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Welcome back to my weekly MLB power rankings piece! It's been over a week since we last checked in around the league since I took the All-Star Break week off, and a lot has happened in terms of teams moving up and down the rankings!
Remember, when I do my rankings, I factor in past performance, the current level of performance, overall talent, injuries, and schedules -- as many factors as possible.
Keep reading to find out where your favorite team ranks and which teams moved up and down the rankings the most this week. Let's get into it already. Here are my Week 18 MLB Power Rankings!
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The Worst Team Ever?
30. Chicago White Sox (27-78)
The Chi-Sox have dropped ten straight games since we last checked in on them and are now on pace to win the fewest games in a 162-game season, as they have a .257 winning percentage compared to the 2003 Tigers, who finished at .265. I honestly think they might set the record, especially if we see Luis Robert Jr. and Garrett Crochet get dealt this week.
Bottom Dwellers
29. Colorado Rockies (38-65)
Last Week's Ranking (29)
28. Miami Marlins (37-66)
Last Week's Ranking (28)
Not too much to get excited about here, though the Rockies did score 20 runs the other day in a way over the Red Sox. The Marlins just dealt A.J. Puk to Arizona and acquired Deyvison De Los Santos in return, who has been one of the best hitters in Triple-A this season. Keep an eye on him if Miami also decides to trade Josh Bell or Jake Burger to a contender this week.
27. Oakland Athletics (42-63)
Last Week's Ranking (27)
Oakland has actually been one of the best offenses in baseball over the last three weeks or so as Brent Rooker and Lawrence Butler have been playing home run derby. Oakland has clearly separated itself from the other bottom dwellers, at least in terms of having some really exciting young players on offense. Butler went from hitting .200 to .250, and looks like he could be a dynamic player.
Lawrence Butler HAS A OPS THIS MONTH OF OVER 1.400 AND IT'S COMPLETELY RIDICULOUSpic.twitter.com/qLOhebQcY1
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) July 26, 2024
26. Los Angeles Angels (45-58)
Last Week's Ranking (26)
The Angels, like the A's, have won seven of their last ten and have been a thorn in the side of various contenders the last few weeks. They actually have a much worse run differential than Oakland but are still a full four games ahead of them in the standings, so they get to keep their spot this week.
25. Toronto Blue Jays (46-56)
Last Week's Ranking (25)
Where to draw the line between the bottom tier and second tier is tough, but the Jays are now ten games under .500 and have the fourth-worst run differential in baseball. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is putting up massive numbers, but it's far too little, too late for Toronto at this point. They are buried and heading nowhere but down.
At Least We're Not Those Guys
24. Washington Nationals (47-56)
Last Week's Ranking (24)
The Nats were close to getting lumped in with the rest of the losers, as they have been pretty lousy in July. Dylan Cease just no-hit them yesterday to finish off a sweep. We could see them trade away some talent this week, with Lane Thomas getting some buzz as a potential player who could be coveted by some contenders.
23. San Francisco Giants (49-55)
Last Week's Ranking (19)
The Giants take a big drop this week as they have fallen six games behind .500 overall. The good news was that Robbie Ray looked awesome in his debut, and more help could be on the way if Alex Cobb returns soon, too. I won't bury the Giants completely just yet, but it's an uphill battle the rest of the way, even if they do get their entire pitching staff healthy.
Robbie Ray fans 🎱 pic.twitter.com/RNSgw4L9EA
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) July 25, 2024
22. Chicago Cubs (49-55)
Last Week's Ranking (22)
The Cubs have been rumored to be sellers as we approach the deadline, which makes sense as they continue to struggle. Cody Bellinger is hurt, and Jameson Taillon is the latest name being floated as trade bait. Chicago would be wise to pack it in and start preparing for next season. I don't see this team ever getting over the hump this season.
21. Tampa Bay Rays (52-51)
Last Week's Ranking (16)
But the Rays have a winning record? Sure, they do, but they just shipped their best hitter off to Seattle (Randy Arozarena), clearly signaling they have no intention of trying to contend this season. Tampa can certainly try to regroup and go after it next season, and they still have plenty of talent. But they weren't winning anything this year with an inconsistent offense and a rotation made up of youngsters and veterans returning from major injuries.
