MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers, Astros lead; Cubs, Orioles on the rise
San Francisco Giants 42-68
Last week: 2-5
Last rank: 29th
The Giants have struggled all season, but there’s still hope for 2018. San Francisco was fairly reserved at the trade deadline, only parting ways with Eduardo Nunez, who is an impending free agent likely to leave anyway. The club didn’t tear everything down and held on to high-end starters like Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija in hopes of bouncing back quickly next season.
Also, Madison Bumgarner is back in action and put together his best start of his abbreviated season July 30 with seven shutout innings against the Dodgers. Through the San Francisco bullpen couldn’t keep the Dodgers off the scoreboard, and the club lost the game, Bumgarner tossed seven scoreless innings. He allowed five hits and one walk and struck out seven. Ty Blach also had a strong week, posting a 2.40 ERA combined over two starts.
San Diego Padres 48-59
Last week: 3-2
Last rank: 28th
Unlike the Giants, the Padres have exceeded expectations in 2017, though just slightly. San Diego has won six of its last eight games, however, so we can’t say the club has peaked just yet.
Manuel Margot earned NL Player of the Week honors late last month, and though he’s cooled down over the past seven games, hitting .263/.250/.474 with one homer and two RBI in his last five games, he’s been a bright spot in the lineup. Austin Hedges, one of the top defensive catchers in baseball, also homered last week, as did Jose Pirela and Dusty Coleman.
On the mound, Jhoulys Chacin led the staff with seven scoreless innings August 1 in a victory against the Twins. Chacin surrendered just three hits and two walks and pulled his ERA under 4.00 for the first time this season. Brad Hand, who surprisingly wasn’t traded at the deadline, picked up two saves in two shutout outings.