Fansided

MLB Power Rankings: Indians take over

By Joshua Sadlock

CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 12: Infielders Carlos Santana #41; Giovanny Urshela #39 Francisco Lindor #12 and Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Indians celebrate after the Indians defeated the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on September 12, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Tigers for their 20th straight win. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 12: Infielders Carlos Santana #41; Giovanny Urshela #39 Francisco Lindor #12 and Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Indians celebrate after the Indians defeated the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on September 12, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Tigers for their 20th straight win. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 10: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Kole Calhoun #56 and Justin Upton #9 come in from the outfield to celebrate their 5-3 win over the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on September 10, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 10: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Kole Calhoun #56 and Justin Upton #9 come in from the outfield to celebrate their 5-3 win over the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on September 10, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images) /
14

Seattle Mariners 74-73

Last week: 5-5
Last rank: 16

The Mariners have been playing a game of cat and mouse with the .500 mark the entire season. There’s no reason to suspect that this current foray up to the even-water level will be any different than the handful of other times all season. This is to be expected of a team with a star-studded lineup and terrible pitching staff.

After years of struggles, Mike Zunino is actually a good MLB hitter. The former third-overall pick has hit .279/.376/.578 in the second half with 11 home runs and 11 doubles. The raw power in Zunino’s bat has always been undeniable, but he is finally finding more consistent contact and cutting down on his strikeouts.

13

Los Angeles Angels 74-72

Last week: 4-6
Last rank: 10

Justin Upton’s impact on the Angels playoff hopes has been very minimal so far. In his first 11 games since coming over from the Tigers, Upton has hit only .268/.388/.415 with a lone home run. Brandon Phillips has done even less at second base, posting a .575 OPS in his first 50 at-bats. Upton has always been streaky from week to week.

The front office did their best to give Mike Trout some legitimate support in the lineup, and that is certainly laudable. The cost to acquire Upton and Phillips was minimal in terms of prospects, and the Angels have the financial means to absorb these two hitters. The real problem for Los Angeles is not the fact that Upton and Phillips have been underwhelming. Trout has hit only .270/.460/.486 in September. Teams have just stopped pitching to Trout, happy to walk him and see if someone else can produce.

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