MLB Power Rankings: New York Yankees Climb to the Top
1. New York Yankees
This Yankees team surprised just about everyone, Yankees fans included. Despite an injury list that just goes on and on, the Yankees currently sit at the top of the league. They are 24-14 and are currently first in the AL East. They had an impressive week going 6-2, and good news finally came. Curtis Granderson…is back.
2. St Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals have silently been proving themselves as worthy of the top spot. And they have definitely started moving up. Currently sitting at 24-13, they have the lead of the NL Central. The Cardinals have the best pitching in the league, with a 3.03 ERA. With the Mets and Brewers at home this week, this Cardinals team can definitely reach the top.
3.Texas Rangers
While the Rangers are also 24-14 and leading the AL West, I have them behind the Yankees for the overall second spot. While, no doubt, they are a great team, this past week has just been mediocre. They went 4-2, including a sweep of the league’s worst team Houston Astros.
4. Baltimore Orioles
This Baltimore Orioles club is impressing more and more. They are 23-15, and one game back in the AL East. In their last 17 games, 14 of them have been on the road. The Orioles finally return home to enter an eight game home stand, against the Padres, Rays, and a crucial series against the Yankees. I can’t wait to see what this Orioles do this upcoming week.
5. San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are proving they can make another postseason run. With a 23-15 record, they are sitting at the top of the NL West and had a great last week. When the Braves came to AT&T Park, the Giants showed they are no team to mess with going 3-1 in the series. This team won’t back down anytime soon.
6. Atlanta Braves
I think it’s fair to say this is not the same Braves team we saw at the beginning of the season. The Braves are 22-16, and are only one game ahead of the Nationals for the NL East. This past week has also been pretty rough for the Braves, including almost getting swept by the Giants. They need to step it up or Washington is going to surprise them and take the NL East lead.
7. Cincinnati Reds
The Reds have made a jump from 13th to 7th this week. Their record of 22-16 and past week have reflected that. Although they went 1-2 against the Braves, they are still 2.5 games behind St Louis for the NL Central. A nine game road trip to Miami Philadelphia and New York Mets will definitely have the Reds moving up even more.
8. Detroit Tigers
The Tigers have made a slight fall from third to seventh this week. A primary factor that has to do with this is their unimpressive 2-4 week. This included a two game by the Nationals and a series loss to the Indians. Verlander is still strong with an 1.93 ERA and 57 strike outs. Miguel Cabrera is also leading the Tigers with his .369 batting average, 7 home runs and 40 RBI.
9. Cleveland Indians
This week has been impressive for the Indians. After going 6-1, the Indians are now 21-16. Their week included a sweep over the Athletics, and a series win over the Tigers. Former Orioles Mark Reynolds has been dominant, with 11 home runs, and has driven in over 17 runs.
10. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates are slowly making their way up the ranks. They are 21-17 and had an impressive week going 4-3 including almost sweeping the Mets. Marte and McCutchen are still hot and leading their team in batting average. The Pirates also have two pitchers in their starting rotation with ERAs under 3.00. I predict the Pirates will continue to make their silent rise through the ranks.
11. Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals have started to cool down, but the race for the NL East is still heating up. The Nationals are one game behind the Braves and aren’t giving up soon. This past week they struggled against the Cubs, and I see more struggles in the upcoming week now that Bryce Harper is sitting the bench after running into the outfield wall. The lineup needs to step it up now that Harper can’t contribute until his return.
12. Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays are 19-18 and almost at the bottom of the AL East. They did have an impressive week going 5-1, including series wins over the Padres and divisional rival Blue Jays. If the Rays want any chance to move up in their division, this week would be the time to improve. They play the Red Sox at home and then the Orioles on the road, so now is the time to jump or just move more towards the bottom.
13. Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks have started their jump. This included a sweep over the Dodgers and a split against the Phillies. Playing the Braves at home won’t be easy, but Arizona will get a chance to move up again while on the road against Miami and Colorado.
14. Oakland Athletics
With a 20-20 record the Athletics are well, average. They are second in the AL West, yet they are five games behind the Rangers. This past week for the Athletics was slightly less than average, going 2-5 including series losses to the Blue Jays and Twins. Playing the Rangers twice within a week will be tough, but crucial if they want to move up in their division.
