2014 MLB Power Rankings Week 13

No-hitters, no-hitters everywhere! You get a no-hitter and YOU get a no-hitter! No-hitters are coming out in bunches with San Francisco's Tim Lincecum recording the second of his career against the San Diego Padres last week. He joins Josh Beckett and Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2014 no-hitter club. Surprisingly all three were thrown by players who call a team from California their own. Not surprisingly California boasts some of the best clubs in baseball this year. The Dodgers and Giants? They're good, but they, like the rest of the league, are all looking up at Oakland once again as they continue their reign atop the rankings.

*Note ~ As always all stats and records are through Sunday's games.

1. Oakland A's (51-30) ~ Once again the best team in baseball resides by the Bay. Scott Kazmir has been nothing short of spectacular for the A's sporting a nifty 2.66 ERA while keeping the ball in the yard (less than one home run per nine) and controlling his walks. His 4:1 K:BB ratio is more than double his career average. (Last Week's Ranking 1)

2. Milwaukee Brewers (51-33) ~ Whoever had the Brewers as the first team in the National League to reach 50 wins raise your hand. If your hand is raised, you my friend, are what we in the business call a liar. (LWR 2)

3. Los Angeles Dodgers (47-37) ~ Remember when the Dodgers were an afterthought in the NL West? That was three weeks ago when they were nine and a half games out. Today? They are in a virtual lock with San Francisco for the division lead. It's like deja vu all over again. (LWR 8)

4. Los Angeles Angels (45-35) ~ After Raul Ibanez was relased CJ Cron has seen his playing time increase. His audition so far shouldn't leave any doubt that Mike Scioscia needs to pencil him into the lineup every night. His .866 OPS is higher than David Ortiz (.837). (LWR 4)

5. Detroit Tigers (44-34) ~ Is Justin Verlander turning a corner? He has given up three or fewer runs his last two outings after giving up five or more in six of his previous seven. (LWR 6)

6. San Francisco Giants (46-36) ~ Lincecum's victimized the Padres for his second career no-hitter within a calendar year. If only he could face them each time he toes the rubber. (LWR 3)

7. Toronto Blue Jays (45-39) ~ The Blue Jays have lost nine of their last 13 yet still remain atop the weak American League East. (LWR 5)

8. Washington Nationals (43-38) ~ Tonight the Nats welcome back Bryce Harper from the disabled list. I really need to see this kid play live. (LWR 9)

9. St. Louis Cardinals (44-39) ~ Carlos Martinez has been inserted into the rotation to help aid the losses of Michael Wacha and Jaime Garcia. I have a feeling the Cards will be in the hunt for some starting pitching as the trade deadline approaches. (LWR 8)

10. Atlanta Braves (44-38) ~ A week ago the Philadelphia Phillies came to town and swept the Braves. Atlanta returned the favor this weekend in Philly taking the four game set for their first four-game sweep in Philly since 1964. That's 50 years ago. Yikes. (LWR 10)

11. Seattle Mariners (44-38) ~ Taijuan Walker will make his season debut tonight against the Houston Astros. If he sticks in the rotation he would form a three-headed monster with Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma that could be deadly in the postseason. (LWR 14)

12. Cincinnati Reds (43-38) ~ Homer Bailey flirted with his third career no-hitter Sunday pitching six and 2/3 before giving up a single to Buster Posey. The Reds have won five straight. (LWR 16)

13. Kansas City Royals (42-39) ~ For reasons unbeknownst to me the Royals have signed Raul Ibanez. I can't see where he fits into Dayton Moore's process. (LWR 12)

14. Baltimore Orioles (42-39) ~ Major League Baseball has decided to uphold Manny Machado' five-game suspension. (LWR 11)

15. New York Yankees (41-39) ~ Masahiro Tanaka gets my vote to start the All-Star game for the American League. He's the best (only) thing the Yankees have going right now. (LWR 13)

16. Pittsburgh Pirates (42-40) ~ Jason Grilli went from losing the closing role to losing a spot on the roster. The reliever was traded to the Angels for Ernesto Frieri in a "change of scenery" deal. (LWR 17)

17. Miami Marlins (39-43) ~ Giancarlo Stanton will compete in this year's home run derby. I repeat, Giancarlo Stanton will compete in this year's home run derby. He is the player to watch. (LWR 15)

18. Cleveland Indians (38-44) ~ It has been reported that Justin Masterson has been pitching with a knee problem all year. Maybe that is why he is walking nearly five batters per nine innings and sporting an ERA north of five. (LWR 18)

19. Boston Red Sox (38-44) ~ David Ortiz smacked his 450th career home run against the rival Yankees this weekend. Odds are good that he joins the 500 home run club in 2015. (LWR 22)

20. Chicago White Sox (39-44) ~ At the halfway point in the season Jose Abreu is halfway (25) to Mark McGwire's rookie home run recrod (49). Will he do it? (LWR 23)

21. Minnesota Twins (37-43) ~ For the second straight year Aaron Hicks was the Twins starting center fielder. For the second straight year Hicks has been sent down to the minors. (LWR 19)

22. Texas Rangers (37-44) ~ Last week I mentioned the Rangers signed the ghost of Carlos Pena to a minor league deal. They wasted little time before calling him up. It truly is a lost season in Texas. (LWR 20)

23. New York Mets (37-45) ~ Jonathon Niese has quietly been having himself a nice year in New York. He has now had six straight quality starts and hasn't given up more than three earned runs in any of his 16 starts this year. (LWR 24)

24. Colorado Rockies (36-46) ~ The good news for the Rockies? Jordan Lyles and Nolan Arenado should be back from the DL shortly. The bad news? It may now be too late as they have fallen 10 games behind the Dodgers and Giants in the NL West. (LWR 21)

25. Houston Astros (36-47) ~ The fact that Jose Altuve probably won't be the AL's starting second baseman in the All-Star game is a shame. He is leading the league in batting average (.347) and stolen bases (37) and is on pace to be the fist member of the 50-double/50-steal club. (LWR 26)

26. Philadelphia Phillies (36-46) ~ Any hopes the Phillies had were dashed this weekend as the Phils were swept at home by the Braves. Ruben Amaro needs to raise the white flag and sell off any parts he can. (LWR 25)

27. Chicago Cubs (34-46) ~ Jake Arrieta has allowed two or fewer runs in seven of his last eight starts. Not bad for a guy not being talked about as the trade deadline draws closer. (LWR 28)

28. Arizona Diamondbacks (35-49) ~ We're reaching the stage where it's ok to place wagers on whether Kirk Gibson will last the rest of the season. (LWR 27)

29. Tampa Bay Rays (35-49) ~ Despite a winning week (4-3) Tampa still has the worst record in the AL. (LWR 30)

30. San Diego Padres (35-47) ~ When Seth Smith leads your team in batting average, home runs, RBI, runs and OPS it's time to rethink offense. (LWR 30)