MLB Power Rankings Week 16

1. St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals are back at the top. They are 3-1 since the All Star break but have reclaimed the top spot in the NL Central one and a half games ahead of the Pirates. Adam Wainwright threw an impressive game against the Padres, throwing eight innings, striking out seven and earning win number thirteen.

2. Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays are only getting closer to the AL East title. They went 4-1 this week and are right on the heels of the Red Sox, just one and a half games back. Matt Moore recorded a two-hit shutout and threw his first complete game in his major league career.

3. Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles have come running out of the gates since the All Star break. They’ve gone 4-1 including their first road sweep of the year against the Texas Rangers. They’ve closed the gap in the AL East race and are now only three and a half games back.

4. Cincinnati Reds

The Reds have started the final stretch of the season strong, going 3-1 since the break. But they are still stuck in the middle of the NL Central with nowhere to go. With the Cardinals coming into town soon this could be their chance to take down the number one team.

5. Los Angeles Dodgers

This post All Star break is the Dodgers team we expected to see at the beginning of the season. They have gone 5-0 and are one game ahead for the lead of the NL West. However, the presence of Yasiel Puig has slowly diminished. Other Dodger’s have stepped up and have helped lead their team to the top.

6. Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox could soon drop from the top spot in the AL East. They have the best record in the league at 61-41 but are only one and a half games ahead of the Rays and three and a half games ahead of the Orioles. A series against the Rays will be the key to maintaining their spot on the top.

7. Detroit Tigers

Miguel Cabrera might have left the game early on Monday, but don’t worry other Tiger’s stepped up and secured the win. Martinez went 4-for-5 on Monday and his three RBIs helped secure their victory over Boston. Cabrera is considered day-to-day, but Tigers’ fans shouldn’t be worried about him landing on the DL.

8. Oakland Athletics

Oakland is still holding strong to their AL West lead, but have only manages to go 2-3 since the break. He may have won the Home Run Derby, but Yoenis Cespedes is still day-to-day with a sore left wrist. He is expected to make his return tonight.

9. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates have fallen slightly. They have only managed to go 2-2 since the break, but they still have one of the best records at 59-39. They are back to second in the NL West, but are only one and a half games back. With a series against the struggling Nationals, their lead could very well come back.

10. Atlanta Braves

The Braves are another team with a great record but average start since the break. They are still seven games ahead of the Phillies for the NL East lead. An upcoming series with the Cardinals will be a clash of two top teams.

11. New York Yankees

Derek Jeter is still hurt, Rivera is retiring, and now Alex Rodriguez could be suspended for PEDs. They have fallen to fourth in the AL East and are seven games back. They lost their series to the Red Sox and are now facing the Rangers in a four game series.

12. Texas Rangers

The Rangers have only managed one win since the All Star break. They welcomed the Orioles into Arlington and were swept in three games. They now face the Yankees which the series is currently split.

13. Seattle Mariners

The Mariners have surprised everyone by riding a seven game winning streak. They are 4-0 since the All Star break. Their streak includes sweeps over the Angels and Astros. Not impressive teams, but it’s something.

14. Kansas City Royals

The Royals have had an average start since the break. They may be under .500 on the season but just came off an impressive series win over the Tigers. They now face the red-hot Orioles in which they won game one despite a ninth inning rally by the Birds.

15. Colorado Rockies

The Rockies are stuck in the middle of the NL West. They are five games back, but four and a half games behind the second place Arizona. With the Marlins and Brewers on the upcoming schedule they can try and catch up to the Diamondbacks.

16. San Francisco Giants

The Giants are still struggling. They are under .500 on the season and have gone 2-3 since the break. They are fourth in the NL West but are only six and a half games back. The upcoming series against the Reds will be tough, but the Cubs after that should help move them back up.

17. Los Angeles Angels

The Angels are still fighting to get to above .500. They are 46-51 and eleven games back in the AL West. I don’t believe they will be able to take down the A’s or Rangers for first or second in the division, but they can end up in third. Seattle is currently in third only one game ahead.

18. Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies have taken over second place in the NL East pushing the Nationals down to third. They are seven games back, and are facing a tough series on the road against the Cardinals.

19. San Diego Padres

San Deigo might be last in the NL West, but they are only eight games back. They lost their series to the Cardinals but have taken the first two games in their four game series against the Brewers.

20. New York Mets

The Mets have started off well, going 3-2 since hosting the All Star festivities. However, playing in a division like the NL East isn’t easy. However, they could move up and face the Phillies and Nationals for the second spot in the division. They are only two games behind the Nats and three behind the Phillies.

21. Minnesota Twins

The Twins have started off strong since the All Star break, going 4-1 including a series win over the Indians. They have a seemingly easy week ahead of them, facing the Angels and Mariners.

22. Chicago Cubs

The Cubs have started off average, going 2-3. They lost their series to the Rockies and now face the Diamondbacks in a four game series. It doesn’t seem like their season is going to turn around anytime soon.

23.Cleveland Indians

Cleveland had a chance to knock the Tigers out of first for the AL Central, but have not been proving worthy recently. They have one win since the break, coming against the Twins to avoid the sweep. They must win tonight if they want to avoid the sweep against the Mariners, as they have already lost the first two games.

24. Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona is right on the heels of the Dodgers for first in the NL West. They are only half a game back but going 2-3 since the All Star break doesn’t help their case. With the Cubs in town currently they have a real chance to knock the Dodgers to second place.

25. Milwaukee Brewers

Despite being under .500 on the season, the Brewers have had a solid start since the break. But the team and their fans were hit with a bomb this week: 2011 MVP Ryan Braun has been suspended for the remainder of the season for his use of PEDs. That will only make their season worse.

26. Chicago White Sox

The White Sox are slowly finding themselves continually at the bottom of the ranks. They are last in the AL Central 15 games back and have a .402 win percentage.

27. Washington Nationals

The Nationals are just falling and falling. There was supposed to be a turn around after Bryce Harper came back, but have only managed to continue dropping under .500. They have gone 0-5 since the break and Harper is only batting .219. They are now third in the NL East eight games back.

28. Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto has been struggling. Not only are they last in the AL East, under .500, but they are riding a six game losing streak. A series against the Dodgers this week definitely will not help.

29. Miami Marlins

Miami just can’t catch a break. They have a .378 win percentage this season and are 18 games back in the NL East. They were swept by the Brewers but have taken two games from their current four game series against the Rockies.

30. Houston Astros

Houston just can’t get away from the bottom. But when you only have one win coming off of the All Star break, it’s understandable. They were swept by the Mariners and have won one game during their current series against the Athletics.