Fansided

MLB Power Rankings: Contenders begin to separate

By Joshua Sadlock

Apr 19, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) pitches during the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 19, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) pitches during the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
11 of 15
Next
Apr 26, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) at bat during the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 26, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) at bat during the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
10

New York Yankees 12-7

Last week: 2-2
Last rank: 10

My, oh my, has Aaron Judge been fun to watch this season. The six-foot-seven outfielder has put it together at the plate, and has hit a handful of absolute mammoth home runs. He’s also been fun to watch in the field, with better athleticism than his frame would imply. Judge is just the second player in Yankees history to homer in his first at-bats at Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park.

Judge is hitting .286 on the year with seven home runs and 15 RBI. After striking out 42 times in 27 games last year, he has whiffed only 17 times in 17 games in 2017. That’s progress. Will pitchers find the weaknesses in Judge’s new swing? That remains to be seen, but the Yankees have to be over the moon about this start for their big outfielder.

Apr 21, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) hits a single and breaks his bat in the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) hits a single and breaks his bat in the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
9

Detroit Tigers 11-9

Last week: 3-3
Last rank: 7

Entering their game Wednesday night against the Mariners, the Tigers had scored 32 runs in their past two games, a 13-4 win over the Twins and a 19-9 bludgeoning of Seattle. Five starters had three hits or more in the 19-9 win, and three players drove in more than three runs. The Tigers needed all of those runs because Jordan Zimmermann gave up five runs in six innings to push his ERA up to 6.35 this season.

Zimmermann and Justin Verlander both have ERAs over 6.00, and Daniel Norris has not been much better. The book on the Tigers during the preseason was that their offense would put up runs in bunches, but the starting pitching would be questionable at times. Check, and check.

Home/MLB