MLB Power Rankings: Sizzling Braves, ice-cold Brewers
By Tim Boyle
15) MLB Power Rankings: Cleveland Guardians
The Cleveland Guardians look like the only possible challenger in the American League Central. They had a pretty good week and could very well pull off another. Because of the division they play in, there is room for error. Just don’t make too many. They have a team to catch.
For any chance at advancing into a top ten spot, the Guardians will need to have an aggressive trade deadline. Jose Ramirez is a one-man army in their lineup far too often. The pitching staff, as it has for years, remains the real reason why Cleveland is winning games. Becoming a little less one-sided could do wonders for them.
14) MLB Power Rankings: Philadelphia Phillies
The Angels didn’t get any better when they fired Joe Maddon but the Philadelphia Phillies looked like the team many hoped they could be when they got rid of Joe Girardi. The team is hitting, pitching, and not blowing leads. Things have turned around in the best way possible for the Phillies. They have their eye on a division title and would happily accept a wild card spot if that’s all they can snatch.
Bryce Harper is yet again having an MVP season at the plate and newcomers like Kyle Schwarber are beginning to heat up. When the Phillies hit home runs, they win games. It’s a simple formula that over the last week worked amazingly well for them. They’re in the playoff race again.
13) MLB Power Rankings: Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox may not have gone on as hot of a streak as the Phillies yet there’s plenty of reason for their fans to get excited. They are now in a wild card spot after everyone pretty much wrote them off this season. Let this serve as a reminder to everyone how important it is to let the games get played.
Even throughout their slow start, the Red Sox were getting a lot of offense from Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez, and the best hitter of all, Rafael Devers. Those three have gotten help from Trevor Story and a starting pitching staff that has turned things around. The Red Sox will make the playoffs this year. How high of a wild card seed they get has yet to be determined.
12) MLB Power Rankings: Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers asked the White Sox to hold their beer. The team has fallen out of first place in the National League Central. That one fact was the only thing holding them within the top ten of the MLB Power Rankings. Now out of it and looking like a team with the same offensive problems they had last year, there is a hill they will now need to climb in order to be considered a real threat again.
Although they scored early and often this year, it had more to do with some big home runs from players like Rowdy Tellez and Willy Adames. Those two have slowed down. Christian Yelich has yet to get going and Lorenzo Cain looks ready to retire. Pitching remains key for the Brewers. Unfortunately, you can’t win unless you score at least a few times and they just aren’t able to cross the plate nearly enough.
11) MLB Power Rankings: St. Louis Cardinals
Now the leaders in the National League Central, the St. Louis Cardinals didn’t have a particularly good week either but benefitted from games against the Reds. The entire division decided to fall apart over the last week with plenty of losing streaks abound. The Cardinals drew the weakest team on their schedule. Still a competent ball club with MVP candidate Paul Goldschmidt hitting well, they have a lot more to do before we can call them a top ten team.
The Cardinals are trying to get through a period of having a questionable rotation. Their healthy starters from the start of the season have been superb but in the era of a five-man rotation, they are only at 60%. Weathering this storm successfully combined with struggles from the Brewers should have the Cardinals coming out ahead.