The Orioles and Phillies remain a tandem atop the power rankings. While it certainly isn’t a lock, it wouldn’t be a total surprise to see the two teams square off in the 2024 World Series 41 years after the Orioles beat the Phillies in five games for the 1983 crown.
Both teams have work to do to fortify their impressive rosters. I read on MLB Trade Rumors recently that Phillies president Dave Dombrowski has his eyes on Orioles killer Brent Rooker of the Athletics. Clearly, the Orioles are in a far different mode. They need pitching.
The recent meltdown by lefty starter Cade Povich can’t be totally dismissed. Povich’s problems are two-fold — struggling early in games and walking too many hitters. I can’t be sure of his minor league history, but he has been awful in the first innings of most of his six big league starts.
Just a quick perusal of the overall numbers: 27.2 innings in six starts is not five innings per start. He has allowed six home runs and a total of 41 baserunners. His ERA is 6.31 and his WHIP an untidy 1.48. Too often the walks come in front of a big power hitter, like Rooker or Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
There’s no reason to give up on Povich, but it looks like it’s time for a reset. He is no longer in the Mike Boddicker conversation.
Without further ado, here are the power rankings.
1. Baltimore Orioles (57-33, No. 1 last week): The Orioles have picked up 5.5 games in recent weeks to grab the AL East lead by three games. But let’s hold off on popping the champagne just yet. A 10-9 record the past three weeks speaks of a need for GM Mike Elias to get a starter and a dependable relief arm.
2. Philadelphia Phillies (58-32, No. 2): The Phillies lost a three-game series in Atlanta but still possess an eight-game lead in the NL East. The rotation continues to be deep and tough to beat.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers (55-36, No. 4): The Dodgers still have 7.5-game lead over the Padres, but with so much uncertainty about clear-cut return dates to expect Clayton Kershaw and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, it looks to me like GM Brandon Gomes will be looking for the best starting pitcher money and prospects can buy. How does Tarik Skubal in Dodger Blue sound?
4. Cleveland Guardians (56-32, No. 5): With all the talk about Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Gunnar Henderson, don’t sleep on José Ramírez being just as valuable as those dudes. This club is consistent and plays above the stat line. Emmanuel Clase is having a monster season at the back end.
5. New York Yankees (55-37, No. 3): The Yankees are just 5-15 in their last 20 games. You name it and it’s all gone south for those not named Soto, Judge or Rice.
6. Milwaukee Brewers (53-38, No. 6): Quietly, the Cardinals have chipped and chiseled their way to within five games of the Brewers. Good week on paper with Pittsburgh and Washington on the Brewers’ dance card.
7. Minnesota Twins (51-39, No. 7): The Twins have righted the ship with a 17-8 run that has them in good position for a playoff spot, but they trail the Guardians by six games for the AL Central lead. They still have seven games against Cleveland before the end of the season.
8. San Diego Padres (49-45, No. 11): Yu Darvish’s season just got weirder. He was on the injured list with a groin strain and was supposed to be activated on June 25 to start against Washington but developed elbow pain. He has since been placed on the restricted list to deal with a family matter. Once on the restricted list, players do not get paid or gain service time. No idea at all when he could return or how this might impact A.J. Preller’s trade deadline strategy.
9. Boston Red Sox (49-40, No. 12): My cousin Ron Matz hit me with one of his great predictions a few days ago. He said within the next two weeks, the Yankees will be closer in the standings to Boston than Baltimore. Right now, Yankees are 4.5 games ahead of the Sox and three behind the Orioles. Boston’s young, confident nucleus is growing up. Pitching coach Andrew Bailey has done yeoman’s work with his starting staff.
10. Atlanta Braves (49-39, No. 9): The Braves are barely holding on to a top-10 spot. Even though they took two of three from Philly, they lost two of three to San Francisco just before their big series with the first-place Phillies. The Braves are leaking oil all over the roster, but what team could have lost Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider and not missed a beat?
11. Seattle Mariners (49-43, No. 8)
12. Houston Astros (46-44, No. 14)
13. St. Louis Cardinals (47-42, No. 13)
14. Kansas City Royals (49-43, No. 10)
15. Arizona Diamondbacks (45-45, No. 15)
16. New York Mets (44-44, No. 17)
17. Washington Nationals (42-48, No. 22)
18. San Francisco Giants (44-47, No. 21)
19. Cincinnati Reds (42-48, No. 19)
20. Tampa Bay Rays (44-46, No. 16)
21. Texas Rangers (42-48, No. 25)
22. Chicago Cubs (42-49, No. 20)
23. Detroit Tigers (42-48, No. 23)
24. Pittsburgh Pirates (42-47, No. 18)
25. Toronto Blue Jays (41-49, No. 24)
26. Los Angeles Angels (37-52, No. 26)
27. Oakland Athletics (34-58, No. 28)
28. Colorado Rockies (32-58, No. 29)
29. Miami Marlins (32-58, No. 27)
30. Chicago White Sox (26-66, No. 30)