MLB Power Rankings: Astros overtake Yankees, Red Sox spiraling down
By Tim Boyle
15) MLB Power Rankings: Cleveland Guardians
If you’ve paid attention to the Cleveland Guardians this year, you may have noticed how streaky they can be. It’s never anything major. However, while putting together these weekly MLB Power Rankings, there is a clear pattern. One week they look strong. Other teams, they look like they belong in the bottom 50% of the league.
The Guardians are truly a .500 team that will probably win or lose a few extra games in one direction. Their two biggest strengths are their bullpen and the unbalanced schedule that pits them against the Royals and Tigers very often.
14) MLB Power Rankings: San Francisco Giants
The standings say the San Francisco Giants are a pretty good team. The eyes say something else. The Giants would be trade deadline sellers right now if not for the expanded playoffs. There is little doubt about it.
There were already signs in the first half as to what lied ahead for this club. Opening the second half against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t help them boost their morale. Clinging to playoff life at the moment, they are an easy selection to completely fade away. They’re just an injury or two from it already.
13) MLB Power Rankings: Philadelphia Phillies
The only hope for the Philadelphia Phillies is that one of their hot streaks comes at the end of the year and they haven’t lost too much ground in the wild card chase. This is a one-sided ball club that has fallen shy of expectations on the field but might be right where they belong in the standings and MLB Power Rankings.
A big challenge for them will be to add credible players at the trade deadline. Their farm system is mostly barren. Many of their young major leaguers haven’t performed all that well, putting them in a position where they have to keep spending in free agency. And unfortunately, they don’t appear to spend wisely. They kind of have to go for it anyway. Say farewell to some of your favorite minor leaguers and welcome in a veteran rental.
12) MLB Power Rankings: St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals have their problems but there seems to be enough reasoning to explain them. Injuries to their starting pitch staff have held them back from leading the division. They are close, though. They can smell it.
Because they could use a few pieces all over the roster at the trade deadline, the Cardinals are poised to get better. They may lose some bidding wars but there are others out there to win. Sentimentality for Albert Pujols might have been their biggest mistake. Imagine if his at-bats all went to a more credible DH option. This team might be a little better than they are.
11) MLB Power Rankings: Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners saw their winning ways come to a close but luckily they managed to climb up enough in the first half to stay relevant in any kind of second half drought. The key for them will be to avoid going into any prolonged slump. It can happen. Even against the bad teams in their division, the Mariners can see losses come with great frequency.
The Mariners are a team that we should expect to become one of the trade deadline’s biggest surprises. Do they end up with Juan Soto? It looks like they have the young talent the Nationals would want. However, trading for Soto might still be too inventive for Jerry Dipoto. This is a club that hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2001. Julio Rodriguez wasn’t even a year old when that happened.