MLB Power Rankings
The All-Star break has officially ended, Major League Baseball has resumed, and the world feels right again. We take it for granted, but having a major sport to watch daily is a joy that not many other things can bring. Don’t take it for granted.
The trade deadline is approaching quickly, and we will continue to see moves that will shake up the outlook of the playoff picture and odds. The question is, will the big-time contenders go all-in for that one final piece? Will the teams on the cusp do anything to try and help their chances? What will the bottom feeders do?
Biggest Riser: Tigers/Pirates (+6), Biggest Faller: Nationals (-5)
1. Philadelphia Phillies (1)
The Phillies have a +109 run differential, good enough for the best in the league. They have the best record in Major League Baseball as well. Austin Hays (.255/.316/.395) was traded from the Orioles, which should only help this ball club.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (5)
Los Angeles seems like they’ve underperformed to their lofty expectations due to many injuries. Keeping this in mind, they still have the 4th best record across the MLB. Wait until they get healthy.
3. New York Yankees (6)
A skid was likely after the Yankees torched the baseball world before the All-Star break. But this team still has the 4th best OPS (.816) since the season has resumed. Expect the Yanks to continue their high-level play.
4. Cleveland Guardians (3)
The surprise darlings of the 1st half, the Guardians hold the 2nd best record in Major League Baseball. Their 28th-ranked OPS (.555), over the last 2 weeks, may not show it but this team has been red hot all year. Will this continue?
5. Baltimore Orioles (2)
Baltimore acquired Seranthony Dominguez and Zach Eflin to boost their pitching numbers while swapping Austin Hays for Christian Pache on offense. A 3-7 slide calls for some changes, while you still can, and the Orioles are doing everything in their power to show they belong in the elite tier of teams.
6. Milwaukee Brewers (4)
Milwaukee boasts a 3.04 ERA (7th) and a 1.20 WHIP (11th) since the All-Star break, but I don’t think that means they opt out of the pitcher trade market. While they won’t swing for the fences, adding reliable arms will only bolster what has been a fantastic team down the stretch.
7. Kansas City Royals (11)
What can’t Bobby Witt Jr. do? He leads all of Major League Baseball with a .344 AVG since raising it over the last 6 games. The Royals are 7-3 over their last 10 games and are just 0.5 a game behind the rival Twins for the Wild Card lead.
8. Minnesota Twins (7)
Minnesota sits atop the Wild Card standings by just 0.5 a game as we begin to exit July. They’re not setting the world on fire at the plate and have only secured 4 of their last 10 games. This Wild Card lead may not last long if they don’t change something up.
9. Boston Red Sox (8)
Boston shored up their pitching staff after they acquired James Paxton from the Dodgers at the trade deadline. This pitching staff has been nothing short of dominant over the season ranking 9th in WHIP (1.21) and 12th in ERA (3.80). This addition should do nothing but help continue this trend.
10. Atlanta Braves (10)
Does this team have any quit in them? They’ve dropped 7 of their last 10 and remain only 8 games above .500, but how can you not marvel at their fortitude? Marcell Ozuna is 9th in the MLB with a .304 AVG and 5th with a .964 OPS. For a team that looks like a AAA roster, those numbers are huge.
11. New York Mets (16)
The 3rd NL East team featured thus far, these teams have been astonishing and fun for the game of baseball. Francisco Lindor has 5 home runs in as many games and has been a huge part of the turnaround of this Queens’ team. They sit just 1.5 games back from the rival Braves for the top Wild Card spot.
12. San Diego Padres (9)
On the outside looking in, the Padres boast the 6th highest AVG (.268) across the sport over the last 2 weeks. While they are beginning to get healthier, I’m not counting them out at the trade deadline. They could use some more star power.
13. Houston Astros (13)
Yes, I counted them out much like the rest of the baseball community did at the beginning of the year, but this team is back with a vengeance. This team isn’t fully healthy and still has the 14th-ranked AVG (.241) across baseball since the All-Star break. Could we see another deep playoff run?
14. St. Louis Cardinals (14)
A .259 AVG (9th) and a .724 OPS (13th) have caused a monumental turnaround for this NL Central team. They’re 4 games above .500 and sit just 0.5 a game out of the Wild Card. My only concern is how they will hold up down the stretch of the season.
