By Mark Simon, Sports Info Solutions



With the many recent trends in defensive shifting and baseball analytics, teams are taking more care than ever in managing their defenses to maximize their talent (or lack thereof). As such, flash is not as important as consistency and the ability to finish a play. The teams at the top of the defensive leaderboards may not overwhelm you with their pizazz, but they get the job done. The payoff comes in the wins.



Who are the best defensive teams in baseball? Here’s our take:



(all stats through Monday)



1. Milwaukee Brewers



Take a moment to pause from reveling in Josh Hader’s greatness to appreciate the Brewers’ defensive work. They lead the majors with 54 Defensive Runs Saved — seven more than any other team. With some help from their frequent shift usage, the Brewers infielders rank in the top five in turning ground balls and bunts into outs (77 percent). Their refined outfield has...