Here for our 5th edition of the Weekly Power Rankings. The Marlins have fired Mike Redmond and hired their GM Dan Jennings to replace him. With two managers down before June it appears MLB teams are getting desperate.
10. Minnesota Twins – Last Week: Ranked 9 – The Twins still have a winning record at 21-17 but their run differential of +2 does not bode well for them. They are a team without any superstars but this good start could mean good things for their future. They survive another week on the rankings.
9. Tampa Bay Rays – Last Week: Ranked 8 – The Rays continue to have success with a 21-18 record and are hanging in the East to possibly challenge for a division title. They are now at +17 and sit just one game back of the Yankees.
8. New York Yankees – Last Week: Ranked 6 – The Yankees are beginning to falter. Last week they had a +30 run differential and now it is down to +15 after a 2-5 week. The club has to show up offensively. The team has the best 8th and 9th innings in the MLB if they can get a lead at that point.
7. New York Mets – Last Week: Ranked 7 – The Mets hold a small lead in the NL East as the Nationals have come surging ahead. Noah Syndergaard has looked good in his early starts and the team has a +25 run differential. There is news they might be looking to trade Daniel Murphy.
6. Detroit Tigers – Last Week: Ranked 6 – The Tigers are playing much better and have their run differential up to a +20. They are a game out of first in the Central and played a good series against the Cardinals.
5. Washington Nationals – Last Week: Ranked 10 – The Nationals are red hot after a slow start and just a .5 game out of first place in the NL East. Bryce Harper is the MVP to this point and they are starting to look like the team they were supposed to be. Strasburg hasn’t even looked close to the pitcher of old.
4. Houston Astros – Last Week: Ranked 4 – The Astros proved to be streaky once again as they won 5 straight games after sliding the week before. There is talk of Carlos Correa coming to town. The Angels are beginning to come around.
3. Kansas City Royals – Last Week: Ranked 3 – Sitting atop the AL Central with a 24-14 record and a +55 run differential the Royals appear to be sticking it out for the long haul. They have put up the 3rd most runs in all of baseball and their younger hitters are putting it together this season.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers – Last Week: Ranked 2 – The Dodgers are 24-13 with a +58 run differential. Greinke has been phenomenal but finally came back down to earth over the weekend. Yasiel Puig’s return is still on the horizon. Kenley Jansen returned to help solidify the bullpen.
1. St. Louis Cardinals – Last Week: Ranked 1– The Cards lost 2 of 3 to the Tigers but with a strong outing from Lance Lynn they won last night. Look at this way: the team is 4 games on the Cubs and they have had some rough outing with their pitching recently and they are still in first with the best record in the MLB. There will be some bumps but if the rotation can give them innings, they will be alright.
Honorable Mention:
Chicago Cubs – The Cubs played great baseball but their run differential sits at 0. They need help.
San Francisco Giants – The Giants got Hunter Pence back and are getting back into the things in the NL West. They won 3 straight and their run differential is now at 0 after it being negative the entire season long.
Chicago White Sox – The Sox are now 17-17 and have won 5 straight. They are playing much, much better and now the AL Central could get even more interesting.
