MLB Power Rankings July 9

MLB Power Rankings: First Half Complete

By Craig Campbell
July 9, 2019

We’re just over the halfway point into the MLB season and All-Star Weekend is here. It should be no surprise that some of the teams we expected are in the Top-10, but their journeys haven’t all been smooth to this point. The Indians, Red Sox, and Nationals were all expected in the preseason to be in contention for their respective divisions but really struggled out of the gate and have had to fight their way back into the playoff race. Other teams, such as the Rangers are surprising contenders for a Wild Card spot.
This week’s biggest slide is a three team tie between the Rockies, Cardinals, and Mariners, all dropping four spots. The biggest gainer is the Washington Nationals, jumping nine spots and cracking the top 10 for the first time. 

THE TOP 5

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (60-32; last week: 1)
2. New York Yankees (57-31; last week: 2)
3. Houston Astros (57-33; last week: 4)
4. Minnesota Twins (56-33; last week: 3)
5. Atlanta Braves (54-37; last week: 5)

The Dodgers are still the top team going into the second half, even with their recent skid. The Yankees have upgraded their lineup, trading for Edwin Ecarnacion from Seattle and ended the first half winning seven of their last ten games. Astros and Twins swap spots this week and the Braves round out our top 5.

No. 6-10

6. Tampa Bay Rays (52-39; last week: 7)
7. Cleveland Indians (50-38; last week: 9)
8. Oakland A’s (50-41; last week: 10)
9. Boston Red Sox (49-41; last week: 6)
10. Washington Nationals (47-42; last week: 19)

Quite a bit of movement from this group. Washington finally cracks the Top-10 and is our biggest mover (+9) in this Power Ranking. The Nats have gone 23-9 since June 1st, mostly against cellar dwellers, but have moved themselves into 2nd place in the NL East, only 6 games behind the Braves. The Indians have also been red hot as of late, winning 6 straight into the All-Star break and 22-9 since June 1st. 

No. 11-15

11. Chicago Cubs (47-43; last week: 8)
12. Texas Rangers (48-42; last week: 11)
13. Philadelphia Phillies (47-43; last week: 13)
14. Milwaukee Brewers (47-44; last week 12)
15. Arizona Diamondbacks (46-45; last week: 17)

The only team with any kind of real forward momentum going into the All-Star break is the D’Backs, winning three straight and six of their last ten games. The Phillies have been slowly slipping no thanks to their pitching and lost their 2nd place to the previously mentioned Nationals. The Cubs and Brewers can’t decide who wants the lead in the NL Central, each going 4-6 over their last ten games.

No. 16-20

16. San Diego Padres (45-45; last week: 18)
17. Los Angeles Angels (45-46; last week: 16)
18. Colorado Rockies (44-45; last week: 14)
19. St. Louis Cardinals (44-44; last week: 15)
20. Pittsburgh Pirates (44-45; last week: 22)

The Pirates have been on a tear of late, winning eight of their last twelve games. Josh Bell has been leading the way, concluding the half as the majors' leader in RBIs (84), tied for fourth best in home runs (27) and one of only three hitters with at least a .300 batting average and 25 homers. The Rockies have lost six straight games going into the break and are quickly falling out of the Wild Card race. The Cardinals are still somehow only two games back in the NL Central despite losing eight of their last twelve games.

No. 21-25

21. Chicago White Sox (42-44; last week: 23)
22. San Francisco Giants (41-48; last week: 25)
23. Cincinnati Reds (41-46; last week: 20)
24. New York Mets (40-50; last week: 24)
25. Seattle Mariners (39-55; last week: 21)

Seattle drops four spots since last Power Rankings and falling fast. The Mariners have gone 14-20 since June 1st, along with trading Edwin Encarnacion to the Yankees. The Giants & White Sox have been playing surprisingly well leading into the break.

No. 26-30

26. Miami Marlins (33-55; last week: 26)
27. Toronto Blue Jays (34-57; last week: 28)
28. Kansas City Royals (30-61; last week: 27)
29. Detroit Tigers (28-57; last week: 29)
30. Baltimore Orioles (27-62; last week: 30)

These teams just can’t find their way out of this group.  The Tigers & Orioles are the two worst teams in the league in run differential by a wide margin, the Royals are 2-9 over their last 11 games, and the Blue Jays are the only team in this group with any semblance of forward momentum, going 5-5 over their last ten games.