To all of you that checked on Thursday for the newest addition of the MLB Power Rankings, I’m sorry. Hats don’t buy themselves, you know.
A few days late, but here they are. The latest MLB Power Rankings. For those of you that do not remember, the number in parenthesis is where the team was ranked in the last edition of the Power Rankings.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (1)
2. Washington Nationals (6)- Who would’ve thought at the beginning of the year that the Nationals would sweep the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in a series that actually meant something for both teams?
3. Tampa Bay Rays (4)
4. Atlanta Braves (9)- The Braves have been on a mini tear of late, but have been overshadowed for most of the season by upstart Washington. Chances are manager Fredi Gonzalez has no problem with flying under the radar if the pitching remains strong.
5. New York Yankees (14)
6. Texas Rangers (5)- Don’t look now Rangers fans, but Los Angeles has awoken from it’s extended hibernation. The AL West has become a two team race.
7. San Francisco Giants (10)
8. Cincinnati Reds (7)- Solid starting pitching has the Reds actually meeting preseason expectations so far…Joey Votto putting up big numbers doesn’t hurt, either.
9. Chicago White Sox (15)
10. Pittsburgh Pirates (20)- If the Pirates remain in the NL Central hunt for two more weeks, ESPN will invade PNC Park and “Buc Madness” will ensue. Take that one to the bank.
11. Baltimore Orioles (2)
12. Cleveland Indians (3)
13. Los Angeles Angels (23)- Jared Weaver should come off the DL sometime within the next week, and the Angels’ offense has been sparked by Mark Trumbo. On top of all that, the AL West deficit has been cut to three games. Things are looking up for the other team from L.A.
14. Arizona Diamondbacks (22)
15. New York Mets (13)
16. St. Louis Cardinals (8)
17. Toronto Blue Jays (12)
18. Detroit Tigers (24)- The Tigers have issues to figure out, and they better be figured out quickly. Division rivals Chicago and Cleveland have not been particularly kind to Detroit this season.
19. Miami Marlins (11)
20. Boston Red Sox (16)
21. Philadelphia Phillies (19)- Just when you thought the favorites (the Angels in the AL, the Phillies in the NL) were getting it together, Philadelphia goes 2-8 in its last 10 games.
22. Milwaukee Brewers (25)
23. Seattle Mariners (21)
24. Houston Astros (17)- This week’s good news in Houston: Carlos Correa.
25. Oakland Athletics (18)
26. Kansas City Royals (26)
27. Colorado Rockies (27)- A shout out to Seth Willoughby, a junior relief pitcher from Xavier who was drafted in the 4th round of the draft by the Rockies. Seth graduated a year ahead of me from my high school.
28. Minnesota Twins (28)
29. Chicago Cubs (30)
30. San Diego Padres (29)
– K. Becks
