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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: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2019 MLB All-Star Game at Progressive Field on July 09, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 09: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2019 MLB All-Star Game at Progressive Field on July 09, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

16. Philadelphia Phillies, 47-43, 3rd in the NL East

The Phillies have been on a rough patch of games recently, winning five of their last 10 games, they’ve fallen to third place in the NL East. Odubel Herrera has been suspended for the rest of the year due to violating the MLB’s domestic violence policy, Jake Arrieta is out for an undisclosed time as he tries to decide if he needs surgery with bone spurs in his elbow, and on top of all this, Bryce Harper hasn’t been worth the $330 million the Phillies paid him this off-season.

Rhys Hoskins and his 20 home runs have helped power this offense alongside All-Star catcher JT Realmuto, but beyond that, there hasn’t been much to rely on. But the real issue is the pitching, without Arrieta the group has been pretty sub par. Aaron Nola and Zach Eflin have worked through some of their issues early this season, but the bullpen hasn’t been able to hold onto leads late. Philadelphia hasn’t played up to their potential and with the Nationals surging and the Braves playing great baseball, there isn’t much room for error.

15. Pittsburgh Pirates, 44-45, 4th in the NL Central

The Pirates won back-to-back series against the Cubs and Brewers as they headed into the All-Star break, thanks in large part to Josh Bell who hit five home runs and drove in 14 runs with a 1.298 OPS in the first week of July. Bell’s massive bat has helped the Pirates offense keep the team afloat while their starters continue to struggle.

Pittsburgh is dealing with injuries to Jameson Taillon and Steven Brault, but Chris Archer has been a disappointment since coming over last season from Tampa Bay and Joe Musgrove hasn’t been able to recapture his early season success. The Pirates starters currently own a 4.90 ERA and are allowing 5.26 runs per game — the fifth worst in the league. But even if the Pirates pitching can find the magic again, it’s hard to rely on Josh Bell mashing another 25+ home runs in the second half of the season.

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