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MLB Power Rankings: Cardinals and Angels climbing

By Joshua Sadlock

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 19: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim celebrates with third base coach Ron Roenicke #10 as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run in the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles during a game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 19, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 19: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim celebrates with third base coach Ron Roenicke #10 as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run in the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles during a game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 19, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – AUGUST 21: Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers (11) throws to first base for an out after making a diving stop during the third inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians on August 21, 2017, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – AUGUST 21: Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers (11) throws to first base for an out after making a diving stop during the third inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians on August 21, 2017, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Boston Red Sox 71-53

Last week: 6-4
Last rank: 4

What an awful problem the Red Sox have on their hands. In a combined 150 plate appearances since joining the team, Rafael Devers and Eduardo Nunez are hitting .367/.413/.600 with 10 home runs (none bigger than Devers’ dinger off Aroldis Chapman in the ninth inning on Sunday night) and 26 RBI. Nunez has also stolen three bases. One of them will have to sit when Dustin Pedroia comes off the disabled list.

Devers still has another month to go of proving himself before the Red Sox might be totally on board with turning over third base to him on a full-time basis for the playoffs. At the very least, he will be out every game after the sixth inning for defensive reasons. Devers already has four errors in only 16 starts at the hot corner.

Chris Sale has been the big story in Boston’s rotation, but Drew Pomeranz deserves some love, too. The left-hander is now 12-4 on the year with a 3.39 ERA. Pomeranz is 6-0 in his last 11 starts with a 2.42 ERA. He’s not going to give the Red Sox seven strong innings most nights, but if Pomeranz goes six with one or two runs allowed in the playoffs, that’s more than enough.

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Houston Astros 76-48

Last week: 5-5
Last rank: 2

The Astros have hit their first real skid of the season, but it’s better to get it out of the way now and get back on track in September with momentum going in the right direction headed into the playoffs. No one in the American League has given the Astros much competition all year, but the formula changes when October baseball begins.

Starting pitching will remain the biggest concern for the Astros as the playoffs approach. A trade for Justin Verlander is a total longshot at this point, but Dallas Keuchel did have a solid start last time out. Francisco Liriano has also been awful in the early going of his time in Houston.

Can the Astros win the five-inning games that are taking over the postseason? A potential matchup with the Indians could prove difficult in the ALCS. Houston has a relentless lineup, and they’re never out of a regular-season game where managers are more constrained with their bullpen usage.

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