MLB Power Rankings

It’s been another month since the last Power Rankings and the baseball season is really getting good. We’ve seen some recent brawls, walk-offs, long extra-inning games; it’s been great. It also makes these rankings very difficult…

MLB Power Rankings – June 13, 2013

NOTE: Previous Power Ranking in parenthesis.

1. (2) St. Louis Cardinals (42-23) – This was an easy choice. They own the best record in baseball by two games, and have the best run differential in the league by far. They are equally great on the road as they are at home too.

2. (10) Boston Red Sox (41-26) – Despite a touch of injury trouble, the Red Sox have remained atop the AL East like they have for much of the season. They are 7-3 now in they’re past ten games and are scoring runs at a torrid pace.

3. (6) Cincinnati Reds (40-26) – I really like their balance up and down the lineup with Votto, Bruce, etc. And with Cueto coming back from injury soon, their pitching should get even stronger.

4. (9) Atlanta Braves (39-27) – Outside of a poor series against San Diego, Atlanta has been playing great baseball over the last month. Evan Gattis is making a name for himself, and Freddie Freeman continues to improve.

5. (17) Oakland Athletics (40-27) – I don’t think any team in the majors has turned it around as well as Oakland has over the last month. They have great run production but need to find more consistency on the mound.

6. (14) Pittsburgh Pirates (39-26) – Probably could have been ranked even higher on these rankings, but I still don’t know if I’m a believer yet. They dominate at home but still have road issues. But then again, so do the Braves.

7. (1) Texas Rangers (38-27) – There is somebody on this team that is very fun to watch… Yu Darvish.

8. (4) Detroit Tigers (36-28) – After a slow start to the year, they are hitting their stride. They currently own the second best run differential in the league.

9. (3) New York Yankees (37-28) – The good ole (old) Yankees continue to get it done. They have played seven more road games than homes games thus far and are still right there in the AL East race.

10. (7) Baltimore Orioles (37-29) – There are few young players as promising as Manny Machado, who is simply leading them to a great season.

11. (15) Tampa Bay Rays (35-30) – I respect Tampa Bay and consider them to be one of the best franchises in baseball. They have been consistently good over the last few years despite losing player and player and being bullied by richer teams.

12. (12) Colorado Rockies (35-31) – They’ve been consistent all year, hence why they remain at #12 in these rankings.

13. (13) Arizona Diamondbacks (37-29) – Similar to Pittsburgh, I may have them ranked too low, but I’m not yet a believer.

14. (5) San Francisco Giants (33-31) – Something is wrong with Barry Zito, he’s lost it and is over the hill.

15. (8) Cleveland Indians (32-33) – They are freefalling right now. 2-8 over their last ten and getting worse.

16. (16) Kansas City Royals (30-33) – Finally playing as well as I thought they would this year. 7-3 now in their last ten.

17. (11) Washington Nationals (32-32) – Their two stars, Harper and Strasburgh, better get healthy quick.

18. (25) San Diego Padres (32-34) – Nice three game beatdown of the Braves over the last week, but still need to find some better production at the plate overall.

19. (19) Philadelphia Phillies (31-35) – A recent 5 game skid took them back below .500.

20 – 29: The next nine spots are essentially interchangeable. I thought the Angels were finally coming on, then they fizzled out again. The Dodgers have Puig, who is one of the most exciting players in baseball as a rookie… but he isn’t helping them win enough. The other teams are still years away or failing to live up to expectations.

30. (29) Miami Marlins – Then there is  Miami, by far the worst team in baseball.

By: The Sports Guys