MLB standings by average 2023 attendance: Cardinals still care, A’s still in cellar

The MLB standings ordered by average team attendance shows us which fanbases are showing up and which fanbases are checked out. 

The 2023 MLB season is roughly one-third of the way complete. We have passed the point of “it’s early” and arrived at every fandom’s mid-year inflection point. You’re either convinced your team has a chance to win the championship — really, they do! Or, you’re dead inside and desperately waiting for the calendar to reach October, when your team definitely won’t be playing.

A good method of gauging which fanbases are pumped and which fanbases are not pumped is by checking the attendance records.

If your team is smacking dingers and winning games, odds are the stadium is packed every night. If your team is — and we should probably avoid the specific examples right now, don’t want to call anyone out — the Oakland Athletics, your stadium bares more resemblance to a platter of Chick-fil-a nuggets after a busy social gathering.

MLB standings: Divisional standings ordered by average attendance

NL East

1. Philadelphia Phillies (39,107)
2. Atlanta Braves (38,446)
3. New York Mets (31,900)
4. Washington Nationals (21,490)
5. Miami Marlins (11,569)

Philly fans are loyal to their core. Even when watching the team is akin to sticking one’s hand in a boiling pot of oil, the fans will show up to offer their support — or maybe more accurately, their criticism.

The Braves are one of the best teams in baseball, so of course.

Remember when the Marlins built that cool new stadium to attract more fans? Yeah, me too.

NL Central

1. St. Louis Cardinals (39,968)
2. Chicago Cubs (32,589)
3. Milwaukee Brewers (28,421)
4. Cincinnati Reds (19,132)
5. Pittsburgh Pirates (17,383)

The Cards and Cubs are impossible to stomp out. No matter how bad the teams get, the fans will be present and involved.

This is almost a full reversal of the real standings, aside from the Brewers (currently in first place) being sandwiched in the middle.

NL West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (47,916)
2. San Diego Padres (39,206)
3. San Francisco Giants (28,261)
4. Colorado Rockies (27,200)
5. Arizona Diamondbacks (20,790)

Dodgers Stadium is the place to be. LA is the running favorite to win the National League and there’s a good chance the Dodgers have home-field advantage when the times comes, although Arizona is right with them in the race for No. 1.

Shout out to the Padres fans who are sticking with it through a particularly rough patch.

AL East

1. New York Yankees (39,803)
2. Toronto Blue Jays (35,293)
3. Boston Red Sox (31,257)
4. Baltimore Orioles (20,138)
5. Tampa Bay Rays (17,090)

The Rays are the best team in baseball, which makes their place at the bottom mildly disappointing. Second in the AL East? Baltimore. Such is life in smaller markets, of course — the 17,090 fans who do show up are as enthusiastic and committed as any group in baseball.

AL Central

1. Minnesota Twins (21,587)
2. Chicago White Sox (18,412)
3. Cleveland Guardians (18,365)
4. Detroit Tigers (17,500)
5. Kansas City Royals (15,518)

The AL Central definitely isn’t the population hub of the MLB. The Royals have one of the nicest ballparks in the country, but unfortunately 18-44 (and 9-23 at home) isn’t giving fans much reason to show up.

AL West

1. Houston Astros (37,249)
2. Los Angeles Angels (31,681)
3. Texas Rangers (28,400)
4. Seattle Mariners (27,940)
5. Oakland Athletics (8,675)

The Astros and Rangers are very exciting contenders. The Angels have two of the biggest names in baseball — and happen to be located in beautiful, sunny Los Angeles. The Mariners crowd rocks. When do we get the Supersonics back? And the A’s… yeah, the A’s are still there. Not for much longer, though. Guess the Vegas fans aren’t making the commute out to Oakland.

MLB standings: National League standings ordered by average attendance

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. St. Louis Cardinals
3. San Diego Padres
4. Philadelphia Phillies
5. Atlanta Braves
6. Chicago Cubs
7. New York Mets
8. Milwaukee Brewers
9. San Francisco Giants
10. Colorado Rockies
11. Washington Nationals
12. Arizona Diamondbacks
13. Cincinnati Reds
14. Pittsburgh Pirates
15. Miami Marlins

MLB standings: American League standings ordered by average attendance

1. New York Yankees
2. Houston Astros
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Los Angeles Angels
5. Boston Red Sox
6. Texas Rangers
7. Seattle Mariners
8. Minnesota Twins
9. Baltimore Orioles 
10. Chicago White Sox
11. Cleveland Guardians
12. Detroit Tigers
13. Tampa Bay Rays
14. Kansas City Royals 
15. Oakland Athletics