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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 /
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Apr 25, 2017; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Ty Blach (50) pitches the ball against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2017; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Ty Blach (50) pitches the ball against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
28

San Francisco Giants 8-14

Last week: 2-4
Last rank: 15

Madison Bumgarner injury or not, the Giants have been an awful baseball team in 2017. They are hitting just .235/.294/.354 as a team, and their starting rotation has a 4.73 ERA, which ranks 28th in all of baseball. Without Bumgarner to lean on for at least two months, the Giants will struggle to claw back into contention if Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija, and Matt Moore do not turn it around.

Making his first start as Bumgarner’s replacement, Ty Blach pitched five solid innings. He does not throw hard, but has shown an ability to command his fastball and get outs on the ground. If Blach cannot handle the role, look for the Giants to call up top prospect Tyler Beede from Triple-A.

Apr 21, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista (19) reacts after hitting a three-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the 13th inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista (19) reacts after hitting a three-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the 13th inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
27

Toronto Blue Jays 6-14

Last week: 3-3
Last rank: 30

The Blue Jays are coming off their first winning week of the season, but have still not registered a winning streak. They played four one-run games last week, and won two of them. Throughout their slow start to the year, Toronto has played numerous close games, but had mostly been on the losing side until this week.

Jose Bautista, Devon Travis, Steve Pearce, and Russell Martin are all still batting well below .200 on the season. Kendrys Morales is trending in that direction. Without Josh Donaldson, the middle of this lineup is nothing to be afraid of. Bautista did finally hit his first home run of the year, but is still waiting for his OPS to climb above .500.

Toronto’s pitching staff has managed to keep them in ballgames despite the offensive woes, but the bullpen has let them down. The Blue Jays have already blown six saves on the year, and their bullpen ERA of 4.30 ranks 20th in the league. Joe Biagini and Roberto Osuna both handed leads away in Tuesday night’s come-from-ahead victory.

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