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It's Week 15, and we are just about halfway through the season. Identifying the best five and worst five teams right now is not an issue; it's wading through at least a dozen or more teams in the middle of the standings that are separated by only a few wins or losses.
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 15 MLB Power Rankings!
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The Worst Team Ever?
30. Chicago White Sox (25-64)
Last Week's Ranking (30)
Right now, Chicago is on pace to win just enough games NOT to be the worst team in MLB history. However, the second half could be more challenging if they end up trading their top pitcher (Garrett Crochet) or hitter (Luis Robert Jr.). Stay tuned!
Bottom Dwellers
29. Colorado Rockies (30-57)
Last Week's Ranking (29)
28. Miami Marlins (30-57)
Last Week's Ranking (28)
Flip a coin on these two teams; both are terrible and continue to bleed runs to their opponents. The Rockies are the literal worst, with 509 runs allowed this season, yikes!
27. Oakland Athletics (33-56)
Last Week's Ranking (27)
Oakland deserves to be one rung above the other two, as they have won three straight, and their average game result is more competitive. They're -96 in run differential which is a full 40-50 runs better than the rest of the bottom-dwellers.
At Least We're Not Those Guys
26. Los Angeles Angels (36-50)
Last Week's Ranking (26)
The Halos have dropped four straight and are dangerously close to being relegated back to the bottom tier. Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon are supposed to return sometime this month, but we could also see this team trade away some assets like Tyler Anderson or Kevin Pillar.
25. Toronto Blue Jays (39-48)
Last Week's Ranking (25)
One thing we can say about Toronto is that their offense has finally started to turn it on. Unfortunately, the increase in scoring has come at the same time that we have seen negative regression from their starting pitching.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is on a TEAR right now, with a 1.088 SLG over the last eight games 💪
The reigning AL Player of the Week talks about what's been powering him during this hot stretch at the plate.#MLBNOffBase | @BlueJays | @LasMayores pic.twitter.com/cJqpb5L5u0
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 3, 2024
Vladdy is one fire and hitting everything right now, but Kevin Gausman hardly looks like an ace this season, and Toronto continues to fall further behind the Orioles and Yankees.
24. Detroit Tigers (39-48)
Last Week's Ranking (24)
Jack Flaherty is dealing with a bad back and keeps skipping starts, which is a shame because he's having a phenomenal year. Tarik Skubal is the Cy Young front-runner, and Riley Greene is enjoying a breakout campaign. But the Tigers are still mired in fourth place in the AL Central and lack the offensive firepower to contend with Cleveland, KC, or Minnesota.
23. Chicago Cubs (40-48)
Last Week's Ranking (21)
The Cubs are 3-7 over their last ten games and have the same run differential (-26) as Detroit. There's no more excuse-making for this team; they are clearly underachieving, and right now, I'll say it - a bad team.
22. Texas Rangers (39-48)
Last Week's Ranking (23)
The Rangers' nightmare season continues as they've dropped eight of their last ten games. They've dealt with a lot of injuries, but so have other teams. It's starting to look like last year was a fluke where everything came together just right for them, and this year everything is breaking the other way. They are better than this (only a -9 run differential), but I think a lot of people are losing faith that they can make a move this season.
21. Washington Nationals (41-46)
Last Week's Ranking (22)
Yes, the Nats have won two in a row and they are much more entertaining to watch with James Wood in the lineup. But they are still just 3-7 over their last ten games and I still think the long-term forecast here is a losing season, though a fun one where we see some good young talent take a step forward.
So You're Telling Me There's A Chance?
20. Pittsburgh Pirates (41-45)
Last Week's Ranking (18)
The Pirates could probably just as easily be in the next tier down, but maybe it's my endless optimism that they can get some semblance of offense going in the second half. They have lost so many one-run games, and it's frustrating to watch as a fan. And now Jared Jones is heading to the IL, which doesn't bode well for Pittsburgh's chances at a winning season.
