The Twins are 20 games above .500 and on the verge of the top spot in the final MLB power rankings of May.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (35-18) | Last week: 2 (+1)
Back at No. 1 in the power rankings, the Dodgers split a two-game stint with the Rays to start the week, then they dominated offensively with 28 runs scored in a three-game sweep of the Pirates. Justin Turner is coming off a five-hit game.
2. Minnesota Twins (36-16) | Last week: 3 (+1)
LA is in the top spot, but the Twins are knocking on the door and obviously have a strong argument for the best team in baseball. Minnesota was 6-0 last week, and they’re scoring 6.1 runs per game with a majors-best 2.1 run differential this season.
3. Houston Astros (35-19) | Last week: 1 (-2)
Matched up with the two “Sox” teams last week, the Astros surprisingly dropped two to Chicago before taking two-of-three against Boston. Series against the Cubs and A’s this week should be fun.
4. New York Yankees (34-18) | Last week: 5 (+1)
The Yankees should’ve handled the Orioles and Royals, but they deserve credit for taking care of business with a 6-1 week. Now they’ll return home to face San Diego and Boston.
5. Tampa Bay Rays (31-19) | Last week: 7 (+2)
While the Yankees are playing really well, the Rays are sticking with them in the AL East. Tampa Bay split with the Dodgers then shut down the Indians, taking three-of-four.
6. Chicago Cubs (30-21) | Last week: 4 (-2)
After a 3-4 week, the Cubs drop a couple of spots in the power rankings. They’ll look to get things going against the Astros before they face the Cardinals for an NL Central bout.
7. Philadelphia Phillies (31-22) | Last week: 6 (-1)
The Phillies could’ve stayed in the No. 6 spot after splitting with the Cubs then getting a series win over the Brewers, but the Braves are right on their heels. Their non-NL East schedule (their last division game was May 5) continues with the Cardinals and Dodgers this week.
8. Atlanta Braves (30-24) | Last week: 9 (+1)
After getting swept by the Dodgers earlier this month, the Braves have won five straight series. Atlanta has a couple of days off this week, but they’re right behind Philadelphia in the division.
9. Milwaukee Brewers (30-24) | Last week: 8 (-1)
The Brewers seemed to be in a bit of a lull last week, going 2-3 at home. Brandon Woodruff was nearly flawless in yesterday’s win, so Milwaukee will look to take that momentum as they go to Minnesota.
10. Boston Red Sox (28-25) | Last week: 11 (+1)
While there’s still a ton of baseball to be played, this is a big week for the Red Sox. They get four cracks at the Yankees starting on Thursday night after they face Cleveland for three games.
11. Oakland Athletics (28-25) | Last week: 19 (+8)
Nine straight wins and the Athletics are right back in the mix in the American League. Oakland has shown they shouldn’t be counted out over the years.
12. San Diego Padres (28-25) | Last week: 15 (+3)
Last week was a promising 5-1 stretch for the Padres, as it was their pitching that did the heavy lifting in a sweep of the Diamondbacks before the offense broke out against the Blue Jays.
13. Arizona Diamondbacks (28-25) | Last week: 13
The Diamondbacks quickly bounced back from getting swept, as their offense went off for 34 runs in three comfortable wins over the Giants. They’ll attempt to push the Rockies farther down the standings in a four-game series starting this afternoon.
14. Cleveland Indians (26-26) | Last week: 10 (-4)
A 1-6 week is bad enough, but the Twins went 6-0 to strengthen their lead in the AL Central. Again, it’s early, but Cleveland is now ten games back of Minnesota.
15. St. Louis Cardinals (26-26) | Last week: 14 (-1)
The Cardinals are 6-14 in their last 20 games, and things won’t get easy this week as they face the Phillies and Cubs. Paul Goldschmidt getting hot would be huge for St. Louis, as the All-Star first baseman is slugging a career-low .433 this season
16. Pittsburgh Pirates (25-25) | Last week: 12 (-4)
The pitching of the Pirates is struggling mightily, which is a big reason the team has been so inconsistent this season. Starting pitcher Mitch Keller’s highly-anticipated big-league debut will hopefully give the staff a boost.
17. Colorado Rockies (24-27) | Last week: 17
Colorado rallied for a walk-off win yesterday against Baltimore. The Rockies are coming off a couple of series wins, and now they’ll continue a homestand with matchups against the D’Backs and Blue Jays this week.
18. New York Mets (26-26) | Last week: 25 (+7)
The Mets were swept by the Marlins a couple of weekends ago, but they deserve credit for responding with a 6-1 week to get back to .500. We’ll see if they can keep it going in LA versus the Dodgers for four games.
19. Los Angeles Angels (24-28) | Last week: 16 (-3)
The Angels had lost five straight, but they took two in a row against the Rangers to end the week. Matt Harvey is now on the IL with a back injury, and he might not get back in the starting rotation given his struggles (7.50 ERA) this season.
20. Texas Rangers (25-25) | Last week: 20
The Rangers are coming off a 4-2 week and could be a spot or two higher in the power rankings, but it doesn’t feel right to have them above an Angels team they just lost to. The upcoming schedule (Seattle, Kansas City, Baltimore) looks promising, though.
21. Cincinnati Reds (24-28) | Last week: 22 (+1)
That’s more like it for the Reds offense, as Cincinnati scored at least six runs in their last four games (2-2 record). They’re a team to watch out for if the offense can keep it up.
22. Washington Nationals (22-31) | Last week: 21 (-1)
The Nats were in danger of falling into last place in the NL East if the Marlins would have swept them, but they’ve won three in a row and are going for a four-game sweep today. Perhaps this newfound energy with their backs against the wall could be a momentum builder.
23. Chicago White Sox (23-29) | Last week: 23
Lucas Giolito threw a complete game shutout against the Astros, helping the White Sox split a four-game series in Houston. They then got swept on the road against Minnesota, but they play exclusively at home this week.
24. Seattle Mariners (23-32) | Last week: 18 (-6)
The great early-season play from the Mariners was a surprise, but this recent collapse is arguably a bigger surprise. Seattle has lost six straight games and are an MLB-worst 7-23 in their last 30.
25. Toronto Blue Jays (21-32) | Last week: 26 (+1)
Despite a 2-5 week, the Blue Jays rise one spot in the power rankings with most teams at the bottom of the standings playing poorly. They don’t play at home again until next week, but Toronto might struggle to get people to attend games with the Raptors in the NBA Finals.
26. San Francisco Giants (21-31) | Last week: 24 (-2)
The Giants are ten games below .500, and this is a stretch they must take advantage of to have a more realistic chance of competing in 2019. San Francisco faces Miami and Baltimore on the road this week.
27. Kansas City Royals (18-34) | Last week: 28 (+1)
The Royals were 2-3 with a walk-off win against the Yankees last week, and they rise a spot in the power rankings. Kansas City faces the White Sox for three games and can potentially leap them in the standings by next week.
28. Detroit Tigers (19-31) | Last week: 27 (-1)
The Tigers have a -1.9 run differential, and they’re not finding ways to win games like they were earlier in the season.
29. Miami Marlins (16-34) | Last week: 30 (+1)
It was said last week that the Marlins wouldn’t have many sweep this season, but they followed up their sweep of the Mets with a sweep of the Tigers.
30. Baltimore Orioles (16-37) | Last week: 29 (-1)
The Orioles are back in the last spot of the power rankings, where they were for much of last season.
Yanks behind the Twins? We’d destroy them in a playoff series.
Lol