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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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Jun 6, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marco Estrada (25) is relived in the sixth inning of their MLB baseball game with the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 6, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marco Estrada (25) is relived in the sixth inning of their MLB baseball game with the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports /
16

St. Louis Cardinals 30-34

Last week: 4-3
Last rank: 17

Nearly 70 games into the MLB season, and the Cardinals are playing like a team that has an outside shot at finishing at .500 on the nose with a hot finish in September. The trio of Carlos Martinez, Mike Leake, and Lance Lynn have kept them in enough games, but Adam Wainwright and Michael Wacha could be on their last legs in this rotation.

The critics have been all over the Cardinals front office for failing to secure a big bat to give the lineup some thump in the middle. Nothing against Matt Carpenter, but if he is your best hitter, scoring runs might prove to be a challenge at times. St. Louis bought into the hype surrounding Dexter Fowler’s production in Chicago. They are getting burned in year one of his big contract.

15

Toronto Blue Jays 32-33

Last week: 3-2
Last rank: 20

Early in the season, as their offensive slump dragged the team down below .500, the Blue Jays always felt as though they could fall back on their pitching. That no longer appears to be the case. Francisco Liriano continues to struggle with his command, Marco Estrada is allowing almost 10 hits per nine after leading the AL in that category two years running, and J.A. Happ is 1-4 and giving up home runs at a dizzying clip. To top it off, Aaron Sanchez is still nursing a blister on his pitching hand.

If there is reason for the Blue Jays and their fans to be hopeful, it is that Josh Donaldson is hitting at MVP levels after recovering from his calf injury and Marcus Stroman is pitching like an ace. Joe Biagini has also pitched fairly well after being stretched out to start. The second wild card is going to keep the Blue Jays in the playoff race.

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