MLB Power Rankings Week 20
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
The way this Dodgers team has been playing is pure exciting. Their win streak ended at ten games, but they still went 5-2 this week. They now have a 8.5 game lead in the NL West and are set to face off with always dominant Red Sox this Friday. I cannot watch to see how that series turns out.
2. Tampa Bay Rays
It may seem surprising that the Rays are higher than the Red Sox, but based on their performance this week alone that’s where they belong. They are only one game behind the Sox and went an impressive 6-2 this week. They need to capitalize if Boston trips up against the Dodgers in any way.
3. St Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals are only one game back in the NL Central, and they are slowly creeping their way back up to the top. Their upcoming weekend series against the Braves can be their opportunity to prove they deserve to be atop the NLC. Or it could be against the Reds right after that.
4. Atlanta Braves
The Braves are unstoppable, plain and simple. They cruised through their series with divisional rivals Phillies and Nationals. They now lead the NL East by 15.5 games. If that doesn’t scream impressive you are blind.
5. New York Yankees
After a season full of disappointment, this week is one to celebrate for Yankee fans everywhere. They won their series with both the Angels and the Red Sox. Pretty impressive for a team that’s only 10 games over 500. Keep it up Yankees!
6. Cleveland Indians
The Indians are another team somewhat struggling during the season as a whole but ended the week on a good note. While they are still second in the AL Central, they are stuck 5.5 games behind the Tigers. An upcoming series with the Twins can help make for another solid week.
7. Cincinnati Reds
The Reds are right back where they always are, good week but not good enough to move them from third in the NL Central. However, they are only 2.5 games back. If they can overcome the Brewers this weekend maybe the Reds can finally start making some moves.
8. Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks are struggling only six games over 500, but they did well this week going 5-2. They are still in second in the NL West behind the Dodgers, but they are 8.5 games back. Upcoming series’ with divisional rivals Padres and Giants could help them come a little closer to that division title.
9. Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers are still holding on to their lead of the AL West. A week ending 4-3 isn’t the best, but it could have been a lot worse. They have a potentially easy series with the Twins coming up that can help make their lead a lot bigger.
10. Detroit Tigers
It looks like the lead in the AL Central isn’t changing anytime soon. The Tigers are still in constant control, currently 5.5 games ahead of the Indians. If they finish off their series with the Twins strong they can take that momentum into their series with the Mets.
11. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates have fallen a little bit, but that is primarily thanks to their average 4-4 week last week. They are still holding on to their NL Central lead but are only one game ahead. But with the Giants on the schedule for this weekend their lead should only grow larger.
12. Boston Red Sox
If the Red Sox don’t do something soon, they’ll see the AL East lead slip from under their eyes. They are now only one game ahead of the Rays. What’s worse: they play the Dodgers this weekend. Could be a rough week for Red Sox fans if they can’t beat the Dodgers.
13. Oakland Athletics
Being only two games back in their division, Oakland could easily do well one week and knock the Rangers out of first. The problem is they haven’t been able to do that yet. They could only go 4-4 this week as they dropped their series’ against the Astros and Mariners. They face the Orioles this weekend as they hope to turn this week around.
14. Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles had complete control to take over the AL Wild Card race, and they blew it. They dropped their series to divisional opponent Rays and now fall to 5.5 games back in the AL East. They need to do well in their upcoming series against the Athletics to prove to their fans and themselves that they are still in this race.
15. Washington Nationals
The Nationals are still struggling. They are still 15.5 games back in the NL East, they are still three games under 500, and could only manage to go 4-4 this week. With the inconsistent way they’ve played this year an upcoming series with the Royals could easily go either way. We’ll just have to wait and see.
16. Seattle Mariners
I think the only good news about the Mariners this week was that former player Ichiro Suzuki hit his 4000th MLB hit this week. Oh and they won their series against the Rangers and Athletics. Hopefully that momentum will cause them to do well in their next series at home against the Angels.
17. New York Mets
The Mets had an average week. They got swept by the Dodgers, split their series with the Padres, and then split their series with the Braves. As they face the Tigers this weekend I predict it will be another unimpressive start to their next week.
18. San Francisco Giants
There is not a whole lot to say about this current Giants team. They are 14 games under 500, they are last in the NL West 18 games back, and will start a series with the Pirates this week that will not go well for them.
19. Colorado Rockies
The Rockies haven’t done any better than their divisional rival Giants this week despite being ahead of them in the NL West. They face the Giants this week in what should be an evenly matched battle.
20. Kansas City Royals
The Royals had a horrible week putting them dangerously close to a 500 record. They are still four games above, but could only manage two wins this week. An upcoming series with the also struggling Nationals could help bring their momentum back up.
21. San Diego Padres
The Padres are still struggling, but they have stayed out of last in the NL West. Hopefully a series against the Cubs this week will help bring some life back to this team and their fans. If not, they are only half a game ahead of the Giants for fourth so we could see them fall to last.
22. Chicago White Sox
The White Sox had a surprisingly good week this week. It’s a week their fans and organization should be excited about. They won their series against the Tigers, Twins and are on pace to sweep the Royals if they can win their game tonight. Awesome job Sox keep it up!
23. Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers had an average week, not one to cheer or boo about. They struggled against the Cardinals and are now facing the Reds this weekend. They split their series last time against the Reds so hopefully they can do better this time and win the series.
24. Houston Astros
Started from the bottom, now we here? Well it’s not a major improvement, but any type of improvement is good news for Astros fans. They had a mediocre week but did manage to win their series against the Athletics and Angels. And then got swept by the Rangers but we won’t mention that.
25. Miami Marlins
Just like the Astros, this is an improvement! The Marlins won their series against the Royals but then dropped their next series to the Giants. If they win tonight they can split their series with the Dodgers, which would be impressive.
26. Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto finds themselves back at the bottom of the list. They are 13 games under 500 and are last in the AL East. And a week in which they went 3-5 doesn’t help put them back in the division chase.
27. Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies just keep getting worse. They dropped their series’ against the Braves, Dodgers, and if they win tonight they can split their series against the Rockies. It still would not be a week to cheer about.
28. Chicago Cubs
They got swept by the Reds, dropped their series to the Cardinals, but if they win tonight they can split their series with the Nationals. But then they have to face the Padres and Dodgers on the road and that just sounds scary.
29. Minnesota Twins
.440 win percentage, 18.5 games back, and are currently facing the Tigers. It’s not going to be a good week for the Twins.
30. Los Angeles Angels
Sorry Angels, didn’t expect to see you here. But that’s what happens when you go 2-6 in a week. Hopefully a series against Seattle will be what it takes to get you out of the bottom.