Here are my MLB power rankings. To read my latest on the Orioles, click here.
1. Atlanta Braves (64-34, No. 1 last week): It’s easy to see why Brian Snitker was never really given serious consideration to have been a big league manager, but it’s hard to imagine where the Braves would be without his steady hand at the helm.
2. Baltimore Orioles (61-38, No. 2): This team needs GM Mike Elias to provide a starting pitcher with upside as well as one more bullpen arm. It would have been nice to see what Dillon Tate and Mychal Givens could have provided had they both been healthy, but we’ll have to save that for a future episode of Quantum Leap. Elias has to fix this pitching staff to give this squad enough to be on a level playing ground in the postseason.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers (57-41, No. 5): I sure didn’t see this kind of season coming, as the Dodgers’ offseason plan seemed to be all about saving and figuring out how to reel in Shohei Ohtani next winter. But depending what they do by Aug. 1, they could be a very real threat to win it all.
4. Texas Rangers (59-41, No. 4): The bats are plenty potent enough. But given Jacob deGrom’s season-ending injury, Martín Pérez’s down year, Jon Gray’s iffy health and the news that Nathan Eovaldi may need a refresher, the front office needs to prop up a shaky starting staff.
5. Tampa Bay Rays (61-42, No. 3): I know no team looks good when things are going poorly, but this isn’t a blip on the radar anymore. The Rays have gone 14-23 in the last six weeks. They now host the interstate rival Marlins for two and then head to Houston for three. GM Peter Bendix better figure out how he can help this pitching staff. He must land an impact starter or we might not even see them in the postseason.
6. Houston Astros (56-44, No. 10): Kyle Tucker continues to be a beast. Alex Bregman looks to be getting on track again. But if Yordan Álvarez gets back soon — could be on July 24 against Texas — all should be right in their world. They also should have José Urquidy ready for his liftoff in the next week.
7. Cincinnati Reds (55-46, No. 11): The Reds followed a 1-5 stretch with a big 5-2 week. This coming week could tell the tale of whether this team is ready for the big-time. They have three in Milwaukee for the battle of the NL Central and then they can measure themselves against the second-best team in NL at Dodger Stadium. How they play this week could help GM Nick Krall decide how much to wager on his team at the trade deadline.
8. Milwaukee Brewers (55-45, No. 13): The NL Central looks like a sumo wrestling match until the bitter end. I’ve written this before: When he lifts his game, Christian Yelich can still be the straw that stirs this drink. Rookie outfielder Sal Frelick had an amazing debut performance against the Braves on July 22 — 3-for-3 with a run scored, two RBIs and two highlight-reel catches.
9. Toronto Blue Jays (55-45, No. 6): I have spent a lot of time looking up and down this roster wondering what’s missing and what’s not what’s right. That doesn’t bode well.
10. Philadelphia Phillies (53-46, No. 8): Fighting as hard as their talent will ultimately take them. Tough start to the week in hosting the Orioles for three, but a weekend series in Pittsburgh could give them some momentum for next week.
11. Boston Red Sox (53-47, No. 15)
12. Arizona Diamondbacks (54-46, No. 7)
13. San Francisco Giants (54-46, No. 12)
14. Minnesota Twins (53-48, No. 16)
15. Cleveland Guardians (49-50, No. 18)
16. Seattle Mariners (50-49, No. 17)
17. Miami Marlins (54-47, No. 9)
18. Los Angeles Angels (51-49, No. 21)
19. San Diego Padres (48-52, No. 20)
20. New York Yankees (53-47, No. 14)
21. Chicago Cubs (48-51, No. 22)
22. New York Mets (46-53, No. 19)
23. Detroit Tigers (45-54, No. 23)
24. St. Louis Cardinals (44-56, No. 24)
25. Washington Nationals (41-58, No. 28)
26. Colorado Rockies (39-60, No. 27)
27. Chicago White Sox (41-60, No. 25)
28. Pittsburgh Pirates (43-56, No. 26)
29. Oakland Athletics (28-74, No. 30)
30. Kansas City Royals (28-73, No. 29)