2015 MLB Power Rankings Week 18

If you'll recall the MLB trade deadline came and went on July 31st. A mere 10 days ago. Well, some teams apparently didn't get that memo as there were what seemed to me more moves than usual in the days following that deadline. Trade deadline schmade schmeadline I guess. Anywho, some teams have been hotter than hot since that day while others have cooled off considerably. Let's take a look at who is playing their best as teams start to scramble for playoff position.

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

1. St. Louis Cardinals (71-40) ~ Is anyone else becoming bored by the Cardinals continuing to prove themselves as the best team in baseball? The absolute model of consistency here folks. That's what we are all witnessing day in and day out. (Last Week's Ranking 1)

2. Kansas City Royals (66-44) ~ Is anyone else as excited by the Royals proving that last year's Cinderella run to the Fall Classic was no fluke? I'm 31 years old and truly can't remember the last time the Royals were this good. It's fun. (LWR 2)

3. Pittsburgh Pirates (65-44) ~ Francisco Liriano hit his first career home run over the weekend as part of the sweep over the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was his first career extra base hit as well. In 171 previous plate appearances Liriano had mustered just 13 hits, all singles. Viva la pitchers hitting for themselves! (LWR 4)

4. Los Angeles Dodgers (62-49) ~ Well that was anti-climactic. In looking to close in on teammate Zach Greinke's scoreless innings streak Clayton Kershaw's 39 unblemished innings in a row came to an end on the first pitch of the game when Gregory Polanco took him deep. (LWR 3)

5. Chicago Cubs (62-48) ~ With a four-game sweep of the defending champion San Francisco Giants the Cubs increased their lead for the second Wild Card and now have the third best record in the National League. The top three teams all reside in the NL Central. (LWR 8)

6. Toronto Blue Jays (61-52) ~ Since adding Troy Tulowitzki to the lineup the Jays are 11-1 including a weekend sweep of the New York Yankees in the Bronx which brought them a mere one and a half games back in the American League East. Oh, that one loss? A day off for Tulo. (LWR 12)

7. New York Yankees (61-49) ~ The sweep to the Jays was bad. Now for some good: Mark Teixeira homered for the Yankees lone run in the series (yes, you read that correctly) tying him with Mickey Mantle for the most 30-home run seasons (nine) in MLB history for a switch-hitter. (LWR 6)

8. San Francisco Giants (59-52) ~ Two weeks ago the Giants added Mike Leake to their rotation. Last week they removed him as he was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a hamstring issue. (LWR 7)

9. New York Mets (59-52) ~ David Wright is set to begin a rehab assignment today with Single-A St Lucie. The slugging third baseman has been on the disabled list since April 15^th due to spinal stenosis. In the eight games prior to landing on the DL Wright was slashing .333/.371/.424. (LWR 11)

10. Houston Astros (61-52) ~ Houston made a post-deadline move by adding veteran Oliver Perez to the bullpen. He is strictly a LOOGY, however, with just 29 1/3 innings pitched in 49 appearances. (LWR 5)

11. Los Angeles Angels (59-51) ~ Jered Weaver was activated from the disabled list and struck out a season-high seven in five innings of work. If he is right it will certainly help the Angels who sit just a half-game behind Houston in the AL West. (LWR 9)

12. Washington Nationals (57-53) ~ Like the Angels the Nats got a boost with activating Stephen Strasburg from the disabled list. Like Weaver he struck out a season-high dozen in seven solid innings against the Rockies. He could be the boost the Nats need to catch the Mets. (LWR 10)

13. Texas Rangers (55-55) ~ Another team that made what could be an underrated post-deadline pickup. Mike Napoli is heading back to Texas where he figures to be in a platoon to help give the lefty-heavy Rangers some right-handed pop. (LWR 15)

14. Baltimore Orioles (56-54) ~ It's been a nice, quiet bounce-back season for Chris Davis who leads the team with 29 home runs and 80 RBI. (LWR 14)

