Midseason MLB Power Rankings
MLB. Digital image. Five Thirty Eight. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 July 2017.
Looking back at a bizarre first half of baseball, we have had many surprises and an equally amount of disappointments. From the average Cubs, who surprisingly won the World Series last year, to the outstanding and surprising tight race for the NL West.
Let's see how each team ranks up at the end of the first half of baseball, with a 1 sentence midseason report for each team.
1. Houston Astros
With stellar offense and mediocre pitching, the Astros are looking more like a World Series team, despite nagging injuries to the pitching squad.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
As Cody Bellinger continues to smash balls out of the ballpark and the pitching staff continues to put up its stellar performance, Dodgers fans better be ready for a deep run in October
3. Washington Nationals
The Nationals have been completely lights out this year, but they must find a way to end their relief pitcher woes
4. Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox have been outstanding this past week, looking more like the team that we expected it would be like before the season started.
5. Arizona Diamondbacks
We can all agree that Paul Goldschmidt is the most underrated player in baseball right now, and he is literally carrying the Diamondbacks right now.
6. Colorado Rockies
If the Rockies weren't on their recent slide, they would be higher on this list, but besides that, this team is the greatest surprise of 2017 MLB Season.
7. Cleveland Indians
If Corey Kluber and Jose Ramirez continue their torrid pace following their recent awakening, they could create a comfortable lead for themselves in the AL Central
8. New York Yankees
Is there anything Aaron Judge can't do?
9. Milwaukee Brewers
Everything is coming together for the Brewers, who were victorious 7 times in the last 10 games and hold a 4.5 game lead in the NL Central.
10. Kansas City Royals
If Jason Vargas and Lorenzo Cain continue to play as good as they are right now, they might be able to squeeze into an AL Wild Card spot.
11. Minnesota Twins
The Twinkies won just 4 of their last 10, consequently losing their tie for 1st place in the AL Central, but otherwise, have put their struggles from last year away amidst a remarkable season.
12. Los Angeles Angels
The Halos are playing excellent ball, hovering over .500 , despite having the best player in baseball, Mike Trout, sidelined for a thumb injury.
13. Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs look completely different following their World Series win last year, with star player, Schwarber sent to the minors, and Castillo shipped off to the Blue Jays following a minor altercation with pitcher Arrieta.
14. Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays have been pretty good this season, losing star player Kevin Kiermaier, but sluggers like Corey Dickerson and Logan Morrison have put the Rays on the right path, striving to help the Rays get one of the two Wild Card spots.
15. Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves have been decent this season, with Freddie Freeman coming back from a thumb injury, the Braves could be quite lethal in the latter half of the season
16. St. Louis Cardinals
After a terrible and disappointing start to the season, the Cards have since improved and are now 3rd in the NL Central
17. Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles looked like a promising team earlier this season, but they have since plummeted downward.
18. Texas Rangers
Although they have a diminutive chance of surpassing the Astros, they have a real shot as a wild card team.
19. Pittsburgh Pirates
They probably would have been leading the NL Central had Starling Marte not taken PEDs, but hey, Andrew McCutchen's playing like the star he used to be.
20. Toronto Blue Jays
This team is literally on a rollercoaster, they sometimes look the hottest team in the league or the worst team in the league.
21. Seattle Mariners
Although Jerry Dipoto surprised everyone during the offseason with major signings, they don't look like the contending team everyone thought they would be, as they are nestled in 4th place of the AL West, 17.5 games behind the Astros
22. Cincinnati Reds
Besides a record night from Scooter Gennett and the selection of Votto and Cozart for the All-Star Game, the Reds have had a very dull and humdrum season
23. Oakland Athletics
Besides for Jed Lowrie and Yonder Alonso, the Athletics have no hope and should be big-time sellers at the trade deadline
24. Chicago White Sox
The White Sox have still not called up prized prospect, Yoan Moncada, from the minors and are still not looking like the "rebuilding" team they were expected to be, so expect them to be sellers at the trade deadline
25. New York Mets
The Mets are stuck in a deep and inescapable abyss, with a pitching staff that has lost its spark and a batting lineup that is underperforming.
26. Detroit Tigers
Poised to be big sellers at the trade deadline, the Detroit Tigers have disappointed Motor City, once again, that leads us to ask "Does this season's debacle spell Brad Ausmus' last year in Mo-City?"
27. San Diego Padres
Just another season in San Diego, but their young rookies have been smashing the ball at a pretty impressive rate.
28. Miami Marlins
Although the All-Star is being held in Miami this year, the fans will have barely anything to cheer about, just like this season, as the Marlins are sending a scanty 2 players to Midsummer Classic.
29. San Francisco Giants
The Giants have been so disappointing this season, from off the field issues in the locker room and dreadful play on the field.
30. Philadelphia Phillies
I have no clue where the Phillies are headed, but if they could become big-time sellers at the trade deadline, they could possibly develop a talented farm system.