In last week’s MLB power rankings, the Los Angeles Dodgers took top spot from the Boston Red Sox, capitalizing on the Red Sox’ bullpen woes to nab top spot in my book.
Both teams had successful weeks last week, so the order at the top will remain the same as we hit the All-Star break. However, there are many changes throughout, thanks to a surprising result or two, a big week here and there, and a bad week here and there.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (56-32)
Enter the All-Star break on pace for the franchise’s first 100-win season since 1974, when they went 102-60.
2. Boston Red Sox (54-34)
What a difference three days can make, eh? The Red Sox’ loss to the Royals on Thursday dropped them into a tie for first in the AL East with the Yankees, but three wins against K.C. and three losses by the Yankees later, and Boston goes into the break three up in the division. That bullpen still worries me though.
3. Los Angeles Angels (49-37)
They’re where everyone expected them to be, and the sweep of the Yankees in which they thrice spotted New York leads before coming back for wins showed just what this team is capable of. Need to figure out how to beat the Rangers though, as they’re now 2-7 against Texas this season.
4. New York Yankees (51-37)
Missed opportunities, missed opportunities. They could have been tied for first or only a game back of the Red Sox, but they couldn’t hold leads in three straight games against the Angels and left on the wrong end of a sweep instead of with a series win.
5. San Francisco Giants (49-39)
Can they keep this up in the second half? If they can, the Dodgers can’t afford to get complacent, even if a seven-game lead looks comfortable.
6. Philadelphia Phillies (48-38)
The champs are finally playing like champs going into the break, winning nine of their last 10 to open up a four-game cushion over the Marlins. Best of all, that pre-break run came at home, so maybe those previous home woes are behind them.
7. St. Louis Cardinals (49-42)
Going 4-3 on the road at Milwaukee and Chicago is solid, especially when both teams post losing marks despite playing the entire week at home.
8. Detroit Tigers (48-39)
Did as they should’ve at home against the AL Central’s worst teams, though their 3.5 game lead over the White Sox could’ve been 4.5 if not for Joel Zumaya (third blown save in the span of five appearances) and Fernando Rodney not coughed up a lead on Tuesday against Kansas City.
9. Texas Rangers (48-39)
Dropping three of four at Seattle to fall 1.5 back of the Angels going into the second half is no doubt disappointing, but the Rangers have nothing to hang their heads about after exceeding expectations in the first half.
10. Tampa Bay Rays (48-41)
They enter the break well within striking distance in the AL East and in the wild-card race, but they should be kicking themselves after dropping two of three at home to Oakland. They can’t afford to drop too many series like that if they want to hang close.
11. Seattle Mariners (46-42)
Lost two of three at home to the Orioles, but quick redemption came in the form of winning three of four against the Rangers, and they enter the break just four back in the AL West. They might have been considered sellers previously, but could they be looking to add another arm or a big bat to help their hopes of making a run.
12. Colorado Rockies (47-41)
After their momentum was halted the previous week with consecutive series losses, it picked back up with a 5-2 week against the Nationals and Braves. Altogether, they’ve won 27 of 36 heading into the second half, which is pretty darn impressive.
13. Minnesota Twins (45-44)
Some teams just have your number, and in the Twins’ case, that’s the Yankees, who improved to 7-0 against Minnesota with a sweep last week. They’ll have to fare much better in a tough post-break stretch, as the second half of their season starts with a 10-game AL West road swing (Texas, Oakland, L.A. Angels) and then six at home against the White Sox and Angels.
14. Florida Marlins (46-44)
The Marlins are four games back of the Phillies in the NL East entering the second half, and as it happens, they have a four-game set at home against the Phillies to start the second half.
15. Chicago White Sox (45-43)
Pitching wasn’t on their side last week, as they gave up 44 runs in six games against the Indians and Twins. That’s not something they need to make a habit out of if they’re to catch the Tigers in the AL Central.
16. Houston Astros (44-44)
Quietly, the Astros have moved to .500 and within close distance of the Cardinals, but we’ll see if this team is a contender or a pretender very, very quickly. Their post-break slate starts with a four-game road set against the Dodgers, and it doesn’t get any easier. The worst team record-wise they have to face in their first 33 games of the second half is the Mets, if that tells you something about their schedule.
17. Milwaukee Brewers (45-43)
Since being at 33-23 on June 6, the Brewers are 12-20. They’re only 2.5 back of the Cards in the NL Central, but I’m not convinced that they’re going to be the team that challenges St. Louis in the long haul.
18. Chicago Cubs (43-43)
Despite their first-half underachievement, you’ve still got to consider the Cubs a dangerous team with all of the talent they have and the fact that they’re only 3.5 back in the NL Central with more than enough time to wake up.
19. Atlanta Braves (43-45)
The good: a 4-3 showing on the road against the Rockies and Cubs. The terrible: Two blown leads against the Rockies prevented them from a four-game sweep and being able to enter the second half on the right side of .500.
20. New York Mets (42-45)
Ended the first half on a positive note, taking two of three from the Reds. The Ryan Church-Jeff Francoeur trade paid more immediate dividends for the Mets than the Braves, as Frenchy went 4 for 9 in his first two games as a Met. The 6.5 games between the Mets and Phillies isn’t insurmountable, but the fact remains that the sooner they’re healthy, the better.
21. Toronto Blue Jays (44-46)
Roy Halladay says he wants to be pitching in October, but if he does, it won’t be with the Blue Jays, who are in free-fall mode now. Sure was fun while it lasted though, eh?
22. Cincinnati Reds (42-45)
Their 22-1 slaughtering at the hands of the Phillies set the tone for a bad week on the road for the Reds, as they lost five of seven to the Phillies and Mets to fall three games under .500 for the first time all season.
23. Baltimore Orioles (40-48)
A very good week for the Orioles, as they took two of three in Seattle and two of three at home against Toronto. A tip for fantasy owners: If you have Brad Bergesen floating around in your league, pick him up immediately. The rookie is 5-1 with a 2.35 ERA in his last nine starts, with eight of those starts being quality starts.
24. Arizona Diamondbacks (38-51)
After a bad June and a poor start to July, the Diamondbacks go into the second half of the season with reason to feel good about themselves, having won seven of their last nine games.
25. Pittsburgh Pirates (38-50)
Take away a bad third inning on Friday, a bad ninth on Saturday, and a bad first on Sunday, and the Pirates could’ve swept the Phillies.
26. Oakland A’s (37-49)
Not a bad week for the A’s. Took one of three at Boston, but could’ve very well took the series, and they went one better at Tampa Bay, taking the last two after getting shut out in the opener.
27. Kansas City Royals (37-51)
Did score two wins and held their own against division leaders in Detroit and Boston. Not a lot else to be positive about though.
28. San Diego Padres (36-52)
The good news: They were part of the season’s first no-hitter. The bad news: They were on the wrong end of said no-hitter.
29. Cleveland Indians (35-54)
Will Eric Wedge be the next manager to go after Manny Acta? The Indians have lost 18 of 24 and have won only one of their last eight series, and if this continues, it’s going to be a matter of when, not if, for Wedge.
30. Washington Nationals (26-61)
Will the team see that much improvement with Jim Riggleman? His past record as a manager isn’t eye-popping, but he does have experience with working with bad teams, and maybe he can bring something out of them that Acta couldn’t.
