Welcome to the ninth edition of the MLB Top 10 power rankings. I didn’t release a new ranking last week, being out of town all weekend, so this is the first one in two weeks. With my ranking, I am taking into consideration the potential of teams over the course of the season, along with the current value of teams, with more emphasis on current value. Let me know how much you agree/disagree.

**Last Ranking = 2 weeks ago

10. Boston Red Sox (39-34)

Last Ranking: NR

Emerging back into the ranking after struggling and falling out are the Boston Red Sox. They have the best record of all the AL East teams in their last ten games, even though it’s just 6-4. So while they aren’t exactly hot, they have done good enough to get back into the top ten. This spot came down between the Sox and the Cubs, but I feel the Cubs would be better suited for the playoffs if it were to begin tomorrow. They’ve given up 43 less runs on the year than the Red Sox and that is crucial in the playoffs.

9. Chicago Cubs (39-32)

Last Ranking: 9

Staying in the 9th spot for another week, the Cubs have been just mediocre lately, with a .500 record in their last 12. They’re coming off a 2-5 western road trip against the Rockies and the Dodgers, but those are two tough venues to win at this year. Cubs fans would like to see a little more consistency, but as things currently stand, they are just a game out of 1st place in the Central. And they welcome Craig Kimbrel to the bullpen, which will be a major addition.

8. Philadelphia Phillies (39-32)

Last Ranking: 6

I’m still trying to figure this Phillies team out. Actually I think this Phillies team is still trying to figure themselves out. They have an abundance of talent and have been in first place in the NL East for essentially the whole season, but have finally relinquished it to the surging Atlanta Braves. It will be interesting to see what the Phils do in the trade market, but the more this season progresses, I get the feeling they will end up like last year…a lot of talent (even more this year) just not quite living up to potential.

7. Milwaukee Brewers (40-31)

Last Ranking: 7

This spot came down to the Brewers or the Braves, but the Braves are better right now. However, the Brewers did make it all the way to the NLCS last year so they have the experience edge on the Braves and they still have Christian Yelich. This is another team I will be keeping an eye on as we move closer to the trade deadline. I feel very good about their chances to make the playoffs (at least the wild card game) but will be locked in a divisional battle with the Cubs and Cardinals until then.

6. Atlanta Braves (42-30)

Last Ranking: 10

The Braves are the hottest team in baseball right now, winners of nine of their last ten games. I just didn’t want to catapult them too high up this list because other teams have been more consistent throughout the season. But I am a believer in this still very-young Braves team. They overachieved last season and certainly have the potential to get back into the playoffs and make some more noise this season. Albies and Donaldson have been swinging it much better lately, so if they can keep consistently contributing to an already good lineup, things will get very fun for Braves fans. Also they will welcome Dallas Keuchel to the rotation, which is big.

5. Tampa Bay Rays (43-28)

Last Ranking: 5

Once again, there won’t be a whole lot of movement in the top five of this list because these teams continue to be consistent. The Rays and the Yankees have been neck and neck for a while now atop the AL East, where the Yankees lead by just a half game currently. Whereas the Yankees look to influence the game offensively, the Rays look to do it defensively. At only 239 runs given up on the season, they still lead the majors in that category, 21 runs ahead of the next best team (LA Dodgers). I’m just waiting for Blake Snell to regain his dominant form after a couple of un-Snell-like performances because he’s on my fantasy team.

4. New York Yankees (43-27)

Last Ranking: 4

Staying in the 4th spot for another week are the Bronx Bombers. And they certainly should be referred to by that nickname a lot more now with Stanton and Judge about to return and adding AL home run leader Edwin Encarnacion to the lineup. Even though they’ve been just mediocre lately, adding those three guys in the lineup should be a major sparkplug to a team that already leads the division.

3. Minnesota Twins (47-23)

Last Ranking: 2

It’s only mid-June, but I feel like the Twins have the AL Central on lock. They are up ten games, continue to do big things week after week, and the 2nd-place Indians are talking about trading a few pieces, including Trevor Bauer. The White Sox are in 3rd, at 13 games back, but aren’t quite ready to be challengers. The Twins play a slugfest style of baseball, leading the majors in runs scored, home runs, RBI, batting average, slugging percentage, and OPS. Add in a few good pitchers and this is a very dangerous team.

2. Houston Astros (48-24)

Last Ranking: 3

The first two spots on this list are a complete toss up because you can’t go wrong with the Astros or Dodgers as the #1 team. But personally I feel like the Dodgers have a slight edge over the Astros. The ‘Stros are 10-4 in the month of June with a big four game series coming up at the end of this week against the Yankees.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (48-24)

Last Ranking: 1

The Dodgers have held the #1 spot more than any other team this season and for very good reason: they are extremely good. They are just all around good and will be a team nobody wants to see in the playoffs. Perhaps the scariest thing about this team is the fact they’ve lost two World Series in a row, so no team is hungrier. In comparison to the Astros, they are 9-4 in the month of June. They just took 3 out of 4 games to the Cubs, which felt like a playoff series all weekend. They have young talent and experienced talent, combined with knowing exactly what it takes to get to a World Series. I think it’s finally their turn.

Garett

MLB Top 10 Power Rankings