20. Detroit Tigers (51-53)
Last Week's Ranking (23)
Please stop posting Tarik Skubal's potential trades because the Tigers would have to be out of their minds to trade the Cy Young leader. Jack Flaherty, on the other hand, getting dealt to a contender for some prospects makes a lot more sense.
So You're Telling Me There's A Chance?
19. Cincinnati Reds (49-53)
Last Week's Ranking (18)
Every time you want to count the Reds out, just don't do it. I know they're still behind St. Louis and Pittsburgh in the standings, but this team has every bit as much talent (or more) and could go on a run in the second half.
18. Texas Rangers (51-52)
Last Week's Ranking (21)
Nathan Eovaldi and Max Scherzer both looked like their old dominant selves this week (although it was against Chicago), and the offense is slowly waking up. The AL West is totally up for grabs, and the Rangers certainly aren't out of the race yet.
17. Pittsburgh Pirates (52-50)
Last Week's Ranking (19)
The Pirates are 8-2 over their last ten games and haven't lost a series in three weeks. They are managing to do this somehow with a below-average offense and continue to be in the rumor mill connected to multiple outfielders.
Realistically, one hitter isn't going to fix the offense. They also are going to need a healthy Jared Jones back in the rotation and for the rest of their young core to play up to their potential. But Pittsburgh fans are still pretty excited about the potential of their first "Buctober" in nearly ten years.
Every pitcher in history to strike out 80+ batters in the first 12 starts of their MLB career while allowing fewer than 20 runs:
1. Paul Skenes (97 strikeouts, 16 runs allowed)
That's it. That's the list. pic.twitter.com/IMHJkBhzIJ
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) July 24, 2024
16. St. Louis Cardinals (53-49)
Last Week's Ranking (14)
I'm sticking to my guns that the Cards are more "pretender" than contender this year, as they have a -36 run differential and major holes in their roster. For now, they are still sniffing around the Wild Card, but if some other teams make moves at the deadline, they could be passed up quite quickly.
15. Seattle Mariners (53-51)
Last Week's Ranking (10)
The Mariners have been reeling since before the break and finally made a big splash by upgrading their offense with the acquisition of Randy A-Roz. We know the offense has been the weak spot of this team all season, and it's quite possible they aren't done yet. As I mentioned earlier, the AL West is wide open, and Seattle should probably make every effort to go for it this year, with Houston and Texas having down seasons.
🚨 We’ve acquired All-Star OF @RandyArozarena 🚨
The right-handed slugger joins the squad from the Rays in exchange for minor leaguers RHP Brody Hopkins, OF Aidan Smith and a player to be named later.
🔗 https://t.co/pzW1ixadf9 pic.twitter.com/AIPP1LVGet
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 26, 2024
14. Arizona Diamondbacks (53-50)
Last Week's Ranking (17)
Don't look now but the Snakes are slowly and steadily making their climb back up the standings and the rankings. This team could be dangerous in the postseason - we saw that last year!
13. New York Mets (54-48)
Last Week's Ranking (15)
The Mets have been one of the best offenses in baseball over the last month and have a very favorable schedule coming up in August. This team went from being a seller to potentially a buyer, as they are right in the thick of the Wild Card race.
12. San Diego Padres (55-50)
Last Week's Ranking (13)
The Padres have two pitchers who are unstoppable right now, Michael King and Dylan Cease. The latter has been otherworldly in his last three starts, including his no-hitter yesterday. Check what this really smart writer said about him yesterday.
Dylan Cease is absolutely rolling right now! Wow.