15. Minnesota Twins (55-56) ~ Minnesota has dropped below the .500 mark on the year leaving the Royals as the only team in the AL Central with a winning record. It's shaping up to be a sad division. (LWR 13)

16. Tampa Bay Rays (56-56) ~ Rookie Richie Shaffer has had a nice few days in the bigs thus far going 4-for-10 including two home runs. Tampa always seems to produce solid, young talent. (LWR 16)

17. Detroit Tigers (54-57) ~ Longtime General Manager Dave Dombrowski was let go last week after the team failed to live up to expectations and sold big at the deadline. Dombrowski took over a team that lost an AL-record 119 games in 2003 and then won the pennant three years later adding another in 2012 among four straight AL Central division titles. I'd say his tenure there was quite successful. (LWR 18)

18. Chicago White Sox (51-58) ~ For the first time in his career ace Chris Sale has given up seven earned runs in back-to-back starts. If I were a betting man (spoiler, I am) I'd say that streak ends tonight against the Angels. (LWR 19)

19. Arizona Diamondbacks (54-56) ~ Randy Johnson's number 51 was retired by the D'Backs over the weekend. He was nearly untouchable during his time in the desert winning four straight Cy Young awards from 1999-2002. (LWR 21)

20. Cleveland Indians (51-59) ~ In a season of disappointment the Indians have to be thrilled they unloaded the contracts of Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn after the deadline. (LWR 20)

21. Atlanta Braves (51-61) ~ Swisher and Bourn are in Atlanta as the Braves sent Chris Johnson to Cleveland. The point of the trade? Salary relief for the 2017 season when the Braves open their new park in Cobb County. (LWR 23)

22. San Diego Padres (52-60) ~ When the deadline came and passed most people were shocked the Padres did not sell off some of their pieces. With an upcoming easy schedule it was reasonable to assume they could still make a run. Now they've dropped six in a row to the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies. Notice we haven't reached those teams yet in the rankings. (LWR 17)

23. Seattle Mariners (52-60) ~ Nelson Cruz is setting the world on fire as he extended his hitting streak to 19 games with a home run on Sunday. During the streak he is hitting .422 with 11 home runs, six doubles and 15 RBI. If any Mariner wants to get on base in front of him it's a safe bet they will score. Any Mariner? Anyone? Bueller? (LWR 22)

24. Oakland A's (51-62) ~ Oakland is near the top of the league in most pitching categories. They are in the middle of the pack (14th) in runs scored. They have a +35 run differential. They are also 11 games under .500. The A's are an enigma. (LWR 24)

25. Boston Red Sox (50-62) ~ David Ortiz’s 2016 vesting option triggered over the weekend as he made his 425^th plate appeareance this season. He started slow but has heated up as the summer arrived with a 1.017 OPS in July and is sitting even higher in August at 1.083. (LWR 25)

26. Cincinnati Reds (49-60) ~ Eleven years ago Adam Dunn hit the longest home run (535 feet) in Great American Ballpark. I miss Adam Dunn. (LWR 26)

27. Milwaukee Brewers (48-65) ~ In the last four games Khris Davis (not to be confused with Baltimore's aforementioned Davis) has four home runs and 10 RBI. That includes two games in which the Brewers were shut out. It's been Davis or bust. (LWR 27)

28. Colorado Rockies (47-62) ~ If the Rockies win out they can still reach 100 wins on the season. Hey, weirder things have happened. Right? (LWR 28)

29. Philadelphia Phillies (45-67) ~ The Phillies no longer have the worst record in all of baseball. The Phillies also would no longer have the top pick in next year's draft. (LWR 29)

30. Miami Marlins (44-68) ~ Jose Fernandez is dealing with a right biceps strain. The good news is that it isn't his shoulder or elbow. The phenom is expected to be placed on the disabled list and may have thrown his last pitch of 2015. (LWR 30)

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