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Phillies Highlight First TBOH MLB Power Rankings

By Matt Veasey

Apr 29, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (6) is mobbed by his team after hitting a game winning home run during the eleventh inning against the Cleveland Indians at Citizens Bank Park. The Philadelphia Phillies won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (6) is mobbed by his team after hitting a game winning home run during the eleventh inning against the Cleveland Indians at Citizens Bank Park. The Philadelphia Phillies won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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3. NEW YORK METS

Apr 30, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Harvey (33) talks to New York Mets left fielder Conforto (30) after his homer in the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Citi Field. (Photo Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports)
Apr 30, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Harvey (33) talks to New York Mets left fielder Conforto (30) after his homer in the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Citi Field. (Photo Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports) /

The defending National League champions have begun to get it all back together. The last piece missing was their power, conspicuously absent the first couple of weeks. No longer. Since moving 23-year old left fielder

Michael Conforto

into the 3-hole, the power has taken off across the lineup.

Conforto provides the youthful exuberance in an outfield that also includes talented veterans Yoenis Cespedes and Curtis Granderson. The Mets lost their star 2nd baseman, and decided to bring in veteran Neil Walker to replace him. Mission accomplished. Walker has been a stud, leading the club with nine homers.

On the mound, the Mets simply have the best starting pitching, top to bottom, in the game today. 23-year old righty Noah Syndergaard is particularly emerging as one of the NL’s top arms, and may be the best of this staff. That says a lot here, where 27-year old Matt Harvey, 28-year old Jacob deGrom,and 25-year old Steven Matz perform.

Toss in ageless 43-year old vet Bartolo Colon and a talented pen led by closer Jeurys Familia, and pitching alone should get New York back to the postseason. But they have more than pitching. If veteran 3rd baseman David Wright can rediscover himself, they could run away with the NL East. They are already 14-7, have won 12 of their last 14 games, and are only in 2nd place because of a slow start to the season.

Next: TBOH MLB POWER RANKING: #2

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