MLB Power Rankings: May 1
Let the debates and the hate mail begin!
This week we saw some serious jumbling. Not only did the hottest team in baseball get no-hit and find themselves on a little bit of a losing streak, but a team that desperately needs to turn it around lost one of their stars.
The Dodgers lost Corey Seager for the entire 2018 season, and sitting at 12-16 when this happened isn't making it any easier... They lost the first game of their series with the D-backs this week and it doesn't look like the Dodgers are going to find their stride this week... Maybe not even next week... Or even the week after that...
Speaking of the D-backs, let's get to our Power Rankings!
Last Week Top 10
1. Boston Red Sox
2. Houston Astros
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
4. New York Yankees
5. Los Angeles Angels
6. Cleveland Indians
7. Los Angeles Dodgers (whoops)
8. Philadelphia Phillies
9. St. Louis Cardinals
10. New York Mets
New Top 10
1. Arizona Diamondbacks
I was talking with Moose's Mulligans analyst Ben Huff about what it would take for the D-backs to take the top spot... And it happened...
It's the quality and consistency of wins that gives the D-backs the top spot at this point of the season. They're owning the Dodgers while the Rockies and Giants continue to play average baseball. Even with a few rough starts from their rotation, their hitting and bullpen has found a way to continuously win series. They don't have to sweep teams (as they don't seem built to do that) but they can win almost every series with the weight or responsibility being so evenly distributed throughout the team. And in the playoffs, that's what usually ends up carrying you...
2. Boston Red Sox
They were red hot. Then got no-hit. Then ran into a Rays team that was on one of their weird winning streaks. Then Bogaerts came off the DL to say "No no"... His grand slam last night will go a long way in getting this team back on a roll once again (It also helps playing the Royals. They're REALLY GOOD at getting other teams on a winning streak).
3. Houston Astros
They lost the series to the Angels. But the Yankees helped out by actually beating the Angels for once. Now Houston sits atop the AL West while the Angels get passed by the Mariners and (without any significant injuries) it almost looks cookie cutter that the Astros will take this division.
4. New York Yankees
They're hot. This young team is dangerous when all the pieces start clicking together. But it's still not quite enough to move them into the Top 3... They lost a tough game to Houston last night, but any win in this series against the Astros on this tough stretch of 10 games they're about to have (@HOU, CLE, BOS) will prove helpful.
5. Cleveland Indians
They're not in full stride yet, but they move up because other top teams are beginning to slide down. Francona and his ball club have the talent and consistency to win their division. Making the playoffs is one of the hardest things to do, all you have to do is get on a hot streak in the playoffs. But the Indians look like they won't have too much of a struggle to the Postseason as the the Twins continue to have growing pains.
6. Chicago Cubs
Five wins in a row. Don't look now, but the Cubs are actually in first place in the NL Central. The Cardinals and Pirates are both cooling down while the Cubs heat up. We knew it was only a matter of time, but don't sleep on the Brewers bats still making an impact in this division.
7. Los Angeles Angels
It's a slippery slope. They ran into a brick wall when playing the Yankees. And it looks like the Angels quietly have a big series this week. They face a struggling Baltimore team and they MUST win these games if they want to keep up to pace with this unbelievably competitive American League.
8. Atlanta Braves
The young talent is everywhere! And the good news? There's even more that hasn't been called up yet! This team still has a lot to learn, but the wide open NL East puts them in a position to actually do some real damage.
9. Philadelphia Phillies
The money they spent on Carlos Santana hasn't gone well, yet. But there's still a lot of time for him to come around and for the young talent to come around as well... If they can continue to feed off the struggling Nationals, the Phillies find themselves in the NL East race, as well.
10. Seattle Mariners
For the first time this season, the Mariners have cracked the Top 10. I feel like they're suckering me in again because they probably are. Mitch Haniger is raking, Paxton is showing flashes of Cy Young stuff, and Edwin Diaz is arguably the best closer in baseball right now... My question that I always have for the Mariners is when are they going to blow their playoff chances?
Rest of the Pack:
11. New York Mets
12. Colorado Rockies
13. Milwaukee Brewers
14. Pittsburgh Pirates
15. St. Louis Cardinals
16. Washington Nationals
17. Los Angeles Dodgers
18. San Francisco Giants
19. Tampa Bay Rays
20. Toronto Blue Jays
21. Minnesota Twins
22. San Diego Padres
23. Oakland A's
24. Chicago White Sox
25. Miami Marlins
26. Detroit Tigers
27. Texas Rangers
28. Baltimore Orioles
29. Kansas City Royals
30. Cincinnati Reds
As of 1 May 2018
-Host Alex Strizak
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