MLB Power Rankings: Nearly unstoppable Rays, Giants have seen better days
By Tim Boyle
20) MLB Power Rankings: Miami Marlins
Don’t let the .500 record fool you. The Miami Marlins still own a -26 run differential and that gives them an expected record of 5-11. Those numbers can be deceiving early on in the year but we definitely do see how the Marlins may be only slightly better than usual this season. At least Luis Arraez is going to bat .400. Will anyone notice?
19) MLB Power Rankings: Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates have been a lot of fun this year. Last week’s MLB Power Rankings put them in the ten spot for fun. They drop down to a more realistic place which after doing this weekly through all of 2022 still comes as a shock. The Pirates making noise feels good for baseball. The Andrew McCutchen reunion will low-key be one of the best stories of the season. Frankly, he never should have left.
18) MLB Power Rankings: Los Angeles Angels
Losing three straight to the Boston Red Sox has knocked the Los Angeles Angels back to some reality. As if that wasn’t painful enough, they play them again on Monday. The Angels are still one of baseball’s more mysterious teams. They have superstars and some really good young pitching. It’s everything else that will help them along or ruin their year. The American League West is one of the tougher divisions in baseball. The four contenders are stacked right now with the Angels in the back.
17) MLB Power Rankings: Boston Red Sox
Beating up on the Los Angeles Angels helps move the Boston Red Sox up one spot but don’t get used to it. They’re still a mess. The offense could really use a guy like Xander Bogaerts. The starting pitching staff could use anyone. This year’s club may be floating with their heads above water at the moment, but a drop feels inevitable. The more they play the other teams in the division, the more they will get lost.
16) MLB Power Rankings: San Diego Padres
Who thought the San Diego Padres would struggle this much? They lost two out of three to the New York Mets and then three out of four to the Milwaukee Brewers. Thanks largely to beating the Atlanta Braves in three out of four earlier in the month, the Padres can at least feel content at the moment. They get to play the Braves again this week which is both an opportunity for San Diego to move up in the MLB Power Rankings as much as it is for them to slap Atlanta around.