Another week of baseball has been completed. The Astros are the hottest team in baseball while the World Champion Giants are finally starting to come around. The Brewers are the first team to fire their manager this season, making it just 25 games through.
Here is our 3rd edition.
10. New York Mets – Last Week: Ranked 1 – The Mets are coming back down to earth after their hot start. The team had been dealing with injuries but the holes are becoming more apparent. They have won just 3 games out of their last 10 and their run differential has slid back to a +18. They are still 16-10 and the good news is the NL East can’t seem to figure it out.
9. Pittsburgh Pirates – Last Week: Ranked 6 – The Pirates were just swept by the Cardinals in extra-innings. They still own a +15 run differential and will have plenty of time to get things together. Andrew McCutchen has not been the offensive force they had hoped for. They have allowed the second fewest runs.
8. Chicago Cubs – Last Week: Ranked 10 – The Cubs just lost 2 of 3 games to the Brewers but enjoyed a nice series against the Pirates previously. They are 13-10 with a +6 run differential. They have a big series against St. Louis that will be an early test of the team.
7. San Diego Padres – Last Week: Ranked 9 – They are still scoring runs in bunches and have won three straight games. Their 14-12 record sits them at 2nd in the NL West.
6. New York Yankees – Last Week: Ranked 7 – The Yankees took care of the Sox and own the top spot in the NL East. Their +31 run differential is the best, by far, in the division but their pitching still looks like a nightmare. Their bullpen knows how to finish games, though.
5. Los Angeles Dodgers – Last Week: Ranked 5: The Dodgers have won have straight games, have a +34 run differential and are looking like the team to beat in the NL West. The problem? They lost Brandon McCarthy to Tommy John and the rotation already had some questions. Another interesting stat: 13-2 record at home while just 3-6 on the road this season.
4. Kansas City Royals – Last Week: Ranked 3: They split with the Tigers and sit a .5 game out of first. Their run differential is the best in baseball at +45. Their run differential should balance and they are primed to take over the AL Central.
3. Detroit Tigers – Last Week: Ranked 2: They are 17-9 overall and lead the AL Central. They have only put up a +10 run differential. That stat usually balances out over the course of the year. Meaning the Tigers will have a better spread, or they will start losing more games.
2. St. Louis Cardinals – Last Week: Ranked 4: They have the 2nd best run differential in the MLB at +40, they have the best record in the MLB at 18-6 and just won a series against the Pirates, all in extra innings. The sting of Wainwright’s departure hasn’t hurt this club’s motivation. While their offense is mediocre, they have only given up 59 runs this season. The next closest team to that number sits at 78.
1. Houston Astros – Last Week: Ranked 8: The Astros make a big jump in the Power Rankings, but that is exactly what happens when you win 10 straight games. They have a 7 game lead in the division already. They have a +37 run differential and have put up the 5th most runs in baseball. With the way the offense is built they are going to go on hot and cold streaks, but they may be able to run away with the division.
