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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PITTSBURGH, PA – JUNE 04: Steven Brault #43 of the Pittsburgh Pirates delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at PNC Park on June 4, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

18. Pittsburgh Pirates, 28-31, 4th in the NL Central ( ranked 16th last week)

Josh Bell won NL Player of the Month for May, slashing .390/.442/.797 with 12 home runs, 31 RBI and 26 runs scored. But even with Bell mashing the Pirates have only won three of their last 10 games. Their starting pitching has taken a dip after losing Trevor Williams at least until the middle of June and Jameson Taillon until sometime after the All-Star break. Jordan Lyles has continued to pitch well but Chris Archer and Joe Musgrove have seen their ERA’s balloon over the last month as both have struggled to keep teams off the board.

The Pirates have 12 players on the IL right now and while Gregory Polanco and Starling Marte have both come back from their IL stints, it feels like Pittsburgh can’t get or stay healthy. Regardless, without their pitching keep games close, Bell doesn’t have enough protection in the Pirate lineup to expect him to continue to hit as he did in May. Pittsburgh may be in for some serious regression in the near future.

17. Chicago White Sox, 29-31, tied for 2nd in the AL Central (ranked 22nd last week)

The White Sox finally have a starter they rely on in Lucas Giolito, who was incredible in this past month, winning AL Pitcher of the Month in May after posting a 1.74 ERA with 46 K’s to just 10 BB’s. He’s managed to lower his ERA down from 5.30 to 2.54 on the year. Sadly, Giolito won’t get a chance to face the team that traded him to the South Side of Chicago, but he’s been the only bright spot in an otherwise disappointing White Sox rotation.

Jose Abreu slugged 10 home runs in May but didn’t do much else. With a .250 BA and on-base percentage through the month, he and closer Alex Colome could be moved at the deadline. But Yoan Moncada and Tim Anderson have given White Sox fans plenty to cheer about and top prospect Eloy Jimenez is healthy and finally back in the lineup as the pieces are starting to take shape for Chicago, despite some horrible pitching to start the year.

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