Fansided

MLB Power Rankings: Twins and Orioles charging

By Joshua Sadlock

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 29: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with Jonathan Schoop #6 after hitting a home run in the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 29, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 29: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with Jonathan Schoop #6 after hitting a home run in the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 29, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 10
Next
PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 30: Ender Inciarte #11 of the Atlanta Braves hits a triple in the top of the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in game one of the doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park on August 30, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Braves defeated the Phillies 9-1. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 30: Ender Inciarte #11 of the Atlanta Braves hits a triple in the top of the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in game one of the doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park on August 30, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Braves defeated the Phillies 9-1. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
21

Atlanta Braves 59-72

Last week: 5-5
Last rank: 23

Despite what the record indicates, this has not been another lost year for the Braves franchise. The pitiful offensive team from 2015 and 2016 is gone, replaced by one of the best lineups in the National League. The Braves have no doubt been assisted by their new ballpark/launching pad, but veterans like Freddie Freeman, Nick Markakis, Matt Kemp and Brandon Phillips have helped bring along Ozzie Albies, Ender Inciarte and Dansby Swanson.

The Braves did make starting pitching the key area of focus for their rebuild, and they have yet to see those investments pay dividends. If the starting pitching comes around next season, the Braves may be a sleeper playoff contender.

20

Pittsburgh Pirates 63-71

Last week: 3-7
Last rank: 20

The Pirates appear set to limp to the finish after reaching .500 at 58-58 on August 11. Since that high-water mark, they have gone 5-13, including an ugly 17-3 blowout at the hands of the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night. Ivan Nova was pummeled, sending his season ERA up to 4.11.

There are some silver linings for the Pirates on a disappointing 2017 season. Andrew McCutchen has shaken off whatever ailed him last year, Josh Harrison is playing like an All-Star at second base again, Gerrit Cole has stayed healthy, Felipe Rivero looks like the next dominant closer in Pittsburgh and youngsters Trevor Williams and Jameson Taillon have pitched well. With a few smart moves over the winter, there’s no reason the Pirates can’t contend in 2018.

19

Kansas City Royals 65-67

Last week: 4-6
Last rank: 15

It’s hard to imagine a week going much worse for a baseball team. For the Royals, this turd-in-the-punchbowl series of events started with a blown eighth-inning lead in Colorado last Thursday and devolved from there. The Royals were shut out in four straight games and then were forced to endure the embarrassment of Danny Duffy’s DUI in a Burger King parking lot and GM Dayton Moore’s freewheeling press conference that covered pornography and domestic violence. Weird, weird week in KC.

The Royals are entering their 2017 death throes and their offense has gone belly-up at the worst possible time. They will need to play well the next two weeks with games against Minnesota, Detroit and Chicago lined up. They’re not out of it but cannot afford another losing week.

Home/MLB