19. San Francisco Giants (43-45)
Last Week's Ranking (19)
The Giants' arrow is pointing up as they have won seven of their last ten, and as I mentioned last week, help should be on the way - at least in terms of pitching with Robbie Ray, Blake Snell, and Alex Cobb all nearing returns.
18. Cincinnati Reds (42-45)
Last Week's Ranking (20)
I'm not sure there is a team that has fluctuated more in the rankings this season than the Reds. We are on an upswing again, as Cincy has won three straight (an impressive sweep of the Yankees), and a Reds' optimist would point out that their +21 run differential points support the notion that this team SHOULD have a winning record. They have the talent, that's for sure, but they will need to make a sustained run here to close the gap with Milwaukee.
🔴 5-2 road trip
🔴 First team to sweep NYY in 3+ game series in '24
🔴 First team to ever sweep NYY at home in a 3-game interleague series
🔴 First sweep against NYY since 1976 World Series pic.twitter.com/7R8aEaKM1W— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 4, 2024
17. New York Mets (42-43)
Last Week's Ranking (15)
The Mets continue to hang around the .500 mark with a combination of some improved offense and gutsy pitching from veterans like Sean Manaea and Luis Severino. It's good to see Christian Scott back up with the club, too, as he will bolster their rotation and give them a chance to win just about every time he takes the hill.
16. Tampa Bay Rays (44-43)
Last Week's Ranking (17)
It's officially Shane Baz Day here at RotoBaller (we like covering him quite a bit) and across MLB. Baz is one of the biggest prospects in the minors yet to debut this season, and everyone is excited to see what he can do after we got a small taste of his filthy stuff in 2021 and 2022 (he missed all of last season with TJ surgery).
Shane Baz is taking over the vacant spot in Tampa Bay's rotation and will start Friday.
Last 5 GS in AAA: 23 IP, 1.57 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 10.4% BB, 36.5% K
The Rays are going to be careful with him, but the upside is massive.#RaysUppic.twitter.com/yNw0AdXMjv
— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) July 3, 2024
Even bigger news could be the return of Jeffrey Springs, who looks good in his rehab and would be another big addition to the staff for the stretch run.
So...Are They Good?
15. St. Louis Cardinals (45-41)
Last Week's Ranking (16)
I begrudgingly moved the Cards up into this middle tier, despite still thinking they kind of stink. They seem to have stabilized after that really rocky start and are winning close games with the help of their bullpen and one of the best closers in the game. They are using some kind of voodoo magic to get to four games above .500 despite having a -37 run differential.
14. Arizona Diamondbacks (43-44)
Last Week's Ranking (14)
The Snakes are right about where they should be only a game under .500 with a run differential of ZERO. If you can tell if they are good or not let me know, because they will look like a fantastic team one night and quite average the next.
13. Houston Astros (45-42)
Last Week's Ranking (13)
The Astros are still climbing and starting to separate themselves from the mediocre teams in the middle of the pack. It's a shame Kyle Tucker is out through the All-Star break because the rest of the offense is humming right along.
12. San Diego Padres (48-43)
Last Week's Ranking (12)
Don't look now, but the Padres are starting to surge as they're a season-best five games over .500.
Jurickson Profar IS A STARTING OUTFIELDER FOR THE 2024 NATIONAL LEAGUE ALL-STAR TEAM! pic.twitter.com/l6KQRh8zS6
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 3, 2024
If you've followed Profar's career at all, you'll remember that he was supposed to be the next big thing about a decade ago when he came up with Texas. You have to feel good for him finally getting to be an All-Star after dealing with injuries and bouncing around to four different clubs before finally becoming an everyday player who has realized his potential.
Contenders, Maybe?
11. Boston Red Sox (47-39)
Last Week's Ranking (11)
The Red Sox have won four in a row and seven of their last ten. They are a hard team to rank because they are considerably better than the mediocre teams, but are also not good enough to be included with the top teams until they can improve upon an 18-28 record vs. teams over.500, I can't bump them any higher.
