MLB Power Rankings: Week 12
12. Boston Red Sox (33-34)
The Red Sox return to the power rankings. This is a sneaky good team and one that definitely has a chance at the postseason. They’re just 2 games back of the third AL wild card. There’s nothing super flashy about this team but they’re also just very solid in every area. You can look at all hitting and pitching stats and Boston in top 10 in the league in all of them.
11. Minnesota Twins (35-32)
It’s hilarious how much the Yankees own the Twins. I don’t think I know of another team dominating one specific team for so long. The Twins were swept again last week by the Yankees for the second time this season. Since 2002, the Twins have just a .272 win percentage against New York. That’s equivalent to a 44-118 season over 162 games. Anyway, the Twins are on the power rankings really only because they own the 3rd wild card spot.
10. San Diego Padres (36-35)
It’s strange that the Padres don’t win more games. They have so much talent, the fact they can barely stay around .500 is wild. This has been the issue in San Diego for the last few seasons. There’s no doubt this is not a team you want to face in the postseason, though.
9. Seattle Mariners (39-30)
The Mariners continue to build their AL West division lead to 6.5 games. The offense has started to be more consistent lately but it still ranks in the bottom third of the league.
8. Atlanta Braves (35-29)
The Braves might be in trouble. Since the injury to Ronald Acuna Jr, they’ve been just kind of an average team. They are now a whopping 10 games back of first place in the AL East. The depth that many thought would keep this team competitive has just not been there so far.
7. Milwaukee Brewers (39-28)
The Brewers offense got humbled by the Phillies last week, scoring just 2 runs in the 3 game sweep. They may be the best team in the NL Central but that’s not saying a whole lot with how terrible that division is looking.
6. Kansas City Royals (39-29)
The Royals have been inconsistent lately but they have had a tough schedule and this week they play the Yankees and the Dodgers. I still like this team a lot as a competitor not just for a wild card but for the AL Central division title.
5. Cleveland Guardians (43-22)
The leaders of the AL Central expanded their lead to 5.5 games. Cleveland’s offense continues to produce better than many people thought and their bullpen is one of the best in baseball.
4. Baltimore Orioles (44-22)
The Orioles have won 10 of their last 13 games but still sit in second place in the AL East. The Yankees have been relentlessly one step ahead of the Orioles all season. This is no doubt, the best division race to watch as we head into the summer months.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers (42-26)
After losing a series to the Pirates, the Dodgers bounced back to get an impressive series win against the Yankees in New York. The top trio of Betts-Ohtani-Freeman has cooled down just a bit over the last few weeks but when you got guys like Teoscar Hernandez to pick up the slack, you’ll win a lot of games. The depth of this LA lineup is scary.
2. Philadelphia Phillies (46-20)
The Phillies got some tough injury news with their all-star catcher, JT Realmuto, needing knee surgery. He will be out at least a month. Losing your catcher is always a big hit, no matter how good the rest of your team is. I expect the Phillies to be fine but it’s something to keep an eye on.
1. New York Yankees (48-21)
Aaron Judge and the Yankees have had an incredible month of play. The Yankees lost two games to the Dodgers over the weekend but have won 11 of their last 13. Juan Soto’s injury scare looks very minor and should not keep him off the field for long. Gerrit Cole is one rehab outing away from making his return.