Here are my MLB power rankings. To read my latest on the Orioles, click here.
1. Tampa Bay Rays (54-27, No. 1 last week): The split against the second-place Orioles at home didn’t raise any eyebrows, but the split against the Royals at home did — that and the fact that skipper Kevin Cash benched star shortstop Wander Franco for two games for his attitude.
2. Atlanta Braves (50-27, No. 2): Former A’s Matt Olson and Sean Murphy have combined to smack 37 homers and drive in 103 runs approaching the midway point of the season. Yet A’s ownership has nothing to do with why fans don’t want to come out and see a minor league team in Oakland, according to commissioner Rob Manfred.
3. Texas Rangers (47-30, No. 3): In the first year of manager Bruce Bochy’s reign, the Rangers have done what few have been able to do for the past several years — have the Astros looking up at them. They do it all — hit, run, pitch and defend. Dangerous team.
4. Baltimore Orioles (47-29, No. 5): The Modern Big Red Machine comes marching into town in what should shape up as a very interesting three-game series between two teams on the up escalators. The Jordan Westburg era begins. That figures to mean fewer at-bats for Adam Frazier and Jorge Mateo and a bit more time at shortstop for Gunnar Henderson.
5. Arizona Diamondbacks (47-32, No. 4): The Diamondbacks lead the NL West, which has turned into a topsy-turvy division. The D-Backs have some really good rotation pieces and a lineup that can churn. They are no fluke, but the Giants and Dodgers aren’t going away. The Padres have gone away.
6. Miami Marlins (45-34, No. 6): The Marlins have a three-game series in Boston and then three more in Atlanta — an interesting measuring stick week for Miami.
7. San Francisco Giants (44-34, No. 9): No dominant offense here, but they are deep in contributors. So, while they are nowhere near as potent offensively as the Dodgers and Diamondbacks, their team ERA (3.93) compares favorably to those of the D-Backs (4.43) and Dodgers (4.52).
8. Los Angeles Dodgers (43-34, No. 10): While Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol are doing their best, the return this week of Daniel Hudson will help add depth to a bullpen that is worn out because the Dodgers are just are not getting consistent innings from a young group of starters. They do now get back lefty starter Julio Urías, who will start one of the games in Kansas City this coming weekend. This is a week to make hay. They have three in Colorado and three in KC, while the Giants (three apiece against the Blue Jays and Mets) and D-Backs (three apiece against the Rays and Angels) have much tougher dance cards this week.
9. Toronto Blue Jays (43-36, No. 8): The Jays have already drawn 1.2 million, so the passion is there north of the border. The payroll has swelled and while this isn’t a Cardinals situation, this is not quite what ownership had in mind. They have scored 90 fewer runs than the Rays.
10. New York Yankees (43-35, No. 11): Can’t believe I am talking about litigation in the power rankings, but it really seems the Dodgers have some liability for Aaron Judge’s injury and the severity of it (torn ligament in his right big toe). The Yankees squeeze back into my top 10 because I am very much impressed with how manager Aaron Boone and his boys grind.
11. Cincinnati Reds (41-37, No. 16)
12. Houston Astros (42-36, No. 12)
13. Minnesota Twins (40-39, No. 13)
14. Los Angeles Angels (42-37, No. 7)
15. Milwaukee Brewers (40-37, No. 14)
16. Philadelphia Phillies (40-37, No. 15)
17. Cleveland Guardians (37-40, No. 20)
18. Boston Red Sox (40-39, No. 18)
19. Seattle Mariners (37-39, No. 19)
20. Chicago Cubs (37-39, No. 21)
21. San Diego Padres (37-41, No. 17)
22. New York Mets (35-42, No. 21)
23. Pittsburgh Pirates (35-42, No. 23)
24. Detroit Tigers (33-43, No. 25)
25. Chicago White Sox (34-45, No. 24)
26. St. Louis Cardinals (32-45, No. 26)
27. Colorado Rockies (31-49, No. 27)
28. Washington Nationals (30-47, No. 28)
29. Kansas City Royals (22-56, No. 29)
30. Oakland Athletics (20-60, No. 30)