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SteemSports Editor:
Another week of baseball is in the books, including a full holiday-weekend of action, and we have a new team back on top of the rankings this week in the defending Champion Astros. Houston is back in the top spot after a couple week hiatus, as they and the Yankees flipped positions at 1 and 3. The Brewers continue to sizzle with their play of late, and move up 1 spot to 4 and the Braves drop a spot but remain in the top 5. There is plenty of movement throughout the rankings in this week's edition, but before we get to the rankings, same disclaimer as always - these are the top 20 rankings regardless of league and division standings, the top 10 teams are not necessarily the picks to make the postseason, etc., and the rankings fluctuate based on how teams are trending as of late with their play. So, without further ado, let's get to it:
1 HOUSTON ASTROS (35-20) ↑
The Defending Champs reclaim the top spot in this week's power rankings. The Astros are 9-3 in their past 12 games and continue to rely on an incredible pitching display from top to bottom. Houston's ERA sits at an insane 2.58 after 55 games - 1 full run better than the 2nd-ranked Red Sox (3.58). They lead the league in strikeouts with 564 and their .201 opponents batting average is 22 points better than the # 2 Yankees (.223). Justin Verlander is 7-2, with just a 1.11 ERA; Charlie Morton is 7-0, with a 2.04 ERA; and Gerrit Cole is 5-1, with a 2.05 ERA to lead an incredibly formidable rotation. They are a staggering +126 in run differential, which is 44 better than the next closest team in the majors in the Red Sox at +82.
2 BOSTON RED SOX (37-17) -
The Red Sox remained locked into the # 2 spot in the power rankings. They are 9-3 in their past 12 games and have jumped the Yankees in the AL East standings, back into first by themselves. Boston is doing it on the mound, and also at the plate where they rank 2nd to the Yankees in the AL in runs scored, lead the league in hitting at .265, and rank 2nd to the Yankees in home runs. They are also 3rd in on-base % and 2nd in slugging, and are 2nd to Houston in team-ERA at 3.58. Mookie Betts continues to lead the AL in hitting at .359, and he's tied for 2nd in home runs, as the Red Sox once-again own the best record in baseball at 20 games above .500.
3 NEW YORK YANKEES (33-17) ↓
The Yankees flip positions with the Astros, and drop back to 3rd in the Power Rankings for the first time in a couple of weeks. New York's incredible hot streak has cooled off as the Yanks find themselves just 5-5 in their past 10 games. Part of the reason for the leveling off is a bit of a drop-off in pitching as they've allowed 5.9 runs per game in their past 7. Despite the recent pitching woes, they still rank 4th in the AL in ERA, and continue to rely on their formidable lineup as they rank 1st in the AL in runs scored and home runs, are tied for 6th in batting average, and lead the league in on-base % and slugging as well.
4 MILWAUKEE BREWERS (35-20) ↑
The Brew Crew have continued their stretch of sizzling play and move up another spot in the Power Rankings this week. They've went 8-2 in their last 10 games, won 4 straight, and are now 14-4 over their past 18 games overall. The winning ways have coincided with increased production at the plate, as the Brewers now rank 4th in batting average, and continue to sit at 2nd in the league in home runs. The pitching continues to be a strong point for Milwaukee as well, as they rank 5th in the NL in team-ERA and are tied for 2nd in saves with 16. The bullpen has been lights out thus far, and has been a major reason, along with the revival in power numbers, that they find themselves with the top record in the NL.
5 ATLANTA BRAVES (31-21) ↓
The Braves drop one spot this week, thanks to the surging Brewers, but remain in the top 5 as they continue to sit atop the very competitive NL East. Atlanta has relied on their offense all season, and that hasn't changed as they are still currently first in the league in runs scored, first in batting average at .265, are 4th in home runs, and sit at 2nd in both on-base % and slugging. While the production at the plate continues to be there for Atlanta, the pitching has slid-back to the middle of the pack, ranking 8th in the NL in team-ERA at 3.59. They continue to hold off the Nationals - for now.
6 SEATTLE MARINERS (33-20) ↑
What a stretch of baseball its been for the Mariners of late. They surged past the Angels in the AL West standings, and despite how dominant Houston has been, sit just 1.0 game behind the Astros for first. They've won 4 straight games and are a sizzling 9-1 in their past 10 games. The pitching has been steadily improving all season long and Seattle now sits at 5th in the AL in ERA and lead the majors in saves with 20. They are tied for 6th in the league in batting average, and also rank 6th in on-base %. The key has been their play in close games of late - 7 of their past 8 games have been decided by just 1 run and they went 6-1 in those games - and the other game was a 2-run game, also a victory.
7 CHICAGO CUBS (28-22) ↑
The Cubbies are up anther spot this week, after jumping into the top 10 a week ago. The NL Central continues to be a very competitive division and Chicago has established themselves behind the Brewers in 2nd place. They went just 3-3 last week, but it was good enough to bump them up a spot. It's mainly because of how solid they are all-around. They are 2nd in the NL to the Braves in both runs scored and batting average, and lead the league in on-base % and slugging. They are also tied with the Nationals for the best team-ERA in the league at just 3.30. The Cubs appear to be rounding into form nicely of late, and once-again own very good hitting and pitching.
