily be the ace of this months team, as he just missed out on the ERA title with his 0.56 mark, but threw more innings per start than Abbot, 32.1 IP in only 5 starts.

Chris Sale, Braves

Chris Sale looked like the reigning Cy Young winner in May, dominating hitters to a 1.11 ERA with his trademark slider. Sale was also an innings eater for his team, throwing 32.1 innings over 5 starts, averaging over 6 high quality innings per appearance.

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Reliever: Jhoan Duran, Twins

The Twins relied on their flame-throwing closer a lot this month, bringing him in essentially every other day as he appeared in 15 games. He answered the bell, pitching to a 0.60 ERA over 15 IP, and accumulated 7 saves and a 4-1 record as well as the highest fWAR among relievers.

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TOTM 2nd Team

Catcher: Will Smith, Dodgers

First base: Ryan O’Hearn, Orioles

Second Base: Ernie Clement, Blue Jays

Third Base: Maikel Garcia, Royals

Shortstop: Jeremy Pena, Astros

Right Field: Addison Barger, Blue Jays

Center Field: Cody Bellinger, Yankees

Left Field: Heliot Ramos, Giants

Designated Hitter: Rafael Devers, Red Sox

SP1: Bailey Falter, Pirates

SP2: Robbie Ray, Giants

SP3: Paul Skenes, Pirates

RP: Edwin Diaz

Highlights

The left field spot was easily the hardest to pick, as both Heliot Ramos and Taylor Ward were outstanding offensively. At the end of the day, i gave the edge to Ramos as both he and Ward were poor defenders, and Ramos was the best offensive LF this month per wRC+.

Devers had a historic month for the Red Sox with 33 RBIs, more than one a game and has quieted all the noise around him. Jeremey Pena might finally be breaking out after his unbelievable rookie season; he was the 2nd best offensive shortstop and 3rd best defensive shortstop in May per Fangraphs ratings. Ryan “turn and burn” O’hearn should fetch the Orioles some prospects if he has another strong offensive month.

On the mound, Bailey Falter easily cold’ve made the first team with his 0.76 ERA, his lack of strikeouts, slightly worse ERA while similar innings per start (35.2 IP, 6 GS), is what pushed him to the second team. I’d rather take my 6+ innings of dominant Chris Sale over Falters 5+ innings.

Skubal had a few masterclasses this month and is the best pitcher in the sport, but his era of 2.20 was just slightly too high for me this month.

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