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MLB Power Rankings: Rockies take over the top spot

By Joshua Sadlock

Jun 18, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) celebrates after hitting a walk off three run home run to complete the cycle during the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 18, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) celebrates after hitting a walk off three run home run to complete the cycle during the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 20, 2017; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman (30) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 20, 2017; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman (30) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /
16

Seattle Mariners 37-37

Last week: 4-3
Last rank: 17

The Mariners are getting closer to being fully healthy with Jean Segura and Felix Hernandez expected to return by the end of the week. Hisashi Iwakuma is also out on rehab assignment. Promising young outfielder Mitch Haniger has also come off the DL. The Mariners are close to having their full starting lineup and rotation as intended on Opening Day.

Seattle has the lineup in place to keep up in the AL playoff race, but that may not matter if their starting pitching continues to rank near the bottom of the league. There is no arguing with the moves Jerry Dipoto made to build his offense, but his moves when it comes to pitching have not panned out so well. Yovani Gallardo has been relegated to the bullpen, but Drew Smyly just may pitch in the big leagues this year.

15

Baltimore Orioles 35-36

Last week: 3-4
Last rank: 18

The MLB world waits with baited breath to see if the Orioles pitching staff can half their free fall. Entering Wednesday night’s game against Cleveland, the Orioles had allowed five runs or more in 17 straight games and 21 of 24. No team in recent history has been this awful. You have to go all the way back to the early 1900s to find an American League team with pitching this bad. No one has been hit harder than former staff ace Chris Tillman, who is obviously still dealing with a shoulder injury.

Only the Orioles pitchers and the front office can wear the blame for this season’s drastic turn away from the best start in franchise history. Baltimore’s strength for the past five years has been their dominant bullpen, but injuries have decimated it this year. Dan Duquette’s plan to cobble together castoffs from other teams to pitch the fifth and sixth innings went up in smoke as soon as Zach Britton and Darren O’Day hit the disabled list.

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