8 WASHINGTON NATIONALS (30-22) ↑
Congratulations to the Nationals who are the big movers of the week - jumping up 5 spots and back into the top 10 after dropping a few spots a week ago. They've went 6-1 in their past 7 games and are nipping at the heels of the Braves in the NL East, just 1.0 game back. This is where everyone expected them to be, and their slow start to the season appears to be well in the rearview. Since starting the year 12-16, the Nats have managed to go 18-6 since then, and it seems only a manner of time before they are back atop the division. Excellent pitching of late has led the way as they find themselves with the top ERA in the NL at just 3.30.
9 PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (29-22) ↓
The Phillies drop three spots this week, but remain in the top 10. Their slight dip in the rankings has more to do with the play of the surging Nationals in their own division and the smoking hot play of the Mariners than their own necessarily. Although the Phils are just 3-4 in their past 7. The starting rotation continues to be a strong point for Philly as they continuing to lean on strong overall pitching as they rank 4th in the NL in ERA at just 3.38, helping to make up for mediocre numbers offensively (7th in runs scored, t-10th in batting average, 7th in home runs).
10 ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (28-23) -
The Cardinals remain firm at the 10-spot in this week's Power Rankings. They've went 3-4 in their past 7 games and are now in 3rd in the jumbled NL Central, but trail the Cubs by just a 0.5 game. Pitching continues to be the strong point for the Cards as they sit at 6th in the NL in ERA at 3.57. They've struggled a bit offensively, and rank 10th in the NL in runs scored and 9th in batting average, but are benefiting from the long-ball as they've now hit 61 HRs on the season, good for 5th in the league. They continue a big series today with the first-place Brewers.
11 COLORADO ROCKIES (29-25) ↑
A 4-3 week was enough from the Rockies to push them into first place in the NL West, thanks to the continued struggles of the D-Backs. Colorado continues to lean on their power numbers, as they rank 3rd in the NL in home runs with 66, just 3 behind the Nationals. While the rest of the offensive numbers aren't flashy, and the pitching ranks near the bottom of the league in ERA, their fielding has been exceptional - rating out as the # 2 team in the NL as they've only committed 18 errors on the season. Good fielding, great power numbers, and a very good bullpen (first in the NL in saves) has been the recipe for success thus far for the Rockies.
12 LOS ANGELES ANGELS (29-25) ↓
The Angels were the top tumbler of the week as they've went just 3-4 in their last 7 and subsequently dropped 5 spots this week, while the Mariners have surged past them in the very difficult AL West. The offense continues to be consistently good - ranking 4th in the AL in each of the following categories: runs scored, batting average, and home runs. They're also 5th in the league in both on-base % and slugging. They also rank 3rd in the AL in ERA at 3.64. The numbers pan out to a team that should be a bit better than their current overall record. The Angels try to chip away at the Astros 5.5 game lead in the AL West as they continue their series with the Tigers from Detroit on Tuesday.
13 CLEVELAND INDIANS (27-25) ↑
The Tribe has finally been able to put a little distance between themselves and the rest of the lack-luster AL Central, having won 3 straight and now lead both the Tigers and Twins by 3.5 games. The pitching continues to struggle a bit, as they currently sit just 9th in the AL in ERA. The offense has been able to pick up the slack however, as they are now 4th in the league in runs scored, and are 3rd in home runs with 76. They are also 3rd in slugging, and have four different players with between 11 and 15 homers on the season. If the pitching comes around, the Indians could start to distant themselves significantly in the very weak Central.
14 ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (27-26) ↓
Ah the Diamondbacks. The free-fall continues as Arizona now find themselves 1.5 games behind the Rockies for first-place in the NL West. Another poor week - just 2-5 in their past 7, has the D-Backs barely above .500. This is a team that is just 3-14 in their past 17 games, and it seems like an eternity ago when they held the NL's best record at 24-12. Their strangle-hold atop the NL in team-ERA has finally been relinquished as they are now 3rd in the league at 3.36 and rate out as the top defensive team in the league. The offense has been horrendous, as they rank second-to-last in the league in runs scored and are dead last in batting average, hitting just a paltry .213 as a team thus far.
15 PITTSBURGH PIRATES (28-25) ↓
The Pirates stronghold on the # 12 spot in the rankings was broken this week as they dropped 3 spots after going just 2-5 in their past 7 games and falling 6.0 games behind the first-place Brewers. They trail the Cardinals by a game and the Cubs by 1.5 in the very competitive NL Central. Pittsburgh continues to ride their offense as they rank 3rd in the NL in runs scored, 4th in batting average and 6th in home runs. The Bucs also rank 3rd in the league in on-base % and slugging. It was only a matter of time before one of the four would drop a bit from the pack in the very competitive Central, but the Pirates still have the offense to stay in the thick of things going forward.
16 OAKLAND ATHLETICS (28-26) -
17 LOS ANGELES DODGERS (25-28) ↑
18 NEW YORK METS (25-25) ↓
19 TAMPA BAY RAYS (26-26) -
20 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (25-29) ↓
At the back end of the Power Rankings this week, the Dodgers continue to make a climb, despite being 3 games below .500. However, due to the struggles of the D-Backs and so-so play of the Rockies, that has them just 3.5 games out of first in the NL West. The Dodgers are 8-2 in their past 10 games, and are surging at the right time. The Mets meanwhile, were unable to keep-pace in the very competitive NL East, and find themselves in 4th and back to just .500 on the season, causing them to drop out of the top 15. The Rays continue their stellar play and remain at the 19-spot in the rankings. The Giants had a rough week, but remain in the top 20 - for now anyway.
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Thank you for the info! Go Brewers go!
Doesn't matter! Still doing great like you said.
Very true! Still like the Phillies - I think they will stay in the mix in the NL East right through the season.