MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers and Twins rise, Rays falter

baltimore orioles Best team in the American League. If there was any doubt, they proved it by winning the four match series against tampa bay rays Gauntlet ie to claim first place in the AL East.

Elsewhere, a trio of division leaders caught fire as Cincinnati remains one of the more surprising stories in baseball.

Here are my latest top 10, with some interesting details about each club.

1. atlanta braves (64-34; previous Week 1)

After speeding everyone up on the way to the All-Star break, Atlanta is on a whim. The record average is 4-5 since halftime. Those five defeats represent more than the club suffered in the entire calendar month of June (4). The good news for the Braves is that they are in no danger of losing their lead in the division and have plenty of buffer in the sprint for the best record in the National League.

2. baltimore orioles (61-38; LW 2)

The Orioles, one of the best teams of the year, haven’t let up since the break. In fact, they are tied with the Rangers for the second most wins (7). In addition, he took three for four against the Rays at Tropicana Field. Keep in mind, Tampa Bay hasn’t lost a four-game home series since April 2022. But these aren’t the Orioles of old. Manager Brandon Hyde recently brought an ace closer Felix Bautista as a major reason for change. He is not wrong. In 2021, Baltimore leads and loses in one mlb– Lead in 52 matches. As of 2022, the Orioles are tied with Milwaukee for fewest losses with a lead of 40. What a difference it makes to a close friend.

3. los angeles dodgers (57-41; LW 5)

Here come the Dodgers. After a disappointing June in which they posted a 12–12 record, Los Angeles bounced back with an 11–6 start in July. That win rate is second best in the NL behind only the Brewers (more about them later). In the previous week, the Dodgers took back-to-back series against both the Rangers and Orioles on the road. This moved LA’s record to 17–11 in the AL and 14–8 over the past two months. Crime remains the main culprit. As of June, the Dodgers averaged 5.49 runs per game, fourth in the majors. This month, they’ve averaged 6.65 runs per game — they’re the only baseball team to score six or more runs in July.

4. Texas Rangers (59-41; LW 4)

As one of three teams to win seven or more games since the All-Star break, the Rangers have continued their offensive strength. That’s how they overcame a four-run deficit to defeat the red-hot Dodgers on Sunday. Texas improved to 15–1 this season with at least eight runs scored at home. One thing to keep an eye on is the pitching staff. After generating an ERA of 3.83 through June, that number increased to 5.41 in July.

5. Houston Astros (56-44 LW 7)

On Sunday, Houston was one of only two teams whose starters and relievers’ ERAs were in the top five in baseball (the Twins). It has produced an offense that isn’t as potent as usual, ranking 12th in the majors with 4.65 runs per game. It’s a number supported by timely at-bats, as the Astros’ 84 extra-base hits with runners in scoring position are fifth-most in MLB.

6. Milwaukee Brewers (55-45; LW 9)

After a few months of mediocre play, the Brewers finally got things right. A startling trend has emerged. When it comes to home and away games, there is a sudden split in terms of records. At home, the Brewers have just started 11–11 since June and are still on track for 15–8. The latter is the fourth best grade among the majors. One consistent aspect of the Brewers is their ability to win close games. They are 19–8 in one-run games, the second best mark in baseball.

Sal Freelich of the Brewers made an incredible catch in his MLB debut Vs. Braves

7. toronto blue jays (55-45; LW 6)

The Blue Jays haven’t received much acclaim, but they remain in play for a playoff spot in the better AL. Interestingly, outside of the month of May, they are 44-28, the third best record in that span. Toronto’s surprisingly good pitching staff deserves a lot of credit for this. It ranked seventh in the team ERA with a 3.85, which would be the franchise’s lowest mark since 2008.

8. Cincinnati Reds (55-46; LW unranked)

Since the beginning of June, the Reds are at a scoreless 29–17. It is the second best record in baseball over that span. While many are probably still questioning their legitimacy, think about how consistent they have been on the road. They are 5–2 in July and 27–20 on the season so far. Only the Braves score better in opposing stadiums among NL teams.

Eli de la Cruz launched an unquestionable HR as the Reds took an early lead. d supports

9. tampa bay rays (61-42; LW 3)

It seemed as though the Rays started the year 13-0, 20-3 and 29-7 and looked ready to run away with the best record not only of the AL East, but of the league. While Tampa Bay has been playing .500 ball for some time, the club hit a new low in July. The Rays are 4-14 in this fourth month of the regular season, which is par Pirates For the worst in baseball. Equally worrying is that Tampa’s home field advantage has suddenly disappeared. It started the year 34–9 in the friendly atmosphere of Tropicana Field, but is 2–8 in the last 10 games.

10. minnesota twins (53-48; LW unranked)

It might surprise you to learn that the Twins have the most wins since the All-Star break (8). In addition, he has the second best run differential in the majors (+16) during this span. He also had an additional 10 extra-base hits in this 10-game span. A prime number for Minnesota is six. If the club scores six or more runs, it is 30–4, the fifth-best mark in baseball. If the twins’ score is five or less, it’s 23-44.

Outside: san francisco giants, miami marlins

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