*Winning percentage as of June 1
Winning Percentage: .589
The Pirates' Starling Marte hits an RBI single during the ninth inning of their baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Sunday, June 23, 2013, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Winning Percentage: .563
The Detroit Tigers' Prince Fielder hits a two-run single to drive in Bryan Holaday and Austin Jackson and take a 7-4 lead over the Boston Red Sox in the eighth inning of a baseball game on Sunday, June 23, 2013, in Detroit. The Tigers defeated the Red Sox 7-5. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Winning Percentage: .500
The Washington Nationals'Jayson Werth hits a single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies at Nationals Park, Sunday, June 23, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Winning Percentage: .542
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Martin Prado makes the throw from his knees for the out against the Cincinnati Reds in the sixth inning during a baseball game on Saturday, June 22, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Winning Percentage: .507
Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis, left, tags out the Baltimore Orioles' Adam Jones as he was attempting to steal second during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, June 24, 2013, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Winning Percentage: .500
The Colorado Rockies' Wilin Rosario (20) is out at first after getting caught off base as Washington Nationals first baseman Chris Marrero (14) covers in the fifth inning of a baseball game at Nationals Park, Sunday, June 23, 2013, in Washington. The Rockies won 7-6. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Winning Percentage: .423
The Los Angeles Dodgers' Skip Schumaker, left, Yasiel Puig, center, and Andre Ethier celebrate after they defeated the San Francisco Giants in their baseball game, Monday, June 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Winning Percentage: .581
Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Alex Wood throws during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Saturday, June 22, 2013, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Winning Percentage: .521
Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Fernando Rodney reacts after closing out the Toronto Blue Jays during the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, June 24, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Rays won the game 4-1. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Winning Percentage: .408
The Milwaukee Brewers' Norichika Aoki (7) steals second with Atlanta Braves second baseman Dan Uggla covering during the seventh inning of a baseball game on Friday, June 21, 2013, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
WASHINGTON – The Washington Nationals may be middling around .500 when it comes to wins and losses, but the team is near the top of another list.
MarketWatch reports the Nats come in third among teams that give fans the most “bang for your buck.” A study by ticket reseller TicketCity ranked the 30 big-league clubs using a formula that takes into account these factors when teams play at home: median price for tickets on the resale market, the team’s winning percentage and how good each team’s opponents are.
So while the Nats are struggling, their $21 ticket resale price is one reason they’re behind only the Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers in the survey.
The Boston Red Sox, meanwhile, have a $38 median ticket resale price and rank No. 26, despite having a .587 winning percentage as of June 1.
The fairly awful New York Mets rank next-to-last on the list — right ahead of the Houston Astros — with a $38 ticket price and .406 winning percentage. In short, who wants to pay that much to watch a losing team?
MarketWatch notes that since resale prices were studied instead of official ticket prices, a team that keeps winning could see its ticket prices go higher and the equation could change.
Teams also can offer savings on official, box-office tickets, which weren’t part of the rankings.
See the Top 10 “bang for your buck” teams in the gallery, and view the full list here.
This story has been modified to clarify that TicketCity used baseball data as of June 1 for its team rankings.
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