MLB Power Rankings: Twins and Orioles charging
Seattle Mariners 66-68
Last week: 3-7
Last rank: 14
The Mariners entered their final East Coast swing of the year sitting at 61-61 with a chance to thrust themselves fully back into the playoff race. After getting off to a good start by winning five of the first seven games of the 12-game jaunt, Seattle dropped the last five games to fall back below .500 again.
When Ubaldo Jimenez and the Baltimore Orioles defense conspire to give you a six-run inning, as they did on Wednesday afternoon, you have to capitalize. The Mariners imploded and gave back a 6-2 lead, losing 8-7. That’s been the story all year for a pitching staff absolutely decimated by injuries. Mike Leake might not be enough to help out this year, but he will be valuable next year and beyond as one of the most durable mid-tier arms in the league.
Tampa Bay Rays 67-68
Last week: 7-3
Last rank: 16
The Rays are coming off their first winning week since the beginning of August. Tampa Bay is lucky that they had given themselves a bit of a cushion above .500 and that no one else has seized the playoff race in the AL. The Rays are a hot week away from getting right back where they were at the start of August. Plenty of games against Baltimore and New York in September give them opportunities to make up ground in a hurry.
Down in the minor leagues, Brent Honeywell has literally been begging for a promotion. When rosters expand, the talented right-hander needs to be on the first flight to Tampa Bay. He’s ready, and holding him down in Triple-A with a playoff race going on is a waste.`
Texas Rangers 66-66
Last week: 5-5
Last rank: 17
The Rangers got themselves in a bit of hot water by refusing to swap home-and-home series with the Houston Astros as they attempt to scramble after Hurricane Harvey. The Texas front office made a very fair offer that would have given the Astros the gate from any extra games played in Arlington as well as a bigger platform to raise money for charity.
Texas has a backloaded road schedule, and swapping series would have given them four series on the road in a row in September. While it would have been nice just to make the switch and be done with it, the Rangers have to think of their own players and the extra stresses of playing on the road for 12 days at the end of the year.