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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; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Joey Gallo (13) hits a home run during the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Joey Gallo (13) hits a home run during the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Texas Rangers 10-12

Last week: 5-2
Last rank: 17

For several years, baseball fans were left to wonder what it might look like if Joey Gallo ever figured out how to make consistent contact in the major leagues. Well, wonder no more. Gallo has treated to a ridiculous display of raw power so far this season.

Gallo is batting .224/.333/.612 on the year with seven home runs and 16 RBI. He is second in the league with an average exit velocity of 97.5 mph and has hit the ball with an average launch angle of 23.7 degrees, reaching an average height of 71 feet. With hitters all over the league focusing more on their launch angle and getting balls in the air, Gallo is the king. Strikeouts are definitely still a problem for the third baseman, but he is playing himself into the everyday lineup, even when Adrian Beltre returns from the DL.

Apr 25, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the 10th inning against the Oakland Athletics during a MLB baseball game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the 10th inning against the Oakland Athletics during a MLB baseball game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
17

Los Angeles Angels 11-12

Last week: 4-2
Last rank: 16

Mike Trout can only do so much for this ballclub. Over the past seven days, he is batting .379 with two doubles, a triple, three home runs, and four RBI. Trout has scored six of his team’s 19 runs in that same time frame. Despite Trout’s brilliance, the Angels are still below .500 because the rest of the lineup continues to struggle to put runs on the board. In their past seven games, the Halos have scored two runs or fewer five times.

The Angels had hoped that Cameron Maybin would help stabilize their left field position, but he has not. Maybin is hitting just .193 on the year with an OPS of .573. Danny Espinosa was acquired to be the answer at second base, another weak position in 2016, but he is also batting below .200 with 30 strikeouts in 74 at-bats. Trout can’t do much with that.

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