MLB Power Rankings: Marry the Dodgers and Padres, bury the Tigers and Nationals
By Tim Boyle
10) MLB Power Rankings: San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants have been a somewhat streaky team this season with some big wins but also big losses. How they’ve done it remains a mystery. Is it good coaching? Is it the culture around this ball club leading to wins? It’s definitely not the numbers the players produce.
The Giants don’t seem to have quite enough to be one of the top teams in the game. However, they have proven plenty to fall just within the top ten. Their pitching and timely hitting remain the greatest strength for this well-known team with plenty of guys people outside of San Francisco don’t know. The trade deadline for them should be interesting. It could be a time to buy big.
9) MLB Power Rankings: Tampa Bay Rays
If the Giants’ success this year is a baseball mystery of 2022, the greatest puzzle to solve is how the Tampa Bay Rays continually remain competitive in the American League. Once again, on a low payroll and with regular openers, the Rays are holding on tight to a wild card spot and not too far from a division lead.
It’s beginning to make a little more sense with several players now hitting close to or better than their career numbers. Finally, Wander Franco has some help after carrying them at the plate for the first few weeks. Doubts should remain, though, with the team and its outside-of-the-box approach to starting pitching. Skeptical that this could work over a long schedule, their record is what land them here.
8) MLB Power Rankings: Minnesota Twins
The American League Central-leading Minnesota Twins are powerful but not to the extent as some other clubs atop their division. They have only played eight games against teams over .500 and have a 2-6 record. This tells us the Twins are beating up the teams they should defeat but getting taken out against the ones they need to fight tougher against.
For the Twins, they need to continue separating themselves from the other teams in their division. They clearly don’t have quite enough on offense. Byron Buxton is hitting home runs but not much else. The club will need more from many members of its roster to do anything more than win a division.
7) MLB Power Rankings: Milwaukee Brewers
The other division leader, the Milwaukee Brewers have a firm grasp on the division. They also haven’t had an opportunity to play too many good teams. At just 2-5 versus teams over .500, they have plenty of tests ahead of them.
The Brewers have gotten some impressive run production out of Rowdy Tellez who leads the team in RBI. Hunter Renfroe has also been good and they look like the clear winner in the Jackie Bradley Jr. deal. With this above-average offense and a pitching staff beginning to get better from top to bottom, the Brewers should remain kings of the National League Central with only the Cardinals having a shot to reach out and touch them.
6) MLB Power Rankings: Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels continue to impress and although they have some company in the American League West, they should continue to be a threat to beat anyone they face. The front office was unafraid to spend money this offseason. We should expect them to do the same at the trade deadline to fix any roster flaws.
Easily the biggest reason why the Angels are so successful is that Mike Trout has major help. Taylor Ward has already hit a career-high in home runs after several seasons of part-time duties with this ball club. He might be one of the best stories in baseball this year nobody is talking about. Together with some other good hitters and a solid pitching staff, the Angels deserve plenty of kind words.