2015 MLB Power Rankings: First place Minnesota Twins?
May 31, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins center fielder Aaron Hicks (32) celebrates with second baseman Brian Dozier (2) after scoring a run in the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Target Field. The Twins won 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
The story of the baseball to start new week is the Minnesota Twins.
The Twins now have the best record in the American League Central and trail the Houston Astros by just a half game for the best overall record in the AL.
The run the Twins are on has extended throughout the entire month of May as they are an MLB best 20-7 during that time.
Another team that gets props this week is the Texas Rangers.
The Rangers have this week’s biggest jump in the rankings, climbing nine spots into the top 15. Despite losing almost all of their pitching to injuries, the offense led by Prince Fielder has caught fire and carried the Rangers into contention for the AL West.
Additional teams with strong performances last week include the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels.
Teams trending down include the Kansas City Royals, Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies.
Here are your Monday morning power rankings.
Next: Where does the Twins play of late put them in the rankings?
May 25, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta (27) celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off solo home run off of Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher J.C. Ramirez (not pictured) during the tenth inning at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
33-17. Previous: 2nd. St. Louis Cardinals. 1. team. 33. The Cardinals return to the number one spot this week thanks to the hot bat of their cleanup hitter <strong><a href=
31-20. Previous: 3rd. Houston Astros. 2. team. 135. The Astros may have found a star in outfielder <strong><a href=
30-19. Previous: 7th. Minnesota Twins. 3. team. 2. Because the All-Star game is voted on by the fans, the Twins won’t have a starter in this year’s game. However, <strong><a href=
29-19. Previous: 1st. Kansas City Royals. 4. team. 7. The consensus around the league about the Royals is that they need to do something to improve their starting rotation. Their 4.44 ERA ranks 11th in the AL.
San Francisco Giants. 5. team. 40. The Giants currently have the second most wins in the National League and trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by just a half game. Two months into the season, the World Series champs are clicking on all cylinders.. 30-22. Previous: 8th
71. Both <strong><a href=. 29-20. Previous: 4th. Los Angeles Dodgers. 6. team
7. team. 90. The tear continues for <strong><a href=. 28-22. Previous: 5th. Washington Nationals
63. The Detroit Tigers have stopped hitting the home run ball and as a result are not scoring runs. The 19 homers they hit for the month of May ranks last in the AL.. 28-24. Previous: 6th. Detroit Tigers. 8. team
3. The New York Mets are glad to see the bats of <strong><a href=. 28-23. Previous: 11th. New York Mets. 9. team
Previous: 9th. Chicago Cubs. 10. team. 9. The Chicago Cubs haven’t won a series in two weeks but still sit in second place in the NL Central. A move before the trade deadline for pitching may be in order if they want to compete with the Cardinals.. 26-22
Next: Two AL West teams starting to come around.
May 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos (61) prepares to douse left fielder Josh Hamilton (32) and reporter Emily Jones (R) following Hamilton
27-24. Previous: 13th. Los Angeles Angels. 11. team. 102. <strong><a href=
It appears the slumps are over for the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are now within reach of the Cubs for second in the NL Central and should be a wild card contender from here on out.. 26-24. Previous: 15th. Pittsburgh Pirates. 12. team. 4
Tampa Bay Rays. 13. team. 21. The Tampa Bay Rays are offensively challenged but have remained afloat because of their AL best 3.36 ERA. That and the AL East is terrible.. 26-25. Previous: 10th
team. 126. The Rangers welcomed back <strong><a href=. 26-25. Previous: 23rd. Texas Rangers. 14
Previous: 12th. New York Yankees. 15. team. 43. The New York Yankees have made their way back into a tie with the Rays for first in the AL East. All eyes will be on <strong><a href=. 26-25
Previous: 14th. Atlanta Braves. 17. team. 17. The Atlanta Braves are seeing strong production out of rookies <strong><a href=. 25-25
62. <strong><a href=. 24-26. Previous: 19th. Seattle Mariners. 18. team
Previous: 16th. Arizona Diamondbacks. 19. team. 8. If I starting a team and can pick any player in baseball to start it with, I’m picking <strong><a href=. 23-26
The San Diego Padres lineup really misses <strong><a href=. 25-27. Previous: 20th. San Diego Padres. 20. team. 127
Next: Red Sox continue to slide.
May 29, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) doubles in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
21. team. 128. The Chicago White Sox offense has had issues all season scoring runs. The last thing they need is injuries to <strong><a href=. 23-26. Previous: 21st. Chicago White Sox
Baltimore Orioles. 22. team. 11. <strong><a href=. 23-26. Previous: 22nd
39. <strong><a href=. 23-29. Previous: 24th. Toronto Blue Jays. 23. team
14. How bad does the four-year, $82 million extension for <strong><a href=. 22-29. Previous: 17th. Boston Red Sox. 24. team
The offense of the Cincinnati Reds is starting to come around but the pitching just isn’t strong enough to keep them in the hunt in the NL Central. No starter won more than one game in the month of May.. 22-27. Previous: 25th. Cincinnati Reds. 25. team. 61
26. team. 108. The Colorado Rockies won five of their six games last week and did so with their pitching. The best outing came from <strong><a href=. 22-26. Previous: 29th. Colorado Rockies
82. There isn’t many things good to say about the Miami Marlins so why not talk about <strong><a href=. 20-31. Previous: 27th. Miami Marlins. 27. team
20-33. Previous: 30th. Oakland Athletics. 28. team. 96. The hope for the Oakland Athletics was that the return of <strong><a href=
29. team. 6. The Phillies went all of last week without winning a game. Not really much else to sat beyond that.. 19-33. Previous: 26th. Philadelphia Phillies
76. The Milwaukee Brewers played the longest game in Miller Park history beating the Diamondbacks last night with a walk-off home run from <strong><a href=. 17-34. Previous: 28th. Milwaukee Brewers. 30. team