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MLB Power Rankings: Yankees making run at Astros

By Joshua Sadlock

Jun 14, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez (24) celebrates with Aaron Judge (99) and Starlin Castro (14) after hitting a three-run home run in the first inning during a MLB baseball game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 14, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez (24) celebrates with Aaron Judge (99) and Starlin Castro (14) after hitting a three-run home run in the first inning during a MLB baseball game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Houston Astros still reign supreme in the MLB Power Rankings, but there is a new number-two team gaining on them.

The 2017 MLB season is heading towards the end of the first half at a rapid pace, and several surprising teams still hang onto slim division leads. The rest of the month of June will likely make or break teams like the Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers, who continue to lead in the Central divisions. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees have kept up their torrid pace at the plate.

The Yankees had slid back in the MLB Power Rankings over the past few weeks, but they got just what they needed in a weekend sweep of the floundering Baltimore Orioles. Aaron Judge has built the foundation for his MVP candidacy on the backs of O’s starting pitchers. How much higher up the rankings can the Yankees shoot, and how does the rest of the league shake out?

30

Philadelphia Phillies 21-43

Last week: 0-7
Last rank: 28

It is quite evident that the Phillies are the worst team in baseball this season. Their rotation is bad, their lineup is bad, their bullpen is bad. That’s a sure-fire recipe for a 100-loss season if ever there was one.

The most depressing thing for Phillies fans to digest is the struggles of the young starting rotation, which seemed like it was beginning to come together last season. Jerad Eickhoff is now 0-7 on the year with a 5.05 ERA and is allowing 10.3 hits per nine. The right-hander never projected as an ace, but he was 14-17 with a solid 3.44 ERA in his first two seasons in the big leagues.

29

San Diego Padres 27-40

Last week: 4-3
Last rank: 30

Ryan Schimpf had been having one of the more interesting seasons in MLB this year before the Padres removed him from their 25-man roster. In 53 games, Schimpf had 14 home runs and 10 singles. He was batting .158/.284/.424 with 70 strikeouts.

Schimpf is a career .195 hitter who has struck out in 175 of his 441 MLB at-bats. He did hit 20 home runs in 89 games as a rookie last year. You have to respect his all-or-nothing swing at the plate.

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