The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to sport the best record in baseball, but do they top my initial MLB power rankings?
(Records through June 28)
1. Boston Red Sox (46-29)
After taking two of three at Washington and doing the same at Atlanta, the Red Sox have won their last six series and sport a 17-7 record in June. I bet Josh Beckett (now 7-1 in his last 10 starts and 9-3 for the season) would love to pitch against the Braves more often (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 11 hits, 13 K/0 BB in two starts).
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (48-28)
Dropped consecutive series for the first time this season, losing two of three to the White Sox on the road and then dropping two of three at home to Seattle. Still have a comfortable seven-game lead in the NL West, but that could tighten up more with the Rockies (home), Mets (away), and Milwaukee (away) on tap before the All-Star break.
3. New York Yankees (43-32)
Rebounded from a poor week to go 5-1 this past week, taking two of three at Atlanta and sweeping the Mets to finish their road swing a more than respectable 6-3.
4. Tampa Bay Rays (42-35)
After entering June three below .500, the defending AL champs are charging hard heading into July, winning seven of eight and going 17-7 this month so far. But they’ve got trips to Toronto and Texas coming up this week, which could be a little bit tricky.
5. Los Angeles Angels (41-32)
It was only a matter of time before the Angels took the AL West lead, but a trip to Texas could quickly tighten things back up. I still think it’s their division to lose in the end.
6. Colorado Rockies (40-35)
Dropped two of three to the Angels in the midweek, but bounced back to sweep Oakland to take their run to 20 wins in 23 games.
7. Detroit Tigers (42-33)
After sweeps over the Brewers and Cubs, the Tigers lost two of three at Houston, but they’re still going strong at the top of the AL Central.
8. Toronto Blue Jays (41-36)
Roy Halladay makes his return from a groin injury tonight against the Rays, and though the Blue Jays managed to stay afloat while he was out, they’re going to have to do a lot more than just stay afloat if they want to stay in the thick of the AL East/wild-card race.
9. Philadelphia Phillies (39-34)
After losing the opener at Toronto, the Phillies bounced back to win the last two and take a much-needed series win over the Blue Jays. Can’t get too excited just yet, because after a three-game set at Atlanta during the week, they’re heading back home.
10. San Francisco Giants (40-34)
A blown ninth-inning lead on Saturday cost them a series win at Milwaukee, and with the Rockies charging hard and not showing any signs of slowing down, there’s not a large margin for those being a regular occurrence.
11. Texas Rangers (40-34)
They lost the AL West lead by going only 3-3 last week, but facing the Angels six times in the next couple of weeks (along with the Rays and the Mariners) offers up the chance to get first back by the break…or put the wrong kind of distance between themselves and the Angels.
12. Milwaukee Brewers (40-35)
The Brewers have had a losing month (10-15 through Sunday), but they started off a hellacious stretch the right way, taking two of three at home against San Francisco. Survive the next few weeks (v. Mets, at Cubs, v. Cardinals, v. Dodgers), they should feel very confident about their prospects heading into the second half of the season.
13. St. Louis Cardinals (41-36)
Nice of the Cards to get Albert Pujols a little help by trading for Mark DeRosa, and it couldn’t come any sooner. The Cardinals scored only 17 runs in seven games last week, and the end result was a 2-5 showing. With a rather unfriendly pre-break run coming up (v. San Francisco, at Cincinnati, at Milwaukee, at Chicago), that needs to change in a hurry.
14. Seattle Mariners (39-36)
The Mariners remain in striking distance in the AL West, three back of the Angels after going 4-2 last week. Their road series win over the Dodgers was impressive, but can they do the same on the road against the Yankees and Red Sox? Ichiro is on another tear, hitting .460 (23 of 50) during a new 11-game hit streak to raise his batting average to .372.
15. New York Mets (37-37)
The Mets are 9-16 this month, but thanks to the Phillies being on intent on keeping things close in the NL East, are still only 2.5 back. That’s nothing to be proud of though, especially when you just mustered all of three runs and nine hits in getting swept at home.
16. Minnesota Twins (39-38)
Another year, another successful interleague showing for the Twins, who went 12-6 in interleague play. That includes a 7-2 mark against NL Central leaders Milwaukee and St. Louis. Joe Mauer has cooled off recently (10 for 37 in his last 10), but there aren’t many who’d complain about hitting .394 at this point of the season.
