MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers, Astros lead; Cubs, Orioles on the rise
Cincinnati Reds 44-64
Last week: 3-4
Last rank: 26th
The Reds dropped three of four games in Miami last weekend but rebounded to take the first two of three against the Pirates in Pittsburgh this week. Starting pitching, a weakness all season for the last place club, showed some very good signs, with Luis Castillo, Homer Bailey and Robert Stephenson all putting together a solid performance, led by Castillo’s eight innings July 30 against the Marlins in which he allowed just one run on three hits and a walk, and struck out six.
Offensively, Joey Voto remains one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball and collected nine hits in six games. Votto homered once, drove in three and scored four times. Adam Duvall led the club with three homers and seven RBI, and Jesse Winker hit two solo shots in three games.
Oakland Athletics 48-61
Last week: 4-3
Last rank: 25th
The Oakland A’s have committed to the full-blown rebuild, trading Sonny Gray to the Yankees for prospects at the deadline and shipping Adam Rosales to Arizona after parting with relievers Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson earlier in the month.
A few other candidates are potential waiver trade candidates in August, including Jed Lowrie – who led the club with nine hits in seven games last week – and Rajai Davis, who had seven hits, including a team-high two home runs. Yonder Alonso is also still swinging a hot bat. Alonso hit .375/.500/.625 with home run No. 22.
The starting rotation struggled last week, but the bullpen was great. Michael Brady was the only A’s reliever to allow more than one run over the last seven games. Simon Castro led the club with 6.1 scoreless innings, Santiago Casilla tossed three scoreless frames and Blake Treinen, part of the return in the Doolittle-Madson deal, picked up his first save among two scoreless appearances.