2015 MLB Power Rankings Week 6

Former MLB star Milton Bradley is set to begin his 36-month jail sentence stemming from a domestic violence conviction. He was actually sentenced in June 2013 but remained free due to appeals. Word is that his parents will seek custody of his two children while he is incarcerated. With all the trouble the NFL has had in the past year or so due to domestic violence I had completely forgotten about Milton Bradley. While that isn't the most cheerful way to start a blog it is all I will say on the topic so let's delve into this week's rankings.

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

1. St. Louis Cardinals (25-12) ~ Jaime Garcia is slated to make his season debut Thursday which could give the pitching staff a boost. It is believed the oft-injured lefty has the best stuff on the team which is saying something when it's a rotation that also features Adam Wainwright. (Last Week's Ranking 1)

2. Kansas City Royals (24-14) ~ For some reason Joe Blanton is back in the big leagues. Signed to a minor league deal earlier this year Blanton had an opt out clause in his contract if he wasn't called up by Friday. The Royals did just that but I can't figure out how adding him to the best bullpen in baseball is an improvement. The veteran has an ERA over 5.00 since 2010. (LWR 2)

3. Los Angeles Dodgers (24-13) ~ L.A. welcomed back closer Kenley Jansen over the weekend and with good timing. Fill-in closer Yimi Garcia was just 1-for-4 in save chances lately. Jansen wasted no time making an impact by tying a major-league record with four strikeouts in one inning of work. (LWR 3)

4. Detroit Tigers (23-15) ~ Miguel Cabrera joined the 400-homer club Saturday and in doing so became the career leader in home runs for a Venezuelan-born player surpassing Andres Galarraga. (LWR 6)

5. Houston Astros (25-13) ~ Collin McHugh has been on fire for nearly a year without anyone noticing. Since May 27th, 2014 McHugh is 14-7 with a 2.80 ERA in 27 starts. That's ace-like production If I've ever seen it. (LWR 7)

6. Washington Nationals (22-17) ~ Their star-studded rotation will be down a man for the next two weeks as Doug Fister was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a flexor strain in his right elbow. Maybe the rest will do him some good as Fister hasn't looked like himself this year as he is averaging a career-low strikeout rate to go along with a career-high walk rate. (LWR 8)

7. New York Yankees (22-17) ~ Bad news for the Yankees as Chase Whitley is done for the season as he will require Tommy John surgery. He was 1-2 this season in just four starts with the second loss coming in the game he left early due to the injury. (LWR 4)

8. New York Mets (22-16) ~ Former Met Keith Hernandez is growing back his trademark mustache in support of the New York Rangers and their push for the Stanley Cup. So far so good as the Rangers have not lost since Hernandez has started growing back that magic 'stache. (LWR 5)

9. Tampa Bay Rays (21-18) ~ Closer Jake McGee is back from the disabled list and may wrest the job away from Brad Boxburger who has pitched brilliantly while filling in. Either way it gives the Rays bullpen a great nickname for the eighth and ninth when Jake and the Box spring into action. (LWR 10)

10. Chicago Cubs (21-16) ~ After going 20 games without a home run rookie phenom Kris Bryant has slugged four in his past week-plus. That power should be for real which only makes the Cubs that much more fun to watch this summer. (LWR 12)

11. Los Angeles Angels (19-18) ~ Has Jered Weaver figured it out? After a horrific start to the season the Angels ace has won his last two starts while allowing just one earned run over 16 1/3 innings. (LWR 16)

12. San Diego Padres (19-20) ~ When the Padres acquired Craig Kimbrel they knew they were getting a lot of strikeouts. On the flipside they also acquired Melvin Upton who is set to begin a rehab assignment and should bring plenty of strikeouts as well though probably not the kind San Diego is looking for. (LWR 9)

13. Pittsburgh Pirates (18-20) ~ After a disaster season in Philadelphia in which A.J. Burnett led baseball in losses he looks back at home in the 'Burgh. With his gem against the Cubs Sunday Burnett moved to 3-1 in a season in which he has not given up more than two earned runs in any of his eight starts. (LWR 11)

