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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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LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 06: San Diego Padres pitcher Kirby Yates (39) throws a pitch during a MLB game between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 6, 2019 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 06: San Diego Padres pitcher Kirby Yates (39) throws a pitch during a MLB game between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 6, 2019 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

18. San Diego Padres, 45-45, 3rd in the NL West

Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado are two of the best players in baseball right now and somehow neither of them made the All-Star roster. Tatis Jr was hurt for the majority of the first half and Machado didn’t start turning things around until later, but it did feel like Cleveland was missing a few stars.

Regardless, the Padres have struggled to keep their hot start going, currently playing .500 baseball and have won five of their last 10 games. They’re an average team with two really good offensive players, some pop in their lineup, and a rotation that has a lot invested in guys who are 26-years-old and younger. It’s a lot to ask out of a young club, but in terms of talent, the Padres could easily be right there with the best in the National League. It’s just whether or not their young core is up to the challenge, and so far, they haven’t quite risen to the task.

17. St. Louis Cardinals, 44-44, 3rd in the NL Central

Sitting at .500 coming into the All-Star break, the Cardinals are lucky to still be in the conversation for the NL Central division as well as the Wild Card. But this Cardinals team is in some serious trouble, missing closer Jordan Hicks for the remainder of the year as well as OF Marcell Ozuna who hit the 10-day IL with a thumb injury that has yet to be given a timetable for return.

On top of that, their offense isn’t scoring a ton while their pitching has surprisingly been one of the more reliable parts of their team. But without Hicks closing out games, the Cardinals bullpen has a lot of questions to answer. Former starter Carlos Martinez has been able to close out three games along with John Gant, but late inning high leverage games are still a white-knuckle situation for manager Mike Shildt. If someone like Paul Goldschmidt could start hitting like the six-time All-Star he is, the Cardinals could find themselves back in the thick of things. But that remains to be seen.

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