MLB Power Rankings: Quarter-pole edition
The MLB season has reached the quarter mark, and has moved beyond the small sample sizes of April. Who tops the MLB Power Rankings?
One-fourth of the MLB season is in the books. The standings are beginning to gain some clarity, but there are still several prominent preseason contenders laboring to climb above .500. Meanwhile, a handful of surprising contenders are leading divisions.
This far into the season, teams have to take stock of where they stand and begin making adjustments to get better. We have moved beyond the early April days where slow starts or losing records could be written off. At the quarter pole, how do the MLB Power Rankings look?
Philadelphia Phillies 15-29
Last week: 1-6
Last rank: 28
The Phillies are finding out the hard way this season that rebuilding is not as easy as it may seem. Hoping to build their future rotation around a core of young arms, the Phillies have seen them struggle mightily. Only Aaron Nola has pitched well, but he has lingering durability questions.
No one has struggled more than Vince Velasquez. He flashed dominant stuff last season and had a 15-strikeout game. Velasquez is 2-4 this year with a 5.98 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. The right-hander has walked 20 in 43.2 innings and has given up nine home runs.
San Diego Padres 17-31
Last week: 2-4
Last rank: 30
Cue up the sad music for Trevor Cahill and the Padres. The right-hander was enjoying a fine return to the starting rotation, but has landed on the disabled list with a shoulder strain. Surgeons have mostly figured out how to fix up an elbow, but the shoulder remains a much bigger mystery.
Hopefully Cahill’s shoulder strain does not develop into something more serious. He signed a one-year deal with the Padres looking to re-establish his value as a starter, and was on his way to doing just that with a 3.27 ERA in seven starts. Now, teams may be scared off, regardless of how he pitches when he comes off the DL.