14. San Francisco Giants (20-18) ~ Hunter Pence made his season debut Saturday after suffering a broken arm in the preseason. In two games so far he has recorded multiple hits twice including a double and a home run. This is just the kind of offensive boost the Giants have needed all year. (LWR 19)

15. Minnesota Twins (21-17) ~ The Twins offense continues to click as they are seventh in the majors in runs which is a big reason they are competitive in the AL Central. The pitching? Not so much as they rank near the bottom in most statistical categories. A tale of two teams is almost fitting in the twin cities. (LWR 14)

16. Baltimore Orioles (16-19) ~ Catcher Matt Wieters is scheduled to begin his rehab and could join the team in the first week of June. The impending free agent has a chance to make himself a lot of money if he can come back and produce at the all-star level we are accustomed to seeing. (LWR 17)

17. Cincinnati Reds (18-20) ~ The Reds were on fire this weekend! No, really. Great American Ballpark caught fire Friday night in the outfield smokestack. The Reds themselves? Not as hot as they were swept at home by the Giants for the first time since 2005. (LWR 18)

18. Seattle Mariners (17-20) ~ James Paxton has not allowed a run in his last 20 innings lowering his ERA from 5.74 to 3.59. While the scoreless streak will end eventually if he can continue to pitch close to this level the Mariners could have another ace to pair with King Felix. (LWR 20)

19. Boston Red Sox (18-20) ~ Allen Craig has cleared waivers and been optioned outright to Triple-A. My how the mighty have fallen. Craig has been a shell of his former all-star self since suffering a foot injury a few years back in St. Louis. (LWR 22)

20. Atlanta Braves (18-19) ~ Shelby Miller was one out away from his first career no-hitter until Justin Bour singled up the middle with two outs in the bottom of the ninth Sunday. That has to sting. (LWR 23)

21. Toronto Blue Jays (17-22) ~ Josh Donaldson has been everything the Jays could have asked for when they acquired the all-star third baseman from Oakland during the offseason. Donaldson is hitting over .300 with power (eight long balls) for one of the top offenses in baseball. (LWR 15)

22. Miami Marlins (16-22) ~ Thirty-eight games into the season and we have the second manager to be fired. Mike Redmond was let go after Sunday's loss to the Braves and the Marlins are scuffling after a busy offseason put some optimism around the club. (LWR 13)

23. Chicago White Sox (17-17) ~ Stud prospect Carlos Rodon has been inserted into the starting rotation. Through two starts the results have been mixed as his nice debut against the Reds was followed up with a dud against Oakland. There will be growing pains for sure but if the White Sox are going to make a serious run at the postseason this year Rodon will need to be a key part of it. (LWR 26)

24. Texas Rangers (16-22) ~ Miguel Cabrera wasn't the only player to join the 400-homer club this past weekend. Adrian Beltre actually got there a day earlier smacking #400 against Cleveland Friday night. (LWR 25)

25. Arizona Diamondbacks (15-21) ~ Addison Reed is out as closer. After a shaky 2014 Reed started off this season poorly as well. Enter what should be Brad Ziegler to close the door. Ziegler saved 13 games for the club back in 2013. (LWR 24)

26. Cleveland Indians (14-22) ~ Not to be outdone by Danny Salazar's gem reigning Cy Young winner Corey Kluber struck out a career-high 18 batters in his last start in just eight innings. One has to wonder if he could have tied or even broken the record had he come back out for the ninth. (LWR 27)

27. Oakland A's (13-26) ~ Can someone explain to me how the fifth-highest scoring team in baseball has the worst record in the American League? I'm serious. Explain how. (LWR 21)

28. Philadelphia Phillies (16-23) ~ Prospect Mikael Franco was called up Friday after hitting .355 in 33 games in Triple-A. The call-up means Franco will finish the season one day short of a full year's service time ala Kris Bryant of the Cubs. Where is the outcry? /sarcasm. (LWR 29)

29. Milwaukee Brewers (13-25) ~ Carlos Gomez was hit in the head yesterday by a 96mph fastball from Noah Syndergaard. While he hopes to avoid the disabled list you can't be too careful when it comes to a possible concussion. (LWR 29)

30. Colorado Rockies (13-21) ~ Should he stay or should he go now? All eyes are on star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and whether he will try to force his way out of Colorado. (LWR 30)

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