MLB Power Rankings: Phillies lose McCutchen, Twins beat Rays and Marlins get out of the basement

By Sean Sears | Jun 5, 2019

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 04: Outfielders Alex Verdugo #27, Chris Taylor #3 and Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks in the MLB game at Chase Field on June 04, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Dodgers defeated the Diamondbacks 9-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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KANSAS CITY, MO – JUNE 04: Boston Red Sox second baseman Brock Holt (12) back hands the ball to Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) to initiate a double play during the MLB regular season game between the Boston Red Sox and the Kansas City Royals, on Tuesday June 4, 2019 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

10. Boston Red Sox, 31-29, 3rd in the AL East (ranked 10th last week)

The Red Sox should be grateful for their current series with the Royals after facing the Astros, Indians and Yankees and losing all three of those series. The good news is that their rotation is coming together after a rough start, as Chris Sale finished May with a 2.82 ERA for the month. And David Price is back from the IL and has allowed just two runs in his last four outings, giving Boston two of their former Cy-Young winning pitchers back on track.

Offensively, Michael Chavis had a fantastic May, winning the AL Rookie of the Month after hitting seven home runs and OPSing .788 on the month. But the rest of the lineup has been crushing the ball, with only two of their regular starters with an OPS below .800 on the season. The Red Sox are very good and have found their legs after a bad start to the season. They need help in the bullpen and could be in the market for their former closer Craig Kimbrel, but a legit late-inning option seems to be the missing piece for Boston.

9. Atlanta Braves, 33-27, 2nd in the NL East (ranked 11th last week)

Atlanta has taken advantage of a Philadelphia slump and is now within a half-game of the division lead, thanks in large part to their improved starting pitching. Rookie Mike Soroka has been incredible in his nine starts for the Braves, with a 1.41 ERA and 51 K’s. Pairing him with lefty Max Fried and long-time Brave Julio Teheran, who has also had a nice season, and the Braves have a scary good rotation.

The offense has been also great and continues to find success with young hitters. Right now, it’s OF Austin Riley, who’s OPSing 1.083 with eight home runs through his first 17 games on the season, helping soften the loss of OF Ender Inciarte who’s expected back later this month. The Braves bullpen, while improving from their poor start to the season, is still being held together with duct tape at the moment. Luke Jackson has slid into the closer role, but the Braves are another team that’s been linked to Craig Kimbrel and a reunion between the two would make a lot of sense. But outside of the bullpen, the Braves have elite-level talent that can make some noise.

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