Shakeup in Power Rankings as Braves Maintain Top Spot
Some significant winning and losing streaks caused quite the shakeup in this week’s Power Rankings. However, the Atlanta Braves remained the unanimous No. 1 team. Despite this, there is a new team nipping at their heels. Additionally, there was a newcomer to the Top 5 and a pair of other clubs jumped into the Top 10.
The biggest jump this week belongs to the Milwaukee Brewers. Although they dropped two of three games to the Braves over the weekend, the Brewers had swept the Cincinnati Reds and won two of three against the Philadelphia Phillies. Since June 14, when they had a 34-34 record, the Brewers have gone 21-11, moving 10 games above .500. This impressive performance allowed them to climb eight spots to No. 7 in this week’s rankings.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Miami Marlins experienced the biggest drop. They lost eight straight games coming out of the All-Star break. The Marlins finally snapped their losing streak with a walk-off win against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday. However, they now find themselves on the outside looking in when it comes to the NL Wild Card race. As a result, they dropped eight spots to No. 16 this week.
The Braves continued to dominate the top spot with a record of 64-34. The stellar performance of Ronald Acuña Jr., who is on pace for 38 home runs and 76 stolen bases, has been a significant factor in their success. Austin Riley also made headlines this week by homering in five straight games, accumulating six home runs and 16 RBIs in six games.
The Baltimore Orioles made a significant jump, moving from No. 5 to No. 2. After dropping two of three games to the Los Angeles Dodgers, they bounced back by winning three of four against the Tampa Bay Rays. Félix Bautista played a crucial role in Baltimore’s victories, earning a win and two saves. The backend of the Orioles’ bullpen has been strong, contributing to their 18-9 record in one-run games.
The Tampa Bay Rays, despite a tough week, maintained their position in the top three. They have struggled since a couple of weeks before the All-Star break, going 4-14 over their past 18 games. The Rays were swept by the first-place Texas Rangers and then lost three of four against the Orioles, who moved ahead of them in the AL East standings.
The Los Angeles Dodgers surged to fourth place in the rankings, regaining the top spot in the NL West. Freddie Freeman was instrumental in their success, hitting an astonishing .583 with three homers, three doubles, one triple, and seven RBIs.
The Texas Rangers, who led the AL West, dropped to fifth place in the rankings. They had a strong start to the week, winning six games in a row, including a sweep against the Rays. However, their fortune turned when they lost the first two games of their series against the Dodgers, and star player Corey Seager landed on the 10-day IL after jamming his thumb.
The Power Rankings are determined by a panel of voters, including Will Leitch, Alyson Footer, Anthony Castrovince, and others. Their insights and analysis contribute to the rankings of all 30 teams in Major League Baseball.
In conclusion, while the Braves continue to dominate the top spot with their impressive winning streak, other teams have experienced significant jumps and drops in this week’s Power Rankings. The competition is fierce as teams vie for playoff spots and work to solidify their positions in the league.