15. Seattle Mariners (12)
BOOM! Randy Arozarena and Yimi Garcia are the newest Mariners and are ready to take Seattle to the promised land. A 2-8 record over their last 10 games (best only by the 0-10 Chicago White Sox) will soon be a distant memory. This ball club is just 3.5 games out of the Wild Card. Get ready for some fireworks.
16. Pittsburgh Pirates (22)
If you had to guess who owns the best ERA (2.33) and 8th best WHIP (1.17) since baseball has resumed, would you guess the Pittsburgh Pirates? I wouldn’t, but it’s true. Whatever vitamins this pitching staff is taking wasn’t relayed to their offense.
17. Arizona Diamondbacks (18)
A.J. Puk was recently traded to the D-Backs to help bolster a bottom 1/3rd pitching staff. He has predominantly worked as a reliever but does have starter experience if needed in a pinch. This move won’t set the world on fire, but you had to see it coming. Arizona sits just 1 game out of the Wild Card.
18. Tampa Bay Rays (15)
As noted above, Arozarena and Eflin have been shipped off to play for other teams and the fire sale has begun for Tampa Bay. It’s quite curious to me that this was the ultimate decision. The Rays sit just 1 one game above .500 and only 4 games out of the Wild Card. This surely doesn’t improve this team in the short term.
19. Detroit Tigers (25)
The clock has finally struck midnight for this Detroit team. Riley Greene is headed to the IL and Tarik Skubal is at the top of many team’s wishlists for starting pitching. It remains to be seen what will happen at the trade deadline for Detroit, but this team can compete as early as next year making it a much more difficult decision for the front office.
20. Cincinnati Reds (20)
Sitting just 4.5 games out of the Wild Card and 4 games under .500 and not a whisper of any trade deadline moves? That’s Cincinnati for you. It doesn’t seem that this team will be pushing for a division crown, but could make a playoff run if they get in. The problem is, and always has been, the willingness to go all in and win.
21. Chicago Cubs (21)
There are rough patches and then there is what the Cubs have been going through. This team continues to trend in the wrong direction yet treading water. It’s a tough spot to be in. Cody Bellinger may not be on the roster after July 30th, but even that isn’t this team’s biggest concern. Consistency must be found.
22. Washington Nationals (17)
Former All-Star Jesse Winker, who has been enjoying a resurrection of a season, has been traded to the New York Mets. I credit this team for going all-in and getting their World Series title, but I find it quite hard to believe this team will compete any time soon. However, does Winker’s departure mean a Dylan Crews promotion?
23. San Francisco Giants (19)
Up, down, up, down. This team feels like they are on a constant elevator. They go on these nice hot streaks and then cool off just as quickly. All of those offseason additions don’t seem to be helping. Time to retool even with the Giants just being 5.5 games out of the Wild Card.
24. Texas Rangers (23)
Sell. That’s what Texas needs to do. Simply sell and set yourself up for future, sustained success. Max Scherzer, Jacob DeGrom, and a myriad of others would be coveted by other pitcher-needy teams. I have a weird feeling the Rangers are going to stay put. Such a shame to see an opportunity wasted.
25. Toronto Blue Jays (25)
I could copy and paste what I said about the Rangers for the Blue Jays. It’s time to retool and figure out what the future holds. Is Vladimir Guerrero Jr. the face of your franchise? Is Bo Bichette a part of your plans? These are the tough questions that need to be asked. Capitalize while you still can.
26. Los Angeles Angels (26)
Please send Mike Trout to a team where he can win a ring and recoup just as much as you possibly can. Quit staying in this cycle, Los Angeles.
27. Oakland Athletics (27)
Mason Miller seems to be staying with the Athletics and it’s a real shame. There is no sign that this team or ownership is going to transform into a contender any time soon.
28. Colorado Rockies (28)
This franchise is simply painful to watch. Just painful.
29. Miami Marlins (29)
Miami is even MORE painful to watch.
30. Chicago White Sox (30)
Welp, nowhere to go but up I guess.
