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MLB power rankings: Each team’s post-All-Star outlooks

By Sean Sears

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 04: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo home run in the sixth inning off the game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on July 4, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 04: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo home run in the sixth inning off the game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on July 4, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 09: Carlos Carrasco of the Cleveland Indians participates in the Stand Up To Cancer during the 2019 MLB All-Star Game at Progressive Field on July 09, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 09: Carlos Carrasco of the Cleveland Indians participates in the Stand Up To Cancer during the 2019 MLB All-Star Game at Progressive Field on July 09, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

10. Cleveland Indians, 50-38, 2nd in the AL Central

Cleveland has been playing much better lately, winners of six of their last 10 games while holding onto one of the Wild Card spots in the AL at the moment. Offensively, the team has found somewhat of a stride with Carlos Santana and Francisco Lindor, both of which were All-Stars representing the city of Cleveland this past week.

Trevor Bauer and Shane Bieber have been lights out at the top of the rotation since June, helping the Indians make up some ground in the AL Central and firmly grasp the second best spot in the division behind the Twins. But on the season, the team is still below league average in runs scored per game. The Indians are a younger team with a lot of 20-something-year-olds in key positions in the field and in the lineup. But things are starting to come together, despite starter Carlos Carrasco being diagnosed with Leukemia, the Indians are trending up at the right time.

9. Chicago Cubs, 47-43, 1st in the NL Central

Chicago sent three players to the All-Star game in Javier Baez, Willson Contreras (who both started for the NL), and Kris Bryant, and while they were all deserved the Cubs don’t look or feel like an All-Star caliber team at the moment. Their pitching has been inconsistent over the last two weeks, part of that has to do with Cole Hamels heading to the IL and Kyle Hendricks looking rusty from his return from the IL, but Jon Lester, Jose Quintana and Yu Darvish have all produced a mixed bag of results in their most recent starts.

Offensively, the Cubs have a black hole at second base with Daniel Descalso, Addison Russell, and David Bote all spending time at the keystone but none have shown enough for Joe Maddon to consistently play either of them. Trade rumors surrounding Whit Merrifield have Cubs fans praying the Royals will move their All-Star 2B, but the Cubs also could use some more bullpen help with a lefty reliever. Theo Epstein made it clear he wants to improve this roster and will make the necessary moves to do so — which could mean someone like Ian Happ could be dealt at the deadline.

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