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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; Detroit, MI, USA; Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Bud Norris (20) pitches in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 6, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Bud Norris (20) pitches in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
14

Los Angeles Angels 35-34

Last week: 5-2
Last rank: 18

Bud Norris, effective MLB closer. Those are certainly not words I expected to type at any point in the 2017 MLB season, or really ever at any point in my life. Since being given the closer role in Anaheim at the end of April (mostly out of desperation than the fact that he was pitching well), Norris has 11 saves in 12 tries, a 1.99 ERA, and 30 strikeouts in 22.2 innings.

Norris was essentially pitching for his MLB career in April and now he could be an All-Star. His rise from the ashes only goes to show that sometimes it is better for a general manager to be lucky than smart.

13

Texas Rangers 32-33

Last week: 5-1
Last rank: 19

The Rangers could be about to get left-hander Cole Hamels back at the perfect time. They have managed to weather the storm while he was out, and are poised to capitalize  on the bunched-up AL Wild Card standings and begin picking teams off.

With or without Hamels, the Rangers do still have their obvious flaws. Their offense can be extremely prone to prolonged slumps, and expecting Andrew Cashner to continue pitching to a 3.17 ERA while walking more hitters than he strikes out is on the crazy side.

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