2015 MLB Power Rankings: Nats, Rays take over East
May 22, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) throws the ball against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
This past week, there were changes at the top of the American League and National League East divisions.
I spoke last week about the Washington Nationals nearing the top of the NL East and coming into today they now have a 2.5 game lead over the New York Mets. It wouldn’t be a stretch to expect them to stay in first from here on out.
The same can’t be said for the Tampa Bay Rays who have also found themselves in first place. The difference with them is the fact that the New York Yankees have lost six in a row and 10 of their last 11. At just three games over .500, the Rays sit as the worst division leader in all of baseball.
Teams that are on a roll coming into this week include the San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks and Cleveland Indians.
On the other hand, the Cincinnati Reds had a winless week while the Chicago White Sox and San Diego Padres continue to make us question who they really are.
Here’s the power rankings for the week.
Next: New number one?
May 22, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals batter Kendrys Morales (25) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas City Royals. 1. team. 7. The Kansas City Royals are +65 in run differential this season. As you can imagine, that is number one in all of baseball.. 28-15. Previous: 4th
St. Louis Cardinals. 2. team. 33. The St. Louis Cardinals are looking up to Royals this week after dropping two of three in KC over the weekend. The one win came from <strong><a href=. 28-16. Previous: 1st
team. 135. <strong><a href=. 29-16. Previous: 5th. Houston Astros. 3
team. 71. The Los Angeles Dodgers are 24-10 against everyone that is not last year’s World Series champs. Last week marked the second time this season that they were swept by the Giants.. 26-17. Previous: 2nd. Los Angeles Dodgers. 4
The Nationals currently are without <strong><a href=. 26-18. Previous: 6th. Washington Nationals. 5. team. 90
Detroit Tigers. 6. team. 63. The Detroit Tigers may have found another weapon in catcher <strong><a href=. 26-19. Previous: 3rd
7. team. 2. The Minnesota Twins now sit percentage points ahead of the Tigers for second place in the AL Central. How about <strong><a href=. 25-18. Previous: 10th. Minnesota Twins
San Francisco Giants. 8. team. 40. The Giants may be the only team in baseball that looks forward to playing the Dodgers. Their 7-2 record against them has played a major part in the Giants turning their season around.. 25-20. Previous: 12th
Previous: 7th. Chicago Cubs. 9. team. 9. The Chicago Cubs are just like the Astros in the way they effectively use their power and speed to overcome high strikeout rates. What is stopping them from having the Astros record is their bullpen.. 24-19
Tampa Bay Rays. 10. team. 21. It’s crazy that even without <strong><a href=. 24-21. Previous: 11th
Next: How far did the Yankees, Mets slide?
May 11, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) throws a pitch during the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
11. team. 3. The Mets are starting more and more to resemble the team we all saw last season. With the news that <strong><a href=. 24-21. Previous: 9th. New York Mets
New York Yankees. 12. team. 43. The Yankees starting rotation is a mess and the only player who has been hitting as of late, <strong><a href=. 22-22. Previous: 8th
<strong><a href=. 22-22. Previous: 13th. Los Angeles Angels. 13. team. 102
17. The Atlanta Braves have managed to climb their way back over the .500 mark. They won’t be able to stay there unless both <strong><a href=. 22-21. Previous: 17th. Atlanta Braves. 14. team
Pittsburgh Pirates. 15. team. 4. There isn’t a team in baseball with two pitchers that are throwing better than <strong><a href=. 21-22. Previous: 18th
Previous: 26th. Arizona Diamondbacks. 16. team. 8. The Diamondbacks are on a roll and much of that is because of the hot bat of <strong><a href=. 21-22
17. team. 14. Since firing their pitching coach, the Boston Red Sox have allowed on average, four runs per game. I guess that can be considered progress right?. 21-23. Previous: 19th. Boston Red Sox
62. <strong><a href=. 20-23. Previous: 22nd. Seattle Mariners. 19. team
127. The big trade the Padres made with the Dodgers is proving to be more about <strong><a href=. 21-24. Previous: 15th. San Diego Padres. 20. team
Next: Three teams fall out of the top 20.
May 22, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; Texas Rangers designated hitter Prince Fielder (84) hots a home run to center during the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The Rangers won 10-9. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
21. team. 126. It has gotten to the point where the Texas Rangers are about a pitcher or two away from being a legitimate playoff contender. <strong><a href=. . Previous: 25th. Texas Rangers
Previous: 20th. Baltimore Orioles. 22. team. 11. The Baltimore Orioles are in need of a spark and may have just found it in pitching prospect <strong><a href=. 19-22
Previous: 14th. Chicago White Sox. 23. team. 128. After an impressive showing that saw the White Sox climb above .500, they managed to fall right back in the hole this past week. The lack of power and inconsistency out of their starting rotation makes it impossible for you to know what to expect from them week in and week out.. 19-22
Previous: 21st. Toronto Blue Jays. 24. team. 39. How can a team be +20 in run differential, the best in the AL East, but be in last place in their division? That my friends is your 2015 Toronto Blue Jays.. 20-26
The Reds may soon reach the point of becoming sellers as their season is beginning to fall apart. If they are willing to part with <strong><a href=. 18-25. Previous: 16th. Cincinnati Reds. 25. team. 61
26. team. 6. The Philadelphia Phillies are starting to get considerable production out of <strong><a href=. 19-27. Previous: 24th. Philadelphia Phillies
27. team. 82. The embarrassment that is the Miami Marlins continued last week when they had zero players show up for a charity function at the ball park last week. If that doesn’t say we don’t respect our bosses, I don’t know what else will.. 18-27. Previous: 23rd. Miami Marlins
Milwaukee Brewers. 28. team. 76. Led by <strong><a href=. 16-29. Previous: 29th
108. No team is under the microscope more for a potential trade than the Colorado Rockies. You would have to assume the only untouchable at this point is <strong><a href=. 17-25. Previous: 30th. Colorado Rockies. 29. team
96. As big of a story as the bullpen has been this season, it is beginning to take a back seat to the defense. The Oakland Athletics lead the majors with 46 errors, 16 of which have come from shortstop <strong><a href=. 16-30. Previous: 28th. Oakland Athletics. 30. team
Next: Should the White Sox do something about Tyler Flowers behind the plate?