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You’ll notice there has been no movement in the bottom-quarter of this week’s Rotoworld MLB Power Rankings, as baseball’s worst teams have settled into their roles as … well … baseball’s worst teams.
The Royals have beat the other tankers to the trade block, and I was actually tempted to give them a boost because of it. Why not get out ahead of the market if you’re not playing for anything?
St. Louis is the biggest faller this week after failing to take advantage of an easier schedule at the start of June. The Cardinals are now in the midst of a large slate of games against contending teams.
Arizona is the biggest riser in this week’s rankings, on the back of America’s First Baseman.
1. Houston Astros
Record: 49-25
Last Week: 3
Alex Bregman hit a walk-off two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning Monday night at Minute Maid Park as the Astros defeated the Rays 5-4 for their 12th consecutive victory. That is tied for the longest winning streak in the 57-year history of the franchise. It’s also the longest winning streak in the majors this season. Everything is clicking right now for the Astros, who have scored more runs (388) than any other club and allowed the fewest (230). We’ll do the math for you on their run differential: it’s +158, which is 50 positive runs better than the next-closest team. Houston registered a +196 run differential over 162 regular-season games in 2017 and of course went on to win the World Series.
2. Boston Red Sox
Record: 49-24
Last Week: 2
The Red Sox rolled to an easy three-game sweep of the Orioles early last week before splitting a four-game set with the scorching-hot Mariners. David Price started the opening game of that series at Seattle’s Safeco Field and delivered seven innings of one-run ball in a 2-1 victory for Boston. The 32-year-old left-hander boasts a 2.64 ERA over his last seven starts, and the Red Sox are 7-0 in those games. Xander Bogaerts hit his 12th home run of the season in Sunday’s series finale, a 9-3 win. The 25-year-old shortstop has three home runs in his last four games and is sporting a career-best .857 OPS through 245 total plate appearances.
3. New York Yankees
Record: 47-22
Last Week: 1
The Yankees took a loss Monday evening in the completion of their May 15 suspended game against the Nationals before coming back to beat Washington 4-2 in the nightcap, a makeup for a rained-out game back on May 16. Got all that? Aroldis Chapman earned his 21st save of the season in the later game at Nationals Park, working around a leadoff double by Daniel Murphy in the bottom of the ninth. The 30-year-old left-hander has a 1.14 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 55/14 K/BB ratio in 31 2/3 innings this season, and he hasn’t blown a save opportunity since May 4. The Yankees are No. 1 in the majors in team OPS (.792) and home runs (114), and they rank third in runs scored (363) -- behind only the Astros and Red Sox.
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4. Seattle Mariners
Record: 46-26
Last Week: 5
Seattle opened last week with a three-game sweep of the Angels and then split a four-game series against the Red Sox. The schedule only gets tougher this week, as the Mariners will travel to Yankee Stadium for three games beginning Tuesday night before heading up to Boston for a three-game weekend set at Fenway Park. But this squad certainly seems up to the task. They’ve won 23 one-run games this season, seven more than any other team. 24-year-old flame-throwing closer Edwin Diaz is a big reason for that. He earned his 27th save of the season on Saturday versus the Red Sox and boasts a 2.37 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and 62 strikeouts in 38 total innings this season.
5. Chicago Cubs
Record: 40-28
Last Week: 4
The Cubs lost two of three against the Brewers last week at Miller Park, but then turned the tables on the rival Cardinals during a three-game weekend series at Busch Stadium, winning in a 13-5 rout on Friday and 6-3 on Saturday before getting shut out on Sunday night. Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo have somewhat disappointing overall numbers, but the Cubs rank sixth in the majors in runs scored (337) despite having played only 68 games. The two teams at the top of that leaderboard -- the Astros and Red Sox -- have played 74 and 73 games, respectively. Chicago ranks fourth in team OPS (.758) and first in on-base percentage (.340). Oh, and the pitching staff has registered a combined 3.19 ERA, which ranks second.
6. Atlanta Braves
Record: 42-29
Last Week: 8
The Braves fell into a bit of lull in late May and early June, but they beat up on some of the doormats of the National League last week, sweeping a two-game series against the Mets before taking three of four from the Padres. Atlanta is back in sole possession of first place in the National League East standings, and 20-year-old wunderkind Ronald Acuna (knee) looks ready to come off the disabled list this week. He had a .779 OPS with five home runs, 13 RBI, two stolen bases, and 19 runs scored through his first 29 major league games. Mike Foltynewicz and his 2.16 ERA landed on the disabled list this weekend due to right triceps tendinitis, but it sounds like he might only miss one turn in the rotation.
