2023 MLB Power Rankings - Week 15 - Post-All Star Break edition
The Friday morning edition of "Ten things to know before 10 AM" is live!
Happy Barbenheimer opening weekend, everyone! For those unaware of the cultural reference, the name is a smorgasbord of the new Barbie and Oppenheimer movies, both blockbuster movies with polar stories - one based on fiction, the other based on reality - that has millions of theater-goers flocking to the cinemas to watch both movies on the same day.
Movies aside, this is a sports blog, and of course, I will be discussing how the top 10 MLB teams have fared since the All-Star festivities last week. There has been a significant upheaval in this Power Rankings, as a top team has slid to the bottom of the rankings, and a new team represents the American League right now.
Biggest jump (+6): San Francisco Giants (from Unranked —> #5)
Biggest tumble: (tie at -7): Miami Marlins (from #4 —> Unranked) and Tampa Bay Rays (from #3 —> #10)
Dropped from rankings: Miami Marlins (Last rank: 4; swept twice on current six-game losing streak), Cincinnati Reds (Last rank: 5; went 1-5 in consecutive Brewers series and also had six-game slide) and Arizona Diamondbacks (Last rank: 10; swept by Blue Jays)
1) Atlanta Braves (62-33) | Last Week: 1 | Change: No Change | L10: 5-5
The Braves have lost four straight games (two to the Chicago White Sox [41-57] and two to the Arizona Diamondbacks [54-43]) prior to last night, but still hold a commanding 3.5 game lead over the second-best MLB team. First baseman Matt Olson continues to rake at the plate, with a National League-leading 32 home runs, including a grand slam hit last Friday and another two-run shot and solo shot yesterday afternoon. Also, the Braves love scoring in the first inning, as they are averaging a full run per game (1.06) in the opening frame. The next closest is the Los Angeles Dodgers (0.77 of a run in first innings this year).
Toughest upcoming series: This weekend series at Milwaukee Brewers (54-43)
2) Baltimore Orioles (59-37) | Last Week: 2 | Change: No Change | L10: 8-2
Hot diggity dog! The Orioles are now 22 games over 0.500 and occupy the top of the American League East for the first time since 2016, following two straight sweeps of the Minnesota Twins (50-48) and Miami Marlins (53-45). Sure, the team lost two of three against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but that is just a blip on what has been an overachieving season. Bring on the slumping Tampa Bay Rays (60-39) this weekend! The Orioles are winning without the presence of Cedric Mullins, who has been placed on the 10-Day Injured List, after a right quadriceps injury suffered on Saturday. Also, their young minor league players are so deeply talented, that the organization is in trade rumors for superstar two-way Angels player Shohei Ohtani, leading to the August 1 trade deadline. (Please make it happen, Mike Elias!)
Toughest upcoming series: This weekend series at Tampa Bay Rays (60-40)
3) Texas Rangers (58-39) | Last Week: 7 | Change: +4 | L10: 7-3
The Rangers continue to hold the best record in the AL West, especially on their current six-game winning streak. They swept the Cleveland Guardians (47-49) and the Rays, and now are 4.5 games ahead of the Houston Astros (54-43). The pitching has been on point during this run, as the Rangers have only allowed 2.5 runs per game in this span. The bullpen duo of recently-acquired Aroldis Chapman and closer Will Smith have combined for 6 innings pitched, only two hits and zero runs allowed, nine strikeouts, a hold and three saves over the past week. Also, if you recall, I did mention that first baseman Nathaniel Lowe was in a hitting drought nearing the All-Star break; he is now pulverizing opposing pitchers, as he has gone 10 for 23 (0.435) with two doubles, a home run and seven runs scored post-All-Star break.
Toughest upcoming series: This weekend series against Los Angeles Dodgers (55-40)
4) Los Angeles Dodgers (55-40) | Last Week: 6 | Change: +2 | L10: 8-2
The offensively-charged Dodgers have been on a blistering pace over their past 12 games, winning three of four against the Pittsburgh Pirates and taking a two-game sweep of their neighbor Los Angeles Angels pre-All-Star break. They then won back-to-back series against the New York Mets and Orioles. During these 12 games, the Dodgers have scored 6.4 runs per game. The trio of first baseman Freddie Freeman, utility Mookie Betts and designated hitter J.D. Martinez have combined to go 40 for 118 (0.339), with ten doubles, 11 HRs, 27 runs scored and 28 RBI over the past two weeks.
