MLB Power Rankings: Astros, Yankees succeeding while Cubs, Red Sox conceding
By Tim Boyle
10) MLB Power Rankings: San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants have yet to truly impress with their underwhelming starting lineup at the forefront as to why some may have doubts. Even their starting rotation, other than Carlos Rodon’s start, hasn’t been so great.
The reason why the Giants might be alive and well could be their lack of weaknesses and not so much their strengths. The bullpen has been superb. They’ve gotten clutch hits from their players. Starters, generally, keep them in games. As much as they don’t look like a championship-caliber club, they also have the right juice to avoid any major downfalls.
9) MLB Power Rankings: Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are winning games and not necessarily in the way many predicted. Some recent injuries, including a 60-day IL placement for Miguel Sano and Chris Paddack, have thrown a few wrenches into their plan already.
If there’s an early positive aspect for fans to focus on, it’s how they have avoided letting these pieces of bad news get them down. The Twins should be right there at the end of the season with the Guardians and White Sox competing for the American League Central crown. In this matchup, it might come down to who can get the most wins within the division.
8) MLB Power Rankings: Tampa Bay Rays
The same facts hold true for the Tampa Bay Rays as they have in each week prior. Somehow, they’re continuing to hold strong even with a starting pitching staff of essentially three pitchers. Their offense isn’t great either. It’s like they know how many runs the other team will score and often decide to score one more.
For as good as the Rays have been for several years, the real test will come when they get to the postseason. Stars don’t matter as much in MLB as they do in other sports like the NBA or NFL. It’s hard to see the Rays doing much more than perform magic tricks in the regular season standings. They have to be in the top ten in the MLB Power Rankings merely because of their record. How they’ve done it remains a mystery.
7) MLB Power Rankings: San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres fans may be upset to see them this low on the list, but let’s consider a few things. Other than Eric Hosmer and Manny Machado, this team is struggling to hit. They had to go out and sign Robinson Cano for help in this area.
How the Padres have managed to stay alive is through their steady pitching. While perhaps not as dominant as some other staffs, the Padres have a pretty complete starting five and bullpen. Closer Taylor Rogers looks like he was a wise acquisition. The Padres will need to make a big addition at the trade deadline to become a real threat. They already have the pitching. The hitting will need some improvement.
6) MLB Power Rankings: Milwaukee Brewers
Circumstances for the Milwaukee Brewers are perfect to waltz into the postseason. They are a strange team offensively, scoring a lot of runs but not doing it with an especially high team batting average or OBP. They hit home runs and do it with a lineup loaded with lefties.
The pitching hasn’t been quite as loaded as it was last year but with the added balance of an improved offense, it should be taken as a good thing. The Brewers should have no trouble making it into the playoffs. The challenge will be defeating their opponents. Timely hitting will, unfortunately, only get a team so far in a short October series.