MLB Power Rankings CBS: With the Yankees losing six of eight, we need a new No. 1 in the power rankings this week.
We need a new number 1 team in baseball, don’t we? The Yankees have held the top spot for several weeks and only have Gerrit Cole back in the rotation, but they have now lost three straight series. Of course, the series came against tough competition, but the top dog shouldn’t be bothered by that. They have lost six of their last eight, so one is dropped.
Top Candidates: MLB Power Rankings CBS
MLB Power Rankings CBS: Orioles
Over the last week and a half, the Orioles have won head-to-head series over the Yankees and Phillies. They were the ones who eliminated the party’s top two candidates, so shouldn’t they take the place? Logic would say so.
The Orioles, however, followed up those series wins with a sweep of Houston. They were outscored 27-13 in the three losses, and most of those runs came late in a game that was already over (they were outscored 14-3, 14-11). I was ready to push the Orioles to the top spot, but they looked so awful in Houston that I’m not sure.
Depth of rotation is definitely a concern.
MLB Power Rankings CBS : Phyllis
They have the best record (0.5 game behind the Yankees) and winning percentage in baseball. Their +114 run differential is the best in baseball. They’ve had a bit of a rough patch recently, but are coming off a 4-2 week with two series wins. Looking at the staff, they of course look the part. There is no obvious weakness. They have the best ERA in baseball and are 4th in runs scored. They have also dealt with some key injuries.
On the downside, their strength of schedule is noticeably lower than the Yankees and Orioles. Plus, they only lost a series to the O’s.
MLB Power Rankings CBS: The Dodgers
They’ve definitely got star power. Even with Mookie Betts hurt for a while, they got two MVPs in the lineup on the night. They’re so loaded that their general manager came out and said injuries to Bates and Yoshinobu Yamamoto don’t change their plans at the trade deadline. They’re only two runs behind the Phillies in run differential, so that’s negligible. However, they are four games off the best record and that’s enough to think they probably shouldn’t be at the top, especially since 55 of their 79 games have come against sub-.500 teams, the most from this group.
MLB Power Rankings CBS: Guardian
The Guardians have played 40 road games, the most of the group and that seems to matter, as the Guardians are a ridiculous 26-9 at home. One could argue that the Guardians are the hottest team in this group right now, as they have won five in a row. A bit more recent than a larger sample, though, they’re 13-9 from Memorial Day.
At +104, their run differential lags slightly behind the big guns, but it’s not far enough to massively downgrade them.
Of the four teams listed, and the Yankees here for our top five, the Guardians have played the weakest schedule. The Guardians have pulled that percentage up seven times facing the pathetic White Sox (and they’re somehow 3-4 in those seven games).
I think there’s a clear-cut top 5 right now, and you can perhaps order them however you want. I’m demoting the Yankees on principle with three straight series losses, but otherwise there’s a No. 1 case for either of these teams.