2014 MLB Power Rankings Week 4

It's hot at the top. Last week's top two teams,Milwaukee and Atlanta, continued on their winning ways last week posting a combined 9-3 record. That is certainly good enough in my book to retain the top spots. Oakland certainly cooled off as did some of the other top teams from last week. And the Pirates? Well, they best start bailing water because the Jolly Roger....she is a sinking.

*Note ~ All stats and records are through Sunday's games.

1. Milwaukee Brewers (18-7) ~ Ryan Braun is hitting to the tune of .318/.361/.591 but his biggest hit this weekend may be the one on teammate Jean Segura's head. The shortstop will miss a few games after getting beaned by a practice swing (including warmup donut) in the dugout this past weekend. (Last Week's Ranking 1)

2. Atlanta Braves (17-7) ~ The pitching continues to be stellar and Mike Minor is due back this week but this Braves team needs to find some offense. They are currently tied for 12th in runs scored in the National League. (LWR 2)

3. Texas Rangers (15-10) ~ Texas has quietly crept up to pull into a three-way tie for the best record in the American League. The rotation which is still a concern will get a boost with Matt Harrison coming back. (LWR 10)

4. Oakland A's (15-10) ~ Word on the street has Jim Johnson back at the head of the pack for save opportunities. The way this team has blown some late leads they could use an anchor out there. I wonder if they regret letting Grant Balfour walk. (LWR 3)

5. San Francisco Giants (15-10) ~ San Fran won the title in 2010 and had a down year in 2011. They won the title in 2012 and had a down year in 2013. Are they gearing up for another title run in 2014? (LWR 5)

6. New York Yankees (15-10) ~ Prized free agent acquisition Masahiro Tanaka has at least seven strikeouts in all five of his starts so far hitting double digits in three of them. That is ace material right there. (LWR 9)

7. Los Angeles Dodgers (14-12) ~ If there is ever a week that LA needs some good publicity it's this one. A solid effort by the Dodgers could help the media focus on something other than Donald Sterling's neinous remarks. I know Magic Johnson would like nothing more. (LWR 4)

8. St. Louis Cardinals (14-12) ~ Jhonny Peralta homered twice on Sunday to snap a 336 at-bat homerless stretch for the Cardinals. Of course this would coincide with Albert Pujols going off in Anaheim. (LWR 7)

9. Detroit Tigers (12-9) ~ Another week and another rainout for Detroit. I suppose that just means Justin Verlander will be even more rested for his next start. Not exactly what his opponents will want to hear. (LWR 8)

10. Washington Nationals (14-12) ~ Big news out of DC today. Bryce Harper will have surgery to repair torn ligaments in his thumb and will be out until at least early July. The game will surely miss one of its most exciting players while he is out. (LWR 6)

11. Colorado Rockies (14-12) ~ The Rockies are scoring nearly 5 1/2 runs per game and just won series against the Giants and Dodgers this week. If their stars stay healthy they could be a contender in the NL West this year. (LWR 12)

12. Boston Red Sox (12-14) ~ Grady Sizemore's numbers have fallen off a cliff since his hot start. I admire him for not giving up but he hasn't been healthy and effective since 2008. I wanted this comeback to have a happy ending but someone once told me you can't always get what you want. (LWR 14)

13. Baltimore Orioles (12-12) ~ The O's just lost slugger Chris Davis to the disabled list but this lineup is deep. Nelson Cruz should be able to pick up the slack in the power department. (LWR 17)

14. Los Angeles Angels (11-13) ~ Did you know Pujols hit his 500th career home run this week? He's kind of a big deal. (LWR 16)

15. Tampa Bay Rays (11-14) ~ Tampa Bay should be better than their record indicates. Shouldn't they? If they continue to scuffle in perhaps baseball's toughest division i could see them trying to trade ace David Price at the deadline. (LWR 11)

16. New York Mets (14-11) ~ Dillon Gee has thrown at least seven innings of shutouf ball in two of his last three outings. The third? Six innings while giving up two runs. Not a bad stretch. (LWR 26)

17. Kansas City Royals (12-12) ~ Did you know the Royals' single season record for home runs in a season is 36 set by Steve Balboni back in the mid 80's? I didn't until today. In fact, the Royals haven't had a 30-homer season since Jermaine Dye back in 2000. That is mind boggling. (LWR 18)

18. Toronto Blue Jays (12-13) ~ The Jays capped off a horrendous pitching week with a solid performance from former Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey on Sunday. the knuckler allowed only one run in picking up his first week since the season's opening week. (LWR 15)

19. Cincinnati Reds (11-14) ~ Cincy was swept down in Atlanta but it wasn't Johnny Cueto's fault. He threw eight magnificent innings Sunday shutting out the Braves on three hits and striking out 11 only to end up with a no decision in a 1-0 loss. Cueto has been lights out thus far this season. (LWR 19)

20. Chicago White Sox (13-13) ~ Jose Abreu is a beast. He clubbed his major league leading 10th home run this weekend and set a major league record for RBI in April with 31. The previous record holder? A guy by the name of Pujols. (LWR 22)

21. Cleveland Indians (11-14) ~ Cleveland is the only team in the AL Central with a negative run differential (-15). (LWR 20)

22. Pittsburgh Pirates (10-16) ~ The ship is sinking in Pittsburgh. (LWR 13)

23. Miami Marlins (11-14) ~ Jose Fernandez and Alex Wood squared off in an epic pitcher's duel last week. They face off again Tuesday night. (LWR 21)

24. Philadelphia Phillies (13-12) ~ The Phils finally got a glimpse of the AJ Burnett they thought they signed in the offseason. Burnett picked up his first win in a Phillies uniform tossing eight shutout innings against the Diamondbacks in the desert. (LWR 24)

25. Minnesota Twins (12-11) ~ The Twins are the second highest scoring team in the AL? How did that happen? (LWR 27)

26. Seattle Mariners (10-14) ~ Robinson Cano returns to the Bronx this week but more importantly Cy Young runner-up Hisashi Iwakuma returns this week as well. (LWR 23)

27. San Diego Padres (12-14) ~ San Diego is scoring a paltry 2.6 runs per game and now Chase Headley may be DL bound. Who said things are always sunny in San Diego? (LWR 25)

28. Chicago Cubs (8-16) ~ Jason Hammel became the latest pitcher to flirt with a no-hitter en route to his fourth win of the year. I'm no math expert but that is half of the Cubs wins on the season. (LWR 28)

29. Houston Astros (9-17) ~ Collin McHugh has won his first two starts of the season striking out 19 and giving up only one earned run. Can't do much better than that. (LWR 29)

30. Arizona Diamondbacks (8-20) ~ Arizona has by far the worst run differential (-59) in all of baseball. That probably correlates with the fact that they also have the most losses. (LWR 30)