MLB Power Rankings: Reality check for the Braves, White Sox digging their graves
By Tim Boyle
20) MLB Power Rankings: Cleveland Guardians
The Cleveland Guardians are slipping. The defending champions of the American League Central don’t look so great this year. This offense isn’t special. The pitching has been well below average. Their pitchers aren’t even striking anyone out and that’s a problem in 2023. In such a wide-open division, you can’t lose a series to a team like the Miami Marlins. But look at what the Guardians just did. Fix this before it gets out of control. You’re better than this.
19) MLB Power Rankings: Minnesota Twins
Getting manhandled by the Washington Nationals this weekend drops the Minnesota Twins down a few spots in the MLB Power Rankings. They’re just a hair ahead of the Cleveland Guardians who had their own issues with the Miami Marlins. A lack of offense is going to hurt the Twins, especially if they are relying on their starting pitchers to put up unsustainable numbers. Does the American League Central need to have a playoff team? It doesn’t seem fair.
18) MLB Power Rankings: Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are celebrating their home runs with a trident. It’s cool but it doesn’t do much to help them in the MLB Power Rankings. Winning the field handily will do that. The positive news for them has been mostly about the pitching and the progress of young outfielder Jarred Kelenic. Luis Castillo is an early Cy Young favorite after 5 starts with a good 25-27 left to go this season to cement it. The Mariners ended their playoff drought last year. In an upgraded division this year, they’ll need to try a little harder to keep the streak going.
17) MLB Power Rankings: Los Angeles Angels
Swap the Los Angeles Angels with the Seattle Mariners if you’d like. They’re in a tight race against each other for third place in the division. If the Texas Rangers continue to play this well, it might be the best either can hope for. Shohei Ohtani has been brilliant on the mound this year, but not so much at the plate. They’re a ball club screaming with the potential to do something. Time will tell if they can actually meet our reasonable expectations of at least playing meaningful baseball in September.
16) MLB Power Rankings: Boston Red Sox
The weakest of the American League East ball clubs, the Boston Red Sox are no pushovers. This is a team that will probably beat up on bad teams, lose to good ones, and split with the ones in between. Chris Sale has an 8.00 ERA and Corey Kluber is 0-4 in as many starts with an 8.50 ERA. Their questionable offseason of bringing in veterans who felt like finishing touches rather than core pieces is beginning to bite them. They’re floating in mediocrity right now. They are far more likely to sink than to even stay where they are.