MLB Power Rankings: Sizzling Braves, ice-cold Brewers
By Tim Boyle
10) MLB Power Rankings: San Francisco Giants
Okay, so it’s finally beginning to make sense. The San Francisco Giants are competitors. The roster leaves a lot to be desired. Even they would agree if given some truth serum. Although they have little room for error because they are probably a wild card team at best, it’s important to give them the respect the standings say they deserve.
A big sweep over the weekend against arguable their biggest rival guaranteed the Giants a spot in the top ten this week. They really do wake up for the most important games and deserve a ton of credit for it. Even if individual players don’t quite have the numbers to match their record, this team is a contender.
9) MLB Power Rankings: Atlanta Braves
Look at who has made it into the top ten. The Atlanta Braves realized the preseason was over and are finally beginning to win. A soft schedule of late has helped put them into contention. The National League is incredibly top-heavy. Essentially, you’re either really bad or you’re making the playoffs. The Braves look like the latter.
The Braves have now won 11 straight and they’re thirsty for more. With six teams able to make it to the postseason this year, they now feel like a lock to earn at least a wild card. However, they have their sights set on repeating last year’s process and stealing the National League East title late again in 2022.
8) MLB Power Rankings: Tampa Bay Rays
Every week feels like it could be the one where the Tampa Bay Rays slip out of a top ten spot. Their continued possession of a wild card spot earns them a number eight spot this week. They should be concerned. The Red Sox are right behind them.
Shane McClanahan is an early Cy Young contender on a team with only three real starting pitchers. This may finally begin to affect them negatively especially in the absence of their main closer, Andrew Kittredge, and J.P Feyereisen who tossed 24.1 innings for them without allowing an earned run. This strange formula could only work for the Rays. But with other teams in the division playing better lately,
7) MLB Power Rankings: Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays play a fun brand of baseball. They got over their brief slump and are right back where they belong. A team similarly built as the White Sox with plenty of balance, the difference has been the win column. The Blue Jays add to theirs. The White Sox do not.
What should scare other teams is just how cold some of Toronto’s best hitters have been. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has yet to get going and Matt Chapman has been all but forgotten up north. Catcher Alejandro Kirk has the makings of a star while George Springer has become the club’s most reliable bat. The Blue Jays don’t look like they will miss out on the postseason this year.
6) MLB Power Rankings: Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins didn’t have an easy schedule this week with some tough American League East foes on their schedule. They held strong. More importantly, they held onto their No. 1 spot in the American League Central.
Shortstop Carlos Correa has started hitting well for them but the real talk of Minnesota has been the performance from first baseman Luis Arraez. Although short on power, he is hitting well over .300 and drawing more walks than he is striking out. Starting pitcher Devin Smeltzer is another one of those unexpected surprises that have made the Twins a fun team to root for in 2022.