Ranking the Unluckiest Teams in Baseball in 2013

In the game of baseball, it is good to be lucky.

But, when a team has an unlucky season, it could mean a long 162-game stretch for the ballclub and its fans. 

Just like any other season, the 2013 Major League Baseball season has its own respective crop of unlucky teams. 

Here is a look at the five unluckiest teams in baseball so far this season. 

5. Houston Astros

We all knew that the Houston Astros were going to be awful this season, which is why you cannot quantify them as the unluckiest team in baseball. 

Before Wednesday's games, Houston sat at 13-32, a record that is rivaling the Miami Marlins for worst in the league.

The Astros pitching staff has given up over 10 runs in four games this season, including 19 to Cleveland and 17 to Detroit. 

Bo Porter's ballclub just cannot catch a break and do not be surprised if they hit the 100-loss mark before September rolls around. 

4. Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics are having another successful season under manager Bob Melvin, but they have experienced some bad luck this season. 

The obvious bad luck situation that the A's faced this season came back on May 8 when Adam Rosales' apparent game-tying home run was incorrectly ruled a double by the umpiring crew led by Angel Hernandez. 

If you look even deeper at the 24-22 ballclub, they have more bad luck by playing in the same division as the team with the best record in baseball, the Texas Rangers. 

Luckily, the A's get to see a ton of the struggling Angels and Astros, but they most likely will not overthrow the Rangers at the top of the American League West at this pace. 

3. Atlanta Braves

A lot has gone right for the 2013 edition of the Atlanta Braves, but they have also been quite the unlucky ballclub when it comes to a few of their key players. 

Atlanta's pair of left-handed relievers, Jonny Venters and Eric O'Flaherty, are both on the disabled list because of Tommy John surgery.

The dominant duo will not be back this season, and the Braves are going to have to rely on young relievers like Luis Avilan and Cory Gearrin to set up for closer Craig Kimbrel. 

One other unlucky aspect of the Braves' season has been the play of offseason acquisition B.J. Upton.

Upton was expected to be a productive leadoff man to a powerful batting order, but instead his spot in the lineup has fluctuated all season as he is hitting a meager .143. 

2. Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays made plenty of news in the offseason for all the right reasons. 

However, once they started playing out on the diamond, they have made the headlines for all the wrong reasons. 

Shortstop Jose Reyes injured his ankle back on April 12 against Cleveland, and his production has been missed on both the offensive and defensive ends. 

The two other marquee additions to the Toronto roster have also fell on hard times in the American League as R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle have a combined record of 5-8 in 19 starts. 

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

Disappointing is the hot word being used to describe the Los Angeles Dodgers at the moment. 

But they have also been unlucky in the first two months of the season with Zack Greinke's freak fractured collar bone highlighting the lack of luck going around Chavez Revine. 

Greinke has now returned from the injury he suffered in a brawl with Carlos Quentin on April 11 to provide some type of normalcy to the starting rotation. 

Already this season, the Dodgers have used eight different starting pitchers with Clayton Kershaw (10) and Hyun-Jin Ryu (nine) being the stalwarts in the rotation. 

Which team do you think is the unluckiest in baseball this season?

Comment below or leave me a comment on Twitter, @JTansey90.