WHERE DO TEAMS STAND IN MLB?
After some MLB Power Rankings? Two more weeks have passed in Major League Baseball and shockingly the top 4 teams in my Power Rankings haven’t changed! The cream has really started to rise to the top and it is staying there for the time being. There are some previously studly teams that have crashed however – what has happened to the Giants and where have the Baltimore Orioles gone?
Version 8.0 – 2016 MLB Power Rankings
Will we see the surging defending World Series Champion Royals in the dirty dozen this week?
Let’s break it down in the August 22 edition of Dave B’s MLB Power Rankings.
1. Chicago Cubs (78-45)
Two Weeks Ago: 1
The Cubs maintain their spot at the top of the Rankings despite losing two of three over the weekend to the Rockies. Kris Bryant has taken his game to a new level, Anthony Rizzo has been terrific and Daniel Murphy looks like the best offseason acquisition in the league.
Oh ya – the Starters have a MLB-best 2.89 ERA. If Chicago can ever solve their bullpen woes they could be unstoppable.
2. Washington Nationals (73-50)
Two Weeks Ago: 2
The Nationals enter this week having taken three of four over the weekend from the Braves – they still have an 8 ½ game lead in the division!
Their ERA among starters is second in MLB; their offense (thanks to Anthony Rendon lately) has been good despite Bryce Harper’s struggles.
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Washington is still the second-most complete team in the game right now – a worthy second in the Rankings.
3. Cleveland Indians (71-51)
Two Weeks Ago: 3
The Indians took two of three over the weekend from the Blue Jays and are 7-3 in their last 10 games overall – they enter the week with a 7 game lead in the AL Central.
The offense has picked up the pitching lately – they are the top scoring team in the AL this month – incredible. Mike Napoli continues to shine and the rest of the team continues to overachieve.
4. Toronto Blue Jays (70-54)
Two Weeks Ago: 4
The Jays have been holding their own despite having Kevin Pillar and Jose Bautista on the DL. Josh Donaldson and Troy Tulowitzki also missed time last week. We all knew about the offense but how about the pitching this year?
Even Francisco Liriano looked outstanding on the weekend!
5. Texas Rangers (73-52)
Two Weeks Ago: 6
The Rangers have gone 5-5 in their last 10 games – they lost 2 of 3 to the Rays over the weekend. The team signed Carlos Gomez to replace Shin-Soo Choo and Derek Holland is scheduled to return from the DL soon.
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Texas is still a dangerous team and still has the best record in the AL.
6. Boston Red Sox (69-54)
Two Weeks Ago: 9
The Red Sox have gone 8-2 in their last 10 games to get back in the playoff picture. Rick Porcello continues to shine (17-3 with a 3.22 ERA this year) and the offense still leads the Majors with 5.51 runs per game.
How about Mookie Betts? Incredible. But where have you gone David Price?
7. Los Angeles Dodgers (68-55)
Two Weeks Ago: 8
The Dodgers rise one spot in the Rankings despite a 4-6 stretch – against teams like the Phillies and the Reds! Clayton Kershaw is getting closer to a return and the team has a long stretch of home games coming up which should help at least maintain their spot in the Rankings.
Rich Hill should be able to finally make his debut for this team this week – a long time coming for a team that could really use him in the rotation right now.
8. St. Louis Cardinals (66-57)
Two Weeks Ago: 10
The Cards have gone 7-3 in their last 10 games and occupy the second Wild Card spot in the NL. Jedd Gyorko and Brandon Moss have been remarkable offensively for the Cards and Seung Hwan Oh has been an absolute revelation in the closer roll.
St. Louis is somehow third in MLB in home runs – unforeseen for sure!
9. Seattle Mariners (66-57)
Two Weeks Ago: 15
The Mariners are playing some good ball right now – 6-4 in their last 10 games. Felix Hernandez’s return from injury definitely helps this team – he looks as though he’s back to form after a stint on the DL.
They enter the week 1 game out of a Wild Card spot in the AL and are getting healthy at just the right time.
10. San Francisco Giants (68-56)
Two Weeks Ago: 5
Wow – what a slide! The Giants have gone just 3-7 in their last 10 games and are 11-23 since the All-Star break – yuk! They now sit second in the NL West and have an uber-important three game series with the Dodgers coming up this week.
Nothing is going right for this team right now but they, on paper, are still a top 10 team on the Power Rankings.
11. Baltimore Orioles (67-55)
Two Weeks Ago: 7
The Orioles have gone just 4-6 in their last 10 games (8-11 this month) and have slid out of the AL East lead.
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Nothing seems to be going well – the starting pitching woes have caught up to the team and the offense has failed to fire the last couple of weeks.
The same players that made Baltimore a serious threat still exist but optimism has turned to worry lately.
12. Houston Astros (63-60)
Two Weeks Ago: 11
The Stros have gone just 5-5 in their last 10 games but look like a team that could be poised for a run.
They won three of four over the Orioles over the weekend and with players like Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman and Cuban star Yulieski Gurriel in the mix there is no reason to think Houston isn’t a threat to claim a Wild Card spot.
- 13. Kansas City Royals (64-60) Two Weeks Ago: 20
- 14. Detroit Tigers (65-59) Two Weeks Ago: 13
- 15. New York Yankees (63-60) Two Weeks Ago: 18
- 16. Miami Marlins (65-59) Two Weeks Ago: 12
- 17. Pittsburgh Pirates (62-59) Two Weeks Ago: 16
- 18. New York Mets (62-62) Two Weeks Ago: 14
- 19. Colorado Rockies (60-64) Two Weeks Ago: 17
- 20. Chicago White Sox (59-64) Two Weeks Ago: 19
- 21. Philadelphia Phillies (58-67) Two Weeks Ago: 22
- 22. Oakland Athletics (53-71) Two Weeks Ago: 23
- 23. San Diego Padres (53-71) Two Weeks Ago: 25
- 24. Tampa Bay Rays (52-70) Two Weeks Ago: 28
- 25. Arizona Diamondbacks (51-73) Two Weeks Ago: 26
- 26. Cincinnati Reds (53-70) Two Weeks Ago: 29
- 27. Los Angeles Angels (52-72) Two Weeks Ago: 21
- 28. Minnesota Twins (49-75) Two Weeks Ago: 27
- 29. Milwaukee Brewers (53-70) Two Weeks Ago: 24
- 30. Atlanta Braves (45-79) Two Weeks Ago: 30
What do you think of our 2016 MLB Power Rankings + Handicapping Analysis? Comments are welcome below.
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