MLB Power Rankings: Yankees are the boss, Tigers at a loss
By Tim Boyle
15) MLB Power Rankings: Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies have made up a lot of ground in the standings although the National League East title shouldn’t be a target of theirs. Philadelphia should, instead, look to win as many games as they can and secure a nice wild card slot.
The recent stretch for the Phillies post-Joe Girardi should give fans confidence in this club. Players like Kyle Schwarber are beginning to hit. First baseman Rhys Hoskins has been surprisingly clutch. The Phillies are winning close games and blowouts. While incredibly flawed, they can either finish as the best of the bad teams or the worst of the good ones.
14) MLB Power Rankings: Milwaukee Brewers
The next team to go on a major losing streak might be the Milwaukee Brewers. They are a team built around their pitching. Minus a few guys due to injury, they are another bad MRI away from losing all motivation. The bats just aren’t good enough on this team to keep up with the more legitimate World Series contenders.
Designating Lorenzo Cain for assignment was a wise call after he hit just .179 for them all year. It will hardly liven up the offense that held them back last year and seems prepared to do the same in 2022. They still have possibly the best bullpen out there and starting pitcher Corbin Burnes performing at a high level. That’s simply not enough.
13) MLB Power Rankings: Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are beginning to slip in the standings. Shane McClanahan could win a Cy Young this year but the team doesn’t look prepared for the long haul of a 162-game schedule or the intense playoff race beginning in October.
How the Rays handle this year’s trade deadline will determine their fate. They do need to make moves like last year’s addition of Nelson Cruz. There comes a time when you have to beat to the same drum as everyone else. There’s no benefit to being the smartest team in the room if all it gets you is a postseason appearance and no victory.
12) MLB Power Rankings: Boston Red Sox
Yes, the Boston Red Sox are a better team than the Rays. They’ve climbed back enough in the American League East standings to justify a place higher than their division foes in the MLB Power Rankings. Even if the Rays do stay slightly ahead of them, the Red Sox are the superior ball club.
All of the winning the Red Sox have done pushes the focus away from speculation about Xander Bogaerts’ future with the team, which could have easily turned ugly if the club didn’t turn things around. Even Jackie Bradley Jr. is starting to give them serviceable at-bats. Overcoming some starting pitcher injuries is the latest challenge for Boston.
11) MLB Power Rankings: Cleveland Guardians
We need to start taking the Cleveland Guardians more seriously. This is a team that in the division they play in could load up on a ton of wins and eliminate one of the American League East teams from a wild card spot. Their goal, however, should be to win the division.
The secret recipe for the Guardians isn’t hard to guess. It’s pitching! Cal Quantrill, Shane Bieber, and Triston McKenzie have all done their job. Closer Emmanuel Clase has been the man designated to put the icing on the cake of their wins. The Guardians need some more offense in order to become a truly good team. Otherwise, they are in some danger of falling back into the middle.