7. Milwaukee Brewers
Record: 42-30
Last Week: 6
The Brewers lost the final two games of their three-game weekend series against the Phillies and were shut out 1-0 in Monday night’s series opener against the Pirates. If they lose again Tuesday night against the Bucs, that will be four losses in a row, tied for their longest losing streak of the year. That’s an indication of how well Milwaukee has played overall. Orlando Arcia’s offensive struggles are a growing concern. He got sent to Triple-A Colorado Springs on May 25 to work on his approach but had to be rushed back to the majors five days later when Tyler Saladino suffered a severe left ankle sprain. Arcia was batting .194 with a .506 OPS through 146 plate appearances when he was demoted. Since his return on May 30, he has posted a .472 OPS.
8. Washington Nationals
Record: 38-32
Last Week: 7
The schedule will say the Nationals have lost four games in a row, but they beat the Yankees 5-3 on Monday evening in the completion of a game that was suspended by rain back on May 15. Juan Soto hit a go-ahead two-run blast after play resumed with the score knotted at 3-3 in the sixth inning. The 19-year-old outfielder wasn’t even in the majors when the game started. Soto then went 2-for-4 in the nightcap, a makeup for a rainout back on May 16. He has an incredible .325/.411/.602 batting line with six home runs, five doubles, 14 RBI, and 17 runs scored in 25 games since his promotion from Double-A Harrisburg on May 20. It’s safe to say the kid is up for good. Washington made a big upgrade to its bullpen on Monday, acquiring Kelvin Herrera (1.05 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and 22/2 K/BB ratio in 25 2/3 innings) from the Royals for three minor leaguers.
9. Cleveland Indians
Record: 38-33
Last Week: 10
The Indians split a four-game series last week with the lowly White Sox and then dropped two of three in a weekend series against the Twins. Carlos Carrasco was placed on the disabled list Sunday after exiting Saturday’s game versus Minnesota when he got struck on the right elbow by a comebacker. Thankfully all tests came back negative. It’s a just a contusion, and Carrasco should be back in Cleveland’s starting rotation before the end of the month -- a rotation that has posted a combined 3.46 ERA this season, which ranks fifth among all major league teams. Jose Ramirez is leading the way offensively for the Tribe, with a .989 OPS, 21 home runs, 47 RBI, and 47 runs scored in 70 games. He’s second on the WAR leaderboard, behind only Mike Trout.
10. Arizona Diamondbacks
Record: 40-32
Last Week: 13
The Diamondbacks were a mess in May, but they’ve won eight of their last 11 games and are 12-5 since the calendar flipped to June. The resurgence can largely be credited to Paul Goldschmidt, who has burst to life with an absurd .413/.495/.850 batting line, nine home runs, 21 RBI, and 21 runs scored over his last 93 plate appearances. The 30-year-old first baseman was sporting a .198/.320/.355 season slash line on May 22. It’s now at .265/.372/.523. Arizona’s bullpen deserves some love too. Diamondbacks relievers have registered a combined 2.58 ERA this year, by far the best mark of any bullpen group in the major leagues. Yoshihisa Hirano (1.42 ERA, 31 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings) looks like one of the best signings of the offseason.
11. Los Angeles Dodgers
Record: 37-33
Last Week: 11
The Dodgers put together a season-high five-game winning streak last week before losing 4-1 in Sunday’s series finale against the Giants and getting rained out on Monday night at Wrigley Field. The reigning National League champions are 11-3 in June, after going 14-14 in May and 12-16 between April and March. Cody Bellinger has posted a 1.219 OPS with four home runs and four doubles over his last 44 plate appearances, quickly emerging from a several-week slump that had some calling for the 22-year-old 2017 National League Rookie of the Year to be demoted. And in more encouraging news, it sounds like ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw (back) is set to return to the starting rotation next week.
12. Philadelphia Phillies
Record: 38-32
Last Week: 14
The Phillies beat the Cardinals in extra innings on Monday for their third win in a row. That victory at Citizens Bank Park ran the Phillies’ home record to 23-12. Nick Pivetta drew the start and registered a career-high 13 strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings, yielding just four hits and one walk while working into the eighth inning for the first time as a major leaguer. The 25-year-old right-hander holds a strong 1.18 WHIP and 94/22 K/BB ratio in 79 1/3 frames this year, and his ERA should drop back under 4.00 if he continues pitching like he did on Monday night. Hector Neris was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday afternoon, but Seranthony Dominguez looks ready and able to take over the closer role.
