KML Season 27 Power Rankings
Quarter Pole Edition (40 Games)
Forty games isn't enough to define a season, but it's enough to reveal trends.
The defending champions have done nothing to relinquish their crown. A preseason dark horse has become the hottest team in baseball. Several offseason favorites have validated the hype, while others have stumbled badly out of the gate.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is that no division has been decided. Every race still has meaningful drama, and with nearly three-quarters of the season remaining, plenty can still change.
Here's where every club stands after the first quarter of Season 27.
Tier 1 — The Teams to Beat
These clubs have established themselves as legitimate championship favorites.
1. Philadelphia Union (28-12)
The defending champions have somehow become even more dangerous.
Philadelphia leads KML in runs scored (241), home runs (77), OPS (.868), and owns the league's best run differential (+80). While the pitching staff hasn't been as dominant as last October, the offense has more than compensated.
Until somebody proves otherwise, the road to the World Series still runs through Philadelphia.
2. New York Wise Guys (29-11)
No team has been better over the first 40 games.
The Wise Guys pair the league's best record with the league's best pitching staff (2.64 ERA). Their six-game winning streak has turned what looked like a competitive NL East into their division to lose.
After entering the year behind Baltimore and London in most preseason conversations, New York has become baseball's biggest surprise.
3. Buffalo Fudds (24-16)
The move from Salt Lake City hasn't slowed this franchise one bit.
Buffalo's offense has been merely average, but elite pitching (2.73 ERA, 1.09 WHIP) has carried the club to the top of the NL North. Championship-caliber pitching travels well, and the Fudds have plenty of it.
4. Augusta Admirals (23-17)
Perhaps the league's quietest contender.
Overshadowed by Philadelphia in the AL East, Augusta has quietly compiled the fifth-best run differential in baseball (+34) while allowing just 146 runs. If the offense continues to improve, the Admirals could become a dangerous postseason opponent.
5. New Orleans Knights (23-17)
No team pushed harder to win during the offseason, and the early returns have been encouraging.
The league's highest payroll has produced a balanced club with a top-six offense and one of the National League's better pitching staffs. The Knights remain exactly where we expected them to be: firmly in the championship conversation.
Tier 2 — Legitimate Contenders
These clubs look capable of making deep postseason runs but still have one or two questions to answer.
Colorado Springs Bighorn (22-18)
The Bighorn have exceeded expectations thanks to one of the league's most productive offenses. Their four-game winning streak has vaulted them into a tie atop the AL West, and if the pitching stabilizes, they'll be a dangerous October team.
Louisville Tempted (24-16)
From 57 wins last season to first place after 40 games, Louisville has authored one of the league's best turnaround stories.
The offense has been solid, but the biggest improvement has come on the mound. Whether they can maintain this pace remains one of the season's biggest questions.
Fresno Fox (22-18)
The defending National League champions haven't dominated, but they haven't needed to.
Fresno continues to win with balance, and their proven postseason pedigree makes them a club nobody wants to face once October arrives.
Montreal Marauders (22-18)
Few pitching staffs have been more impressive.
Montreal leads KML in strikeouts and continues to keep games under control with a deep, durable rotation. If the offense finds another gear, the Marauders could climb quickly.
Iowa City Farmers (22-18)
The offense has largely delivered on preseason expectations, blasting 76 home runs through 40 games.
The concern lies on the other side of the ball. Despite leading the AL West, Iowa City's pitching has allowed 215 runs, producing a negative run differential. Cleaning up the run prevention could unlock this club's championship ceiling.
Tier 3 — Dangerous, but Inconsistent
These clubs remain firmly in the playoff race but need greater consistency.
- London Hot Spurs (23-17)
- Florida Manatees (22-18)
- Sioux Falls Blackfoot Nation (21-19)
- Baltimore Crab Cakes (21-19)
- Tacoma Tigers (22-18)
- Toronto Savage (20-20)
- Vancouver Tweakers (20-20)
- El Paso Chihuahuas (21-19)
- Austin Jiveturkeys (22-18)
Most intriguing: Baltimore.
The Crab Cakes own arguably the league's best rotation outside of New York, allowing just 117 runs in 40 games. The problem is an offense that ranks near the bottom of the league. If the bats wake up, Baltimore could become one of the most dangerous teams in baseball almost overnight.
Tier 4 — Looking for an Identity
These clubs remain close enough to dream about October, but they'll need to string together a strong month.
- Atlanta Apex (19-21)
- Wichita Diamond Dawgs (20-20)
- Texas Flood (19-21)
- Jackson Grim Reapers (19-21)
- Charleston Bumpy Roses (17-23)
- Arizona Artists (16-24)
- Salem Witchland (15-25)
The biggest disappointment is clearly Cheyenne... but they've earned a tier all to themselves.
Tier 5 — The Biggest Puzzle in Baseball
Cheyenne Chinook (16-24)
No team is harder to explain.
The Chinook rank second in baseball in runs scored and continue to hit the ball as well as anyone in the league. Unfortunately, they've also allowed 223 runs, one of the worst marks in KML.
The result? A preseason championship favorite sitting six games under .500.
If the pitching staff figures things out, Cheyenne could rocket up these rankings faster than anyone. Until then, they're baseball's greatest mystery.
Tier 6 — Playing for Tomorrow
The season isn't over, but these clubs have significant ground to make up.
- Pittsburgh Parking Chairs (17-23)
- Kansas City Lightning (13-27)
- Las Vegas High Rollers (13-27)
- Trenton Hessians (13-27)
- St. Louis Arch of Beers (12-28)
Every one of these organizations has enough time to improve, but the margin for error has become razor thin.
Quarter Pole Awards
Best Team: Philadelphia Union
Biggest Surprise: New York Wise Guys
Biggest Turnaround: Louisville Tempted
Best Offense: Philadelphia Union
Best Pitching Staff: New York Wise Guys
Most Underrated Team: Augusta Admirals
Most Dangerous Team Nobody Wants to Face: Buffalo Fudds
Biggest Disappointment: Cheyenne Chinook
Team Most Likely to Surge in the Second Quarter: Baltimore Crab Cakes
Forty games have given us plenty of answers—but perhaps even more questions.
Can Philadelphia defend its title? Is New York truly this good? Will Buffalo continue to ride elite pitching? Can Louisville sustain its remarkable turnaround? And perhaps most importantly, can Cheyenne find enough pitching to rescue what once looked like a championship season?
If the first quarter is any indication, Season 27 is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable campaigns in Kenesaw Mountain Landis history.
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