10. Seattle Mariners (48-41)
Last Week's Ranking (6)
The Mariners are on a slide right now, dropping seven of their last ten and seeing their run differential drop to just +5. That's very little margin for error and reflects the reality that Seattle needs their starters to nearly shut down their opponents to give their weak offense a chance to win.
9. Kansas City Royals (48-41)
Last Week's Ranking (8)
The Royals feel like a team that is playing with house money. No one expected them to be this good, but they've shown that they are, and they're not going away. In a world where Aaron Judge doesn't exist, Bobby Witt Jr. and Gunnar Henderson would be having a pretty amazing race for AL MVP from the shortstop position.
8. Minnesota Twins (49-38)
Last Week's Ranking (10)
The Twins are a true dark horse in the AL. They just demolished the Tigers yesterday and are getting offensive contributions up and down the lineup. Royce Lewis is hurt again, but rookie Brooks Lee has looked fantastic since coming up to take his spot.
The rain can't slow down Brooks Lee.
The @Twins' No. 2 prospect is now 3-for-6 to start his big league career. pic.twitter.com/WcxPOcXK9G
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 4, 2024
7. Atlanta Braves (47-38)
Last Week's Ranking (9)
This Braves team is resilient, if nothing else. I thought they might be cooked a few weeks ago when they lost Michael Harris II, only a week after Ronald Acuna Jr. went down for the season.
If there's one Brave that deserves to be an All-Star this season, it's Chris Sale. He's looked like the old version of himself and I'm not sure where Atlanta would be right now without him shutting down opponents every fifth game.
6. Milwaukee Brewers (52-36)
Last Week's Ranking (7)
The Brew Crew is really darn good, and there's just no way around it. I have been trying to figure out how they are doing what they are doing all season and I've given up and just accepted that this is some kind of team of destiny that is going to will themselves into the playoffs. I can't quite bring myself to bump them up into the top tier just yet; the run differential doesn't justify it.
Simply put, he cooked@Bryanchourio11 https://t.co/xNms137D98 pic.twitter.com/VsZKyj64fC
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 5, 2024
Contenders, For Sure
5. New York Yankees (54-35)
Last Week's Ranking (4)
I thought when Gerrit Cole returned, the Yankees were set up to make a run at the top spot in the rankings. Boy, was I wrong!
The New York Yankees' team ERA before and after Gerrit Cole made his 2024 debut on June 19th.
Before: 3.04 ERA (Best in MLB)
After: 6.73 ERA (Worst in MLB)— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) July 4, 2024
It's obviously a coincidence, but for some reason, the Yanks are running out of steam instead of picking it up, as they've dropped eight out of their last ten games now.
4. Los Angeles Dodgers (53-35)
Last Week's Ranking (5)
The Dodgers move up a spot and there's not much I have to say about them this week other than Shohei Ohtani IS NOT REAL! I think he is a cyborg or something. How else can one explain how he can be so freakin' dominant?
3. Cleveland Guardians (54-31)
Last Week's Ranking (3)
The Guardians are the feel-good story of the season, hands down. Every time I think they are going to come back to the pack, they just win another big series. They brought in some reinforcements this week, too. Gavin Williams' debut didn't go so well, but Jhonkensy Noel has been found money as another HR threat from the right side of the plate. This organization just knows how to develop talent and win.
2. Baltimore Orioles (55-32)
Last Week's Ranking (2)
I still have the Orioles ahead of the Guardians because Baltimore has two aces in Corbin Burnes and Grayson Rodriguez, and Cleveland just has Tanner Bibee right now. More good news for the Orioles this week was that Dean Kremer returned with a very good performance against the Mariners and should provide some nice depth in their rotation in the second half.
1. Philadelphia Phillies (57-30)
Last Week's Ranking (1)
Who needs Bryce Harper or Kyle Schwarber? The Phillies managed to hang onto the best record in baseball and our top spot for yet another week!
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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