13. St. Louis Cardinals
Record: 37-33
Last Week: 9
The Cardinals have lost five of their last six games and six of their last eight, and they have a truly daunting upcoming schedule. They play two more in Philadelphia -- where they lost in walk-off fashion on Monday night -- before heading to Milwaukee for a four-game set and then hosting the Indians, Braves, and Diamondbacks in consecutive three-game series. If the offense doesn’t start clicking and the bullpen doesn’t perform better, the Cardinals could take a real tumble in the National League Central and National League Wild Card standings. St. Louis currently ranks 21st in the majors in runs scored (299) and 24th in bullpen ERA (4.37). The starting pitching -- this team’s calling card -- has also been a little lackluster as of late.
14. Los Angeles Angels
Record: 38-35
Last Week: 12
Mike Trout remains Mike Trout, but as a team the Angels have lost seven of their last eight games, quickly falling far behind the red-hot Astros and Mariners in the American League West standings. The uncertain status of two-way star Shohei Ohtani seems to be hanging heavy over this club. He was placed on the disabled list June 7 with a Grade 2 sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and won’t return as a hitter for at least another 3-4 weeks. It’s unclear at this point whether he will be able to throw another pitch in 2018. The Angels also lost Garrett Richards (hamstring) and Nick Tropeano (shoulder) last week, and Matt Shoemaker needed surgery in late May for a right forearm injury. They don’t have the starting pitching depth to cope.
15. Oakland Athletics
Record: 36-36
Last Week: 15
Oakland won the final two games of its three-game weekend series against the Angels to get back to the .500 mark. Jed Lowrie went 2-for-5 with a double in Sunday’s series finale and scored the winning run on a Jonathan Lucroy drive to the center field wall in the bottom of the 11th inning. Lowrie had been slumping badly since mid-May, but he tallied six hits in the A’s three-game set versus the Halos and is slashing .284/.345/.460 with nine home runs and 43 RBI in 70 games this season. The 34-year-old infielder could be headed to his first All-Star Game. Frankie Montas struggled in his last turn through the rotation, but the 25-year-old stands 3-1 with a 2.67 ERA in 27 total innings since his promotion from Triple-A Nashville on May 27.
16. Pittsburgh Pirates
Record: 36-36
Last Week: 18
The Pirates have played a little better ball lately to get back to the .500 mark, owed to a good run of starting and relief pitching. They’ve won four of their last five games, yielding just eight total runs in those four victories. Trevor Williams, Kyle Crick, and Felipe Vazquez combined on a two-hit shutout of the Brewers in Monday night’s series opener at PNC Park, a 1-0 victory for Pittsburgh. Chad Kuhl allowed only one earned run over six innings in his last start Friday against the Reds to earn his first win since May 6. Kuhl holds a solid 3.76 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 79 innings this season, but the Pirates have struggled to give him ample run support. Josh Bell has hit just four home runs in 72 total games this year, though he is beginning to show some signs of life.
17. San Francisco Giants
Record: 35-38
Last Week: 16
The return of Madison Bumgarner hasn’t been the boost the Giants were hoping it would be. He has allowed nine earned runs on 19 hits and five walks over 17 1/3 innings (three starts) since his activation from the disabled list on June 5, which works out to a pedestrian 4.67 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. Maybe even more concerning than the hits and the free passes is that Bumgarner has struck out just nine of the 76 batters he has faced. The 28-year-old left-hander will try to get on the right track in his next start Thursday against the Padres. Pablo Sandoval is back in a starting role at third base to account for the loss of offseason trade acquisition Evan Longoria, who suffered a fracture of the fifth metacarpal on his left hand last Thursday. Longoria is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.
18. Colorado Rockies
Record: 34-38
Last Week: 17
The Rockies were torched 12-2 by the Mets in Monday night’s series opener at Coors Field, falling to 0-7 at home since the calendar flipped to June. Colorado’s bullpen gave up nine earned runs in 3 2/3 innings on Monday as that group’s combined ERA shot up to 5.75, now dead-last among all major league teams. Wade Davis, who was signed to a three-year, $52 million free agent contract this offseason, owns a 4.55 ERA in 27 2/3 innings. Jake McGee, who was re-signed for three years, $27 million, has posted a 5.40 ERA in 26 2/3 innings. Bryan Shaw, who was plucked away from the Indians on a three-year, $27 million deal with a $9 million team option for 2021, holds a brutal 7.08 ERA through 34 1/3 frames.
