Here are my power rankings. For some thoughts on the Orioles, click here.
1. New York Yankees (61-25, No. 1 last week): It appears that GM Brian Cashman’s Joey Gallo gambit could be coming to an end with the news that the Yankees may be pursuing Royals outfielder Andrew Benintendi. The Royals’ ask is apparently one good prospect. At the same time, the Yankees will be looking for a trade partner to rid themselves of the Gallo experiment.
2. Houston Astros (56-29, No. 2): The Astros are in the midst of a wonderful season, and they have a sizable lead in the AL West. In fact, they are only 4.5 games behind the Yankees. If you look at their roster, what is the one need that is most pressing? You’d have to say they could use one more solid starter or dependable middle innings guy.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers (56-29, No. 3): The Dodgers have gone 16-4 in the past three weeks and have taken back command of the NL West from the Padres. They have done this without the important right arm of Walker Buehler. Mookie Betts has played at a higher level upon his return from a cracked rib. Max Muncy seems to be warming up a bit, too, and that’s not good news for any team going up against the Dodgers.
4. New York Mets (53-33, No. 4): As predicted in this space a couple weeks back, the Braves are surging — now within 1.5 games of the Mets. But on the good news side of things, Max Scherzer is back and in top form, striking out 11 in six innings in his first start back in the big leagues. The Mets have a chance to really take their measure of how they stack up against the defending champion Braves in a three-game series that starts July 11 in Atlanta.
5. Atlanta Braves (52-35, No. 5): To say the Braves have it in gear is perhaps the understatement of the sports year. Again, this week seems to be about a recitation of streaking teams (also the Phillies and Red Sox). After eight weeks, the Braves were just 23-25. Since then, the Braves have gone 29-10. There is no one reason why, and that’s why the Braves are so dangerous. This three-game set against the Mets should be a whopper.
6. San Diego Padres (49-38, No. 7): As of the past few days, there is hope that Fernando Tatis Jr. may be able to rejoin the Padres late this month. But, that assessment might sound a bit too optimistic. He has been doing some long toss and shagging some grounders. But he has not gained clearance from his surgeon (wrist) to take any sort of swings. Might the Padres be a good landing spot for a Joey Gallo dump?
7. Boston Red Sox (47-39, No. 6): Through the first eight weeks, the Sox were under .500 at 23-25. Manager Alex Cora had to dig deep and pull something out of this squad, but now they are due to get Chris Sale back on July 12 in St. Petersburg, Fla., and then get Nathan Eovaldi back on July 15 in the Bronx. That should be enough to help the Red Sox become a better team in the second half.
8. Milwaukee Brewers (48-39, No. 8): The bullpen is still strong, and Corbin Burnes is doing his thing (7-4 with a 2.20 ERA in 17 starts and 106.1 innings). But Burnes’ partner in crime Brandon Woodruff, who threw 179.1 innings of 2.56 ERA ball last year, has only made 12 starts totaling 60.2 innings of 4.01 ERA ball this year. The rest of what was a dominant rotation a year ago is now just so-so. One other amazing observation: Christian Yelich, who makes $26 million a year and has six more seasons left on his seven-year extension, is hitting .250 with eight homers and 31 RBIs in 366 plate appearances. Remember Jace Peterson? He makes $1.825 million. What if I told you the former Oriole is hitting .245 with seven homers and 28 RBIs in 224 plate appearances?
9. Philadelphia Phillies (46-40, No. 14): Since Rob Thomson took over for the fired Joe Girardi, the Phillies have turned it all around, despite the loss of superstar Bryce Harper. The Phillies were 22-29 when they pulled the plug on Girardi. Since then they have gone 24-11 under the interim manager who is making quite the case for club president Dave Dombrowski to pull that interim tag in the not too distant future. A bullpen arm wouldn’t hurt.
10. St. Louis Cardinals (46-42, No. 9): Really disappointed it hasn’t come together the way I thought it would. I seem to always have the Cardinals three or four spots higher than most power rankings, and if not for the amazingly mediocre play from teams 6-20, the Cards would have long since dropped out of my top 10. I expect them to soon end up in that mosh pit of teams 12-20.
11. Minnesota Twins (48-40, No. 11)
12. Toronto Blue Jays (45-42, No. 10)
13. Tampa Bay Rays (45-40, No. 12)
14. Seattle Mariners (45-42, No. 17)
15. San Francisco Giants (43-41, No. 15)
16. Cleveland Guardians (41-42, No. 13)
17. Baltimore Orioles (43-44, No. 20)
18. Texas Rangers (39-44, No. 18)
19. Chicago White Sox (41-43, No. 16)
20. Miami Marlins (41-43, No. 19)
21. Arizona Diamondbacks (38-48, No. 23)
22. Pittsburgh Pirates (36-50, No. 24)
23. Colorado Rockies (38-48, No. 22)
24. Detroit Tigers (36-49, No. 26)
25. Los Angeles Angels (38-49, No. 21)
26. Chicago Cubs (34-52, No. 25)
27. Kansas City Royals (32-52, No. 27)
28. Cincinnati Reds (32-54, No. 29)
29. Washington Nationals (30-58, No. 28)
30. Oakland Athletics (29-58, No. 30)