Sporting News  Which team is best in the National League?  Based
on the standings, the Dodgers are the best team in the National
League. They're also favorites to win the pennant according to
The Cardinals are the NL's top team based on two numbers favored
by stat geeks, offensive WAR and run differential. Based on runs
scored, the Rockies are No. 1. On pitching WAR and team ERA,
it's the Nationals. On records over the past three weeks, the
Marlins and Giants lead the way.  So who is the NL's best team
as the season passed the one-third mark?  Let's start with who
isn't:  It's not the Dodgers, who will be hard-pressed to keep
winning at a better-than-.600 clip with Matt Kemp (hamstring)
sidelined for the rest of the month. The Cardinals have lost
nine of 12 mainly because their pitching has turned into a major
concern. The Rockies didn't have enough pitching to begin with
and the Giants continue to search for offense.  You can also
disregard three teams that reached the postseason last year. The
Diamondbacks