Toughest Schedule So Far: Royals and Rays

Major League Baseball Strength of Schedule Rankings
1 - KAN - Opponents #3 in wins and #1 in runs scored/allowed
2 - TAM - Opponents #2 in wins and #2 in runs scored/allowed
3 - BAL - Opponents #1 in wins and #3 in runs scored/allowed
4 - BOS - Opponents #4 in wins and #6 in runs scored/allowed
5 - TOR - Opponents #5 in wins and #5 in runs scored/allowed
6 - MIN - Opponents #9 in wins and #4 in runs scored/allowed
7 - CHW - Opponents #8 in wins and #7 in runs scored/allowed
8 - CLE - Opponents #6 in wins and #11 in runs scored/allowed
9 - OAK - Opponents #7 in wins and #14 in runs scored/allowed
10 - SEA - Opponents #10 in wins and #9 in runs scored/allowed
11 - NYY - Opponents #11 in wins and #10 in runs scored/allowed
12 - DET - Opponents #12 in wins and #12 in runs scored/allowed
13 - TEX - Opponents #13 in wins and #13 in runs scored/allowed
14 - LAA - Opponents #14 in wins and #8 in runs scored/allowed
15 - HOU - Opponents #15 in wins and #16 in runs scored/allowed
16 - CIN - Opponents #18 in wins and #15 in runs scored/allowed
17 - PIT - Opponents #16 in wins and #18 in runs scored/allowed
18 - COL - Opponents #20 in wins and #19 in runs scored/allowed
19 - WAS - Opponents #17 in wins and #20 in runs scored/allowed
20 - MIL - Opponents #19 in wins and #21 in runs scored/allowed
21 - SFO - Opponents #21 in wins and #17 in runs scored/allowed
22 - SDG - Opponents #27 in wins and #22 in runs scored/allowed
23 - PHI - Opponents #24 in wins and #23 in runs scored/allowed
24 - ATL - Opponents #23 in wins and #26 in runs scored/allowed
25 - LAD - Opponents #26 in wins and #24 in runs scored/allowed
26 - STL - Opponents #22 in wins and #29 in runs scored/allowed
27 - NYM - Opponents #28 in wins and #25 in runs scored/allowed
28 - CHC - Opponents #25 in wins and #30 in runs scored/allowed
29 - ARI - Opponents #29 in wins and #27 in runs scored/allowed
30 - FLA - Opponents #30 in wins and #28 in runs scored/allowed

Rays, Jays Fight Toughest Schedules In Baseball

Strength of schedule is calculated by adding wins and losses of each team's opponents, with allowances for home field advantage (currently 14.32%) and history (recent games weighted a bit more than earlier games). Toronto, Baltimore, Kansas City, Seattle, and Cincinnati are around the bottom of their divisions, so it's easy to see why they have tough schedules. But other teams are not so obvious. Tampa Bay is 2nd in the AL East yet has played the toughest schedule in baseball. Not only is the East is the top division by far, but the Rays have played a brutal out-of-division schedule including the Angels, White Sox, and Cardinals. Schedule is an important reason that the Rays are #4 overall and the Blue Jays are #9 overall, even though they are second and last in their division, respectively.

Major League Baseball Strength of Schedule Rankings
1 - TAM
2 - TOR
3 - BAL
4 - SEA
5 - KAN
6 - MIN
7 - CIN
8 - OAK
9 - BOS
10 - NYY
11 - DET
12 - CLE
13 - PIT
14 - LAA
15 - CHW
16 - TEX
17 - HOU
18 - WAS
19 - MIL
20 - COL
21 - ATL
22 - NYM
23 - LAD
24 - SFO
25 - FLA
26 - SDG
27 - PHI
28 - CHC
29 - STL
30 - ARI