19. San Diego Padres
Record: 34-40
Last Week: 21
The Padres went 15-13 in May and they are 9-7 in June, despite dropping three of four this past weekend against the Braves. And there’s help on the way, too, as Mil Myers, Austin Hedges, Franchy Cordero, and Joey Lucchesi all began minor league rehab assignments last week. Lucchesi earned a spot in the San Diego rotation out of spring training and registered a 3.23 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 48/15 K/BB ratio over his first nine major league starts, covering 47 1/3 innings, before going down with a right hip strain on May 15. This team probably won’t make the playoffs this year, but they can play spoilers for other teams in the second half and the future does appear to be very bright.
20. New York Mets
Record: 28-34
Last Week: 20
The Mets won the final two games of their four-game set against the Diamondbacks and then bullrushed the Rockies 12-2 in Monday night’s series opener at Coors Field. That’s a three-game winning streak, the longest such streak for New York since mid-May. Michael Conforto coming alive has certainly been helpful. He went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, and two runs scored on Monday and now has five extra-base hits and five walks over his last five games. Brandon Nimmo continues to tear it up too. He went 4-for-6 with two home runs -- including an inside-the parker -- on Monday in Colorado, boosting his season slash line to .287/.410/.603. Nimmo was barely a fantasy-relevant player leading into 2018, but the 25-year-old outfielder is on the radar now with 12 home runs, seven stolen bases, and an OPS above 1.000.
21. Minnesota Twins
Record: 31-37
Last Week: 19
Miguel Sano, who made the American League All-Star team last year and finished with a career-high 28 home runs and 77 RBI in 114 games, was demoted all the way to High-A Fort Myers on Thursday after batting just .203 with a .270 on-base percentage over his first 163 plate appearances in 2018. He suffered a stress reaction in his left leg late last season and underwent surgery in November to address the problem. Sano put on a ton of weight this winter because his rehab program didn’t allow for much cardio, and now the Twins basically want him to go through spring training again -- with the hope that a full reset and improved conditioning can jump-start his bat for the second half. Eddie Rosario and Eduardo Escobar need no jump-starting.
22. Detroit Tigers
Record: 36-37
Last Week: 23
Detroit won the final two games of its three-game set last week against the Twins before sweeping a three-game weekend series from the White Sox. That’s a five-game winning streak, the longest of the season for the Tigers. And they’ve done it all without Miguel Cabrera, who suffered a ruptured biceps tendon on an awkward swing in the third inning last Tuesday evening. He underwent surgery two days later that will sideline him for the remainder of the 2018 campaign and possibly part of 2019. The veteran slugger is still owed around $170 million on a contract that runs through 2023. Detroit currently ranks 29th among all major league clubs in home runs hit, and losing Cabrera certainly won’t help in that regard.
23. Tampa Bay Rays
Record: 33-39
Last Week: 22
Tampa Bay has lost four of its last five games, scoring just eight runs combined in those four losses. The only Rays hitters with an OPS north of .800 are utilityman Daniel Robertson (.808) and rookie Jake Bauers (.856). As a team, Tampa Bay ranks 25th in slugging percentage (.387), 26th in home runs (66), and 24th in runs scored (284). Combine that with the fact that the Rays have only two healthy, dedicated starting pitchers in Blake Snell and Nathan Eovaldi. Chris Archer landed on the disabled list June 5 with a left abdominal strain and then suffered a setback while trying to throw a bullpen session last weekend. It appears he could remain on the shelf through the All-Star break.
24. Toronto Blue Jays
Record: 33-38
Last Week: 24
Toronto managed a surprising three-game weekend sweep of the Nationals, right after losing three straight to the Rays. Marco Estrada carried a shutout into the seventh inning Saturday versus Washington and has now pitched well in three straight starts. The 34-year-old impending free agent might be building some trade value, though the Blue Jays’ biggest trade chip is probably left-hander J.A. Happ, especially with Josh Donaldson still battling health issues. Happ worked five scoreless innings in his last turn through the rotation and holds an 8-3 record, 3.48 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 94 strikeouts in 82 2/3 total frames (14 starts) this year.