Toughest upcoming series: This weekend series at Texas Rangers (58-39)
5) San Francisco Giants (54-42) | Last Week: Unranked | Change: +6 | L10: 8-2
Yes, the Giants have lost two straight to the Cincinnati Reds (52-46), but they too have been on a tear post All-Star break. Prior to the losses, they took two of three against the NL West-lagging Colorado Rockies (37-59) and swept the Pittsburgh Pirates (42-54). You can thank their pitching staff, as the Giants’ arms have allowed two or fewer runs in five of the last 10 games. Closer Camilo Doval leads all relievers with 30 saves this season, including four just in the past week.
Toughest upcoming series: Opening August series (July 31 - August 3) against Arizona Diamondbacks (54-43)
6) Milwaukee Brewers (54-43) | Last Week: Unranked | Change: +5 | L10: 8-2
Yet another NL team moving from the pack of unranked to a top-10 Power Ranking spot is the NL Central-surging Brewers. Since the All-Star break. they swept the Cincinnati Reds (52-46) while only allowing three runs total in the three game series, and won two of three against the Philadelphia Phillies (52-44). Like the Giants, pitching has carried the Midwest team for the entirety of this season - no more so than these past six games. In the two series, they shut-out the Reds twice and yesterday blanketed the Phillies, 4-0. Ace Corbin Burnes (8-5, 115 SO in 113 IP and 3.73 ERA) has been spectacular in his two post All-Star break starts, throwing 14 innings, striking out 24 and allowing only four hits and zero runs against both the Phillies and Reds.
Toughest upcoming series: This weekend series against the Atlanta Braves (62-33)
7) Toronto Blue Jays (54-43) | Last Week: Unranked | Change: +4 | L10: 7-3
Like the Brewers, the Jays have a pitcher who has had two winning starts after the All-Star break in Chris Bassitt (9-5, 107 SO in 115 IP and 4.12), as he went six strong innings, allowing only two hits and two runs while striking out five in a 5-2 win over the Diamondbacks on Saturday, then throwing another six innings, allowing only four hits and zero runs, striking out five in a 4-0 shutout win against the San Diego Padres (46-51) last night at home. The Jays and Astros are deadlocked as the second and third Wild Card teams, as we stand now, with identical 54-43 records.
Toughest upcoming series: Next week’s series at the Los Angeles Dodgers (55-40)
8) Houston Astros (54-43) | Last Week: 9| Change: +1 | L10: 5-5
The Astros… Have been surviving over these past two series. Like I said in the previous blurb, still holding steady as a Wild Card holder after going 4-2 against the Los Angeles Angels (49-48) and Rockies. They still are without star outfielder Yordan Alvarez, who has been out since June 9 with an oblique injury, and teammate Jose Altuve is back on the Injured List with an identical injury suffered around the Fourth of July. Unheralded outfielder Chas McCormick has been stepping it up big-time in the meantime, going 10 for 18 (0.556) with four HR and 8 RBI in their absences.
Toughest upcoming series: Next week’s series (July 24-26) against the Texas Rangers (58-39)
9) Philadelphia Phillies (52-44) | Last Week: 8 | Change: -1 | L10: 5-5
There really is not any difference between the Astros and Phillies, as both teams are Wild Card entries (as we stand right now) and hold the back-end of this week’s Power Rankings. The City of Brotherly Love was not too friendly at home against the Padres, as the Phillies took three of four and scored an average of 6.25 runs/game in the series. Bryce Harper did hit his first HR since May in the second game of a doubleheader last Saturday, as he attempts to overcome his season-long power slump.
Toughest upcoming series: Next week’s series (July 24-26) against the Baltimore Orioles (59-37)
10) Tampa Bay Rays (60-40) | Last Week: 3 | Change from last week: -7 | Last 10 games: 3-7
Remember the Rays? They occupied the top of my Power Rankings for nearly every single edition. They have completely collapsed offensively, and that has resulted in a 3-12 slide and a current five-game losing streak pre-and-post All-Star break. The Rays have been held to three or fewer runs in nine of those 15 games and are 1-6 against the Braves, Rangers and Orioles in that span. Their five main hitters - Wander Franco, Randy Arozarena, Yandy Diaz, Josh Lowe and Brandon Lowe - have more strikeouts (45) than hits (44) since the start of the Phillies series around the July 4th post-weekend, and a combined 0.244 batting average. A complete free-fall for a team that dominated the first half of the season.
That is going to do it for this edition of my Snippets. Enjoy the last NFL-free weekend, as training camps begin next week!
Until next time, signing off.