TBOH MLB Power Ranking

The 2-time defending NL Central champs have reached the postseason in 5 of the last 6 seasons, and clearly are the National League’s most consistently excellent team. <strong><a href=. (107). Previous: Tie-2nd. Saint Louis Cardinals. 1. team. 33

The defending American League champions have blown open a 12-game lead in the AL Central division race, and appear to be shoe-ins for another playoff appearance. The Royals have a 5 1/2 game lead on their nearest overall AL competitors, and continue to have the top Fielding rating by a wide margin. The team is also 4th in Batting, with only a 17th-ranked Pitching staff holding them back. Adding <strong><a href=. (100). Previous: Tie-2nd. Kansas City Royals. 2. team. 7

Chicago Cubs. 3. team. 9. Most of us are fairly familiar with the ugly numbers here. The Cubbies have won two World Series in their history, and those came back-to-back: in 1907-08! Theo Epstein has been doing his best to ensure that, as he did with the Red Sox last deacade, the “Curse” or “Jinx” or whatever you want to call it comes to an end at Wrigley Field, and soon. No team has a more exciting group of offensive youngsters. But that group is suffering some growing pains, ranked just 12th in Hitting. Showing they are far from one-dimensional, the North Siders have the game’s 5th ranked Pitching and Fielding. Unfortunately for them, they play in perhaps the game’s toughest division (see above video) in the NL Central.. (98). Previous: 4th

71. The 2-time defending NL West champion Dodgers slipped from the top spot a month and a half ago. Since the MLB All-Star break, they are a mediocre 11-11, and have now lost their last four straight games. The bullpen has become a massive problem for the Dodgers, as is the pitching depth behind twin aces <strong><a href=. (97). Previous: 1st. Los Angeles Dodgers. 4. team

Toronto Blue Jays. 5. team. 39. Loads of helium elevating the fast and high-risers on the Power Rankings. The Jays made huge noise at the MLB trade deadline, bringing in superstar shortstop <strong><a href=. (88). Previous: 15th

11. While the Yankees continue to get all the press, and the Blue Jays get increased attention for all of their high-profile moves, <strong><a href=. (86). Previous: 7th. Baltimore Orioles. 6. team

(83). Previous: 9th. Tampa Bay Rays. 7. team. 21. Tampa skipper <strong><a href=

3. The Metropolitans were ranked 8th last time, and remain there this time around. But they are starting to put it together where it counts the most, in the Win-Loss column. The Mets have won 11 of their last 15 to take over 1st place in the National League East race, currently 1 1/2 games up on Washington. They have an extremely talented young Pitching staff ranked 3rd in baseball. Their 11th ranked Fielding isn’t bad either. It’s been the subpar Hitting, still only ranked 20th in MLB, that has kept them from pushing up the rankings, and taking charge in the division. The additions of veteran options <strong><a href=. (81). Previous: 8th. New York Mets. 8. team

San Francisco Giants. 9. team. 40. The defending World Series champions have developed a reputation over the last half-dozen years of contending in even-numbered years, and not contending in odd-numbered years. But they are making a serious run at changing all that this time around in the odd-numbered 2015. They trail the Dodgers by just 2 1/2 games in the NL West race, and the Cubs by 3 1/2 for the 2nd NL Wildcard. The Giants have the top-ranked Hitting in all of MLB, and are the game’s 9th ranked Fielding team. But despite the presence of ace <strong><a href=. (79). Previous: 14th

Previous: 12th. Houston Astros. 10. team. 135. In a real battle for the AL West crown, the upstart Astros currently are tied in the loss column with the Angels. They are just 31-35 over the last 2+ months after a fast 30-17 start to the season. The game’s 7th ranked Pitching club and 10th ranked Batting team, Houston is just 22nd in Fielding. What they really need is a little more of what they just don’t have, experience. The addition of <strong><a href=. (78)