17. Chicago White Sox (37-38)
The White Sox had an excellent week last week, taking two of three from the Dodgers and doing the same against the rival Cubs. A little more luck in one-run games (4-6 this month, 8-13 this season), and they could be pushing the Tigers at the top of the AL Central.
18. Chicago Cubs (35-37)
Seven road games in seven days, and it couldn’t have gone much worse, as the Cubs went 1-6, and even the one game they won was overshadowed by Milton Bradley’s latest negative headline. With four-game sets against the Brewers and Cardinals before the All-Star break, the opportunity is there to close ground in the NL Central, but don’t hold your breath, Cubs fans.
19. Cincinnati Reds (37-37)
Still at the .500 mark nearing the All-Star break, which is a step in the right direction. They should go over the mark with Arizona coming to town this week, but with the Cardinals, Phillies, and Mets after that, we’ll get to see if the Reds are going to drop back again or if they have what it takes to be a viable threat in the NL Central post-break.
20. Florida Marlins (38-39)
Despite getting swept at surging Tampa Bay, the Marlins still finished as one of just a handful of NL teams that finished with a winning record in interleague play. Don’t count them out in the NL East if the Phillies continue to keep the door open.
21. Houston Astros (35-38)
Five of Houston’s six games last week were decided by a run, and had they not blown late leads in two of those games, they’d have been 5-1 for the week and a game over .500 for the season. As it is, a solid month (15-10 in June) has them in position to be at .500 or better at the All-Star break.
22. Pittsburgh Pirates (35-40)
Good week for the Pirates, going 4-2 against Cleveland and Kansas City. Dropped to a season-worst eight games below .500 with Tuesday’s loss against Cleveland, but climbed back to five below by the end of the weekend.
23. Atlanta Braves (35-40)
The Braves have now lost 12 of 18, and four of those victories are by talented rookie Tommy Hanson (4-0, 2.48 ERA, 20 1/3 scoreless innings), whose wins over the Yankees and Red Sox were the Braves‘ only wins in the past week. If Bobby Cox could have Hanson pitch everyday, he’d no doubt do it. Not a bad idea, considering that he’s one of the only things that make the Braves worth watching right now.
24. Baltimore Orioles (34-41)
After winning seven of eight, the Orioles came back down to earth last week, getting swept at Florida. But they bounced back to take two of three from Washington and got another nice outing from rookie Brad Bergesen (5-2, 3.76 ERA). The Red Sox best not take their trip to Baltimore lightly, otherwise they leave with a series loss.
25. Kansas City Royals (32-42)
Zach Greinke (2-0, 1.93 ERA, zero walks in 14.1 IP) accounted for two of the Royals’ three wins last week and continues to be in the running for the AL Cy Young and a pitching Triple Crown (wins - 10 (t-1st in AL), ERA - 1.95 (1st in AL), strikeouts - 114 (2nd in AL)).
26. Oakland A’s (31-43)
Had the Giants and Rockies at home, but could only come away with only one win in six games. They’ve lost 13 of 18 after moving within four games of .500 on June 8.
27. San Diego Padres (33-41)
The Padres scored just their second series win of the month over the weekend, taking two of three at Texas. Considering their terrible road record (12-26), a 3-3 showing is pretty respectable. If you’re a fantasy owner, it’s not a bad time to pick up Chad Gaudin (2-1, 2.14 ERA, 28 Ks in his last three starts) or Kevin Correia (4-1, 2.44 ERA, 29 Ks in his last five starts).
28. Cleveland Indians (31-46)
The frustrations continue for Cliff Lee - the Indians scored six on Wednesday and nine on Friday, but they could only muster two on Thursday, negating another excellent outing by Lee (7 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs). With one of the team’s top producers in Mark DeRosa being traded away to St. Louis, you can expect many more frustrating days for Lee.
29. Arizona Diamondbacks (30-46)
D-Backs have dropped eight of nine, with five of those losses being by a run.
30. Washington Nationals (22-51)
Back to the same old, same old for the Nats last week as they went down to Boston and Baltimore. One bright spot is John Lannan, who’s 3-1 with a 2.19 ERA in his last five starts.
