MLB Power Rankings: Yankees among the best around, Mariners let us down
By Tim Boyle
10) MLB Power Rankings: Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays can only go so far this year until they start to do things a little more conventionally. Add one good starting pitcher to their rotation and maybe it would be easier to believe they can stay within the top ten. They’re there for now but don’t go buying a timeshare.
The Rays win games by taking advantage of other team’s mistakes. It’s hard to consider a team like them as one of the best in baseball and yet each week they prove otherwise. The unorthodox approach still feels too strange for the Rays to actually leave 2022 with a championship. Let’s see if they can prove otherwise.
9) MLB Power Rankings: St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are one of those top-heavy teams with a superior top three in their rotation, MVP candidates in their lineup, and a few holes to fill. A focus of their offseason was on the bullpen which has unfortunately not been quite as good as they would have liked. Several players on the roster do have a track record of playing better which bodes very well for them this year.
The Cardinals are itching to take the National League Central. Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado have essentially swapped roles with the former now front and center in the MVP race. Overcoming several injuries to their starting rotation will prove whether or not the Cardinals can rise up in the MLB Power Rankings next week and possibly even catch the division leaders.
8) MLB Power Rankings: San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres fall this week in the MLB Power Rankings mostly because they haven’t done much to show they can take the National League West. They seem almost content with a second-place finish in the division.
It’s like a rerun every week for the Padres. Nobody has heated up at the plate, leaving Eric Hosmer and Manny Machado as the only two with good overall numbers on the year. San Diego continues to lean on their pitching for the most support. If that cracks, they could be up for a massive fall.
7) MLB Power Rankings: Minnesota Twins
If you’re not saluting the Minnesota Twins, now would be a good week to do so. Are they one of the best teams in the major leagues? Eh, that’s probably not the case. But with a strong hold on the American League Central, they’re doing their job and deserve a little bit of love.
Carlos Correa has finally started to hit better. This could be the difference for a Twins team with several good but not great players. Correa’s job is to help carry them through slumps and injuries. Lately, he has been doing a fine job.
6) MLB Power Rankings: Milwaukee Brewers
It sometimes can get lost how good the Milwaukee Brewers are. Their spot atop the National League Central needs to be acknowledged this week because of how little progress they have allowed the Cardinals to make in their pursuit. The Brewers are built similarly with some stellar pitching and clutch hitting.
The Brewers do need to be careful with the Cardinals right behind them. Getting too comfortable as a division leader could lead to their downfall. Corbin Burnes and other pitchers on this staff remain a strong point of this sometimes weak-hitting lineup. The Brewers need to play like St. Louis is a win away from eliminating them. Before they know it, that could be the case.