15. Minnesota Twins
The Twins have a barely over .500 record, but this past week they have been on the rise. They went 5-2 including going 3-1 over the Boston Red Sox. With both White and Red Sox teams coming into town, this could be Minnesota’s chance to prove themselves.
16. Colorado Rockies
The Rockies are just over .500, and this past week proves that. They went 1-2 against the Yankees and Cardinals. Hopefully playing the Cubs on the road will get their momentum going, but the first game of the series was a loss 9-1. The Rockies have some work to do if they want to move up in the ranks.
17. Boston Red Sox
This Red Sox team is not the same as earlier in the season. They are currently third in the AL East, but still in the hunt only two games back. If they want to move up, they need to do better than they did the last week. The Sox lost their series’ to the Blue Jays and Twins. The Sox begin a nine game road trip that will be key to improve the Red Sox record.
18. Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners keep on slipping, and after going 3-2 this past week they are currently sitting at an 18-20 record. They did, however go 2-1 in their series against the Athletics, a positive note. Unfortunately I think this will be overlooked as the Mariners get ready to begin a nine game road trip in which they play the Yankees, Indians, and Angels. I think this will be very tough for Seattle.
19. Philadelphia Phillies
Currently sitting at an 18-21 record, I don’t think this was the season Phillies fans were expecting. This past week has been an improvement for the Phillies. They went 3-3, including winning their series against the Giants and splitting their series against the Diamondbacks. With the Indians and Reds coming into town I don’t see the Phillies record getting better.
20. Kansas City Royals
The Royals are another team just over .500, but this week included a slight beating from two AL East teams. The Royals went 1-2 in their series against the Orioles and were then swept by the Yankees. Pitching hasn’t been their problem, their top three pitchers have ERAs under 2.80. They have all the tools, they just need to make them sync.
21. Chicago Cubs
The Cubs may be at the bottom of the list, but I see them making a move up. Although they are 16-22, this past week was a glimmer of hope for the Cubs. They went 4-2 and even won their series against the Nationals.
22. Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are sitting at the bottom of a tough AL East. They also have an unimpressive 15-24 record. While this past week was just average for Toronto going 3-3, they did win their series against division rival Red Sox 2-1.
23. Milwaukee Brewers
This past week has been rough for the Brewers. They went 2-4 including getting swept by the Reds. They have the power in their lineup; their top three hitters have batting averages over 3.00. A four game series against the Pirates may just be the motivation this Brewers team needs.
24. San Diego Padres
The Padres are consistently falling to the bottom of the pack. They now have a 17-21 record and are fourth in the NL West. This past week included sweeping Miami and then getting swept by the Rays. They enter Baltimore for a two game series and then return home for games against the Nationals and Cardinals. Unfortunately I see the Padres continuing to fall.
25. Chicago White Sox
While the White Sox are by no means in a good place, this past week wasn’t hateful for them. They went 1-2 against the Angels, and split their series against the Mets. With the Twins and Angels this week on the road, this could be Chicago’s chance to fight back. I guess we will see.
26. Los Angeles Dodgers
Like I have said before, this isn’t the Dodgers team fans and expert’s expected. They are sitting at the bottom of their division and have a 15-22 record. This past week they also got swept by the Diamondbacks and beat the Marlins 2-1. This next week won’t go any better, as the Dodgers are set to play the Nationals and Braves.
27. Los Angeles Angels
The Angels just can’t seem to get anything going, and this week we find them again at the bottom. They lost their series to the Astros but turned it around to win their series against the White Sox. Trout continues to shine despite a losing record, with a .283 batting average, six home runs, 25 RBI, and six stolen bases.
28. New York Mets
There is not much you can say about this Mets team. They are 14-21, and 6.5 games back in the NL East. They just got swept by the Pirates, and playing the Cardinals on the road will not help their record.
29. Miami Marlins
It might be only by a hair, but the Marlins are not the worst team in baseball. They have only one more win than the Astros, and this week hasn’t been the best for them. They went 0-3 vs the Padres and 1-2 vs the Dodgers. It’s a tight race for the bottom spot.
30. Houston Astros
The Houston Astros still have the worst record in baseball at 10-29. This week wasn’t a complete bust for the Astros, as they went 2-1 against the Angels. Not a necessarily impressive feat, but hey, it’s something.