The no-hitter today puts him at 22 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 7 BB and 30 K over his last 3 starts. #MLB pic.twitter.com/R3BnYWkNM9
— "Thunder Dan" Palyo (@ThunderDanDFS) July 25, 2024
11. Houston Astros (53-49)
Last Week's Ranking (12)
Houston has battled all the way back from a horrible start to take the lead in the AL West. They are doing it without half their starting rotation and their best hitter, Kyle Tucker. It's simply incredible. They should battle Seattle and Texas the rest of the way, but they certainly have the talent to win the division. It's going to be a great race all the way to the end.
Contenders, Maybe?
10. Boston Red Sox (54-47)
Last Week's Ranking (11)
Boston is just good enough to stay inside the top ten, though I am not sure I would really consider them a true contender at this point unless they were to upgrade at the deadline.
9. Minnesota Twins (56-45)
Last Week's Ranking (7)
The Twins are hanging around and positioning themselves for a battle with KC and Cleveland, especially if Cleveland falters a bit and they are struggling at the moment. If Royce Lewis and Jose Miranda are back in the lineup soon, it certainly helps their chances of closing the gap.
8. Atlanta Braves (54-47)
Last Week's Ranking (8)
Other than Marcell Ozuna and Chris Sale having huge individual seasons, it's been a very disappointing year in Atlanta. This team is running out of gas as the injuries are piling up. I think it's to the point where they don't even bother trying to upgrade at the deadline, as they have to know they are outclassed by Philly and L.A. in the postseason pretty easily.
7. Kansas City Royals (56-47)
Last Week's Ranking (9)
Bobby Witt Jr. might be the best all-around player in baseball. I guess he can't pitch like Ohtani, but he's certainly making a strong case for the MVP. Aaron Judge better not hit a lull in his home run hitting, or Witt Jr. might just steal the award. He's on fire right now.
Bobby Witt Jr. has raised his batting average 21 points in the last 6 games to take over the Major League lead. 👀 pic.twitter.com/xZBE7cWK3h
— MLB (@MLB) July 26, 2024
6. Milwaukee Brewers (59-43)
Last Week's Ranking (6)
Milwaukee still has the Cardinals and Pirates at arms-length, but could lose Christian Yelich for the season and they are finally starting to slow down. This division could get really interesting in September if the Brew Crew can't right the ship.
Contenders, For Sure
5. New York Yankees (60-44)
Last Week's Ranking (4)
Something just feels off with the Yankees lately. Perhaps they were playing over their heads early in the season, and it's just regression, but they are in for a battle with Baltimore for the division, and the Orioles still have the potential to get significantly better at the deadline.
4. Cleveland Guardians (61-41)
Last Week's Ranking (3)
Cleveland is finally slowing down, dropping six of their last ten as their offense has really struggled to get anything going. They've been overachieving all season, so it's not a huge surprise. But if they fade late in the year and make an early exit in the postseason, it's going to feel like a losing season based on how well they played earlier in the year.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers (62-42)
Last Week's Ranking (5)
Somehow the Dodgers are surging despite dealing with injuries in their rotation and still being without Mookie Betts. That's some serious organizational depth for you at work. Clayton Kershaw made his return, Tyler Glasnow is just fine, and the Dodgers feel good enough about Gavin Stone that they cut James Paxton. Could we see Garrett Crochet acquired at the deadline to give the Dodgers another left-handed ace?
2. Baltimore Orioles (61-41)
Last Week's Ranking (2)
I feel like I gush about the Orioles every time I write about them, but man, it is fun to see this organization back on top. Despite being a Pirates fan, I have adopted Baltimore as another team I root for, as I live about 90 miles away in Southern Pennsylvania. Everything is humming right along for the Orioles, and they are guaranteed to be cooking up a deal or two here at the deadline to load up for a World Series run.
1. Philadelphia Phillies (64-38)
Last Week's Ranking (1)
The Phillies are enjoying the biggest division lead in baseball (9.5 games) and are basically in cruise control right now. They are eyeing another piece like Luis Robert Jr., apparently, and I wouldn't blame them for going overboard with acquiring as much talent as they can, as the Dodgers are sure to give them everything they want (and then some) this postseason.
I'll see you next week for my newest batch of rankings -- feel free to let me know what I got right and wrong!
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