25. Texas Rangers
Record: 30-44
Last Week: 25
The Rangers have won three games in a row, including a 6-3 victory over the Royals on Monday night in which Bartolo Colon passed Juan Marichal for the most career victories (244) by a pitcher born in the Dominican Republic. That’s worth celebrating, and so is this current three-game winning streak -- the longest such streak for the Rangers since late April -- but Texas starters as a whole have produced a 5.62 ERA, which ranks dead-last among all major league clubs. That number might get even worse if -- or rather when -- Cole Hamels is traded. The 34-year-old left-hander has rebounded from a rough showing in 2017 to deliver a 3.69 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and 85/33 K/BB ratio across 85 1/3 innings this season.
26. Miami Marlins
Record: 29-44
Last Week: 26
The Marlins have won six of their last eight games and are above .500 (9-8) in June, but there’s nothing sustainable about this mini run of success. Miami ranks 29th in the majors in runs scored (258) and 30th in team OPS (.659). And on the pitching side, the Marlins hold a combined 4.77 ERA, which ranks 25th. J.T. Realmuto is raking to the tune of a .300/.360/.532 batting line with nine home runs, 27 RBI, and 34 runs scored in 52 games, but the 27-year-old catcher is almost certain to be dealt away for prospects ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. Kyle Barraclough has taken over at closer and boasts a 1.11 ERA and 0.77 WHIP in 32 1/3 innings, but he too could be moved. The 28-year-old right-hander hasn’t given up a hit since May 22.
27. Cincinnati Reds
Record: 26-45
Last Week: 27
Cincinnati avoided a three-game weekend sweep at PNC Park with an 8-6 victory over the Pirates on Sunday. Anthony DeSclafani started that game and earned his second win in three starts, surrendering just three hits (two of them solo homers) and one walk over 5 2/3 scoreless innings. He missed the entire 2017 season due to a UCL sprain in his right elbow and sat out the first 10 weeks of the 2018 campaign because of a severe strain of his left oblique. Billy Hamilton also showed some spark on Sunday, going 3-for-4 with two stolen bases and three runs scored while making a couple of terrific plays in center field. Still, he’s slashing just .197/.285/.282.
28. Chicago White Sox
Record: 24-47
Last Week: 28
The White Sox have lost five games in a row -- two to the Indians and three to the Tigers -- and haven’t had a record this pitiful in 70 years. Reynaldo Lopez holds a cool 3.35 ERA in 83 1/3 innings and Dylan Covey has put together a number of impressive outings since his return to the major league rotation on May 23, but White Sox starters as a whole have registered a 5.21 ERA, which ranks 27th among all major league teams. And it doesn’t look like Michael Kopech is going to offer any help in that department this year. The young right-hander entered the 2018 season as a consensus top-20 prospect, but he has posted a 5.20 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 13 starts at Triple-A Charlotte, issuing a whopping 42 walks in 62 1/3 innings.
29. Kansas City Royals
Record: 22-50
Last Week: 29
The Royals have lost seven straight games and are 2-14 to open the month of June. They’ve already raised the white flag on the 2018 season and launched into selling mode, which is actually a pretty smart strategy for a rebuilding non-contender. Trading partners might be willing to give up a little more in return for a three or four-month rental, as opposed to the two-month rental they’d get at the July 31 deadline. Veteran outfielder Jon Jay was dealt to the Diamondbacks on June 6 for a pair of minor league pitchers and closer Kelvin Herrera got shipped to the Nationals on Monday evening in exchange for a minor league infielder, a minor league outfielder, and a 17-year-old right-hander. Mike Moustakas could be the next player out the door.
30. Baltimore Orioles
Record: 20-50
Last Week: 30
Baltimore beat the visiting Marlins 10-4 in Sunday’s series finale at Camden Yards, but the Orioles had lost their previous nine games -- many of them to fellow American League East teams. They’re currently 27 1/2 games back in the division, through 70 games played. It’s truly astounding, especially for a squad that features Manny Machado in the heart of the lineup every day. Machado had two hits, a run scored, and an RBI on Sunday afternoon and is batting .310/.377/.567 with 18 home runs and 53 RBI in 69 games this season. He needs to be traded for prospects, and the O’s should probably move Adam Jones, Zach Britton, and Brad Brach too.
