Big jumps from new teams atop both the AL and NL headlines this week’s MLB power rankings with the trade deadline looming on Thursday.
1. Toronto Blue Jays (63-43) | Last week: 6 (+5)
The Jays have the best record in baseball with only a few more days left in July, and they began last week with a series win over the Yankees before taking three of four games in Detroit. George Springer’s resurgence has powered Toronto, and he has seven multi-hit games over his past 10 starts.
2. New York Mets (62-44) | Last week: 9 (+7)
New York was sort of getting boxed in behind the Phillies recently with only short-term leads or ties atop the NL East—but that changed this week with a 6-0 stretch to give them a 1.5-game cushion. Overall, the Mets have won seven games in a row and will try to stay hot tonight in San Diego.
3. Chicago Cubs (62-43) | Last week: 2 (-1)
The Cubs are tied with the Brewers in the NL Central—and the squads will square off to begin this week with three games in Milwaukee. Chicago has been rumored as a team looking into top slugger Eugenio Saurez and perhaps a starting pitcher at the deadline.
4. Milwaukee Brewers (62-43) | Last week: 4
The Brew Crew is also a player for Saurez, so Chicago and Milwaukee are facing off in more ways than one this week. Even with the seventh-best offense in baseball, the Brewers could probably use another star in the lineup.
5. Detroit Tigers (61-46) | Last week: 1 (-4)
Detroit snapped a six-game losing streak with a series-saving win yesterday versus the Blue Jays, but they need to turn the victory into more momentum with a 2-12 record over their past 14 games. A trip to Philadelphia awaits at the end of the week to begin the month of August.
6. Houston Astros (60-46) | Last week: 3 (-3)
Houston appeared likely to run away with the AL West, but the Mariners and Rangers—with the latter winning nine of their past 10 games—are both lurking at 4.0 games back after the Astros suffered a four-game sweep against the A’s. One of the all-time great individual performances came at Houston’s expense as rookie Nick Kurtz went six-for-six with four home runs, eight RBI, and six runs scored on Friday night.
7. Los Angeles Dodgers (61-45) | Last week: 5 (-2)
Others rising drops the Dodgers out of the top five, but there’s also no doubt they don’t look like a dominant club at this point. Los Angeles has been rumored to be interested in Twins outfielder Harrison Bader and Cardinals shortstop Brendan Donovan.
8. Philadelphia Phillies (60-45) | Last week: 7 (-1)
The Phillies had a good week by taking series against the Red Sox and Yankees, but the Mets catching fire still led to them losing ground in the NL East. Philadelphia expects to be one of the more aggressive teams in the trade market.
9. New York Yankees (57-48) | Last week: 8 (-1)
An elbow injury for Aaron Judge doesn’t sound like it’ll be an issue that requires Tommy John surgery with no apparent damage to the UCL—but he was placed on the IL and is set to DH upon his return, which will force Giancarlo Stanton into the outfield. New York sits 5.5 games behind the Blue Jays and only has a 1.5-game cushion in the Wild Card race.
10. San Diego Padres (57-49) | Last week: 10
Tempers flared over the weekend with a couple of instances where the benches cleared against the Cardinals, and maybe it was somewhat of a wake-up call for San Diego after they took the final two games of the series. St. Louis comes to town this weekend for a rematch after the Padres host the Mets, so this is one of the biggest weeks of the year for Mike Shildt’s club.
11. Cincinnati Reds (56-50) | Last week: 12 (+1)
12. Seattle Mariners (56-50) | Last week: 11 (-1)
13. Boston Red Sox (57-50) | Last week: 13
14. Texas Rangers (56-50) | Last week: 17 (+3)
15. San Francisco Giants (54-52) | Last week: 14 (-1)
16. St. Louis Cardinals (54-54) | Last week: 16
17. Tampa Bay Rays (53-53) | Last week: 15 (-2)
18. Cleveland Guardians (52-53) | Last week: 20 (+2)
19. Kansas City Royals (52-54) | Last week: 22 (+3)
20. Miami Marlins (50-54) | Last week: 23 (+3)
21. Los Angeles Angels (51-55) | Last week: 18 (-4)
22. Arizona Diamondbacks (51-55) | Last week: 19 (-3)
23. Minnesota Twins (50-55) | Last week: 21 (-2)
24. Baltimore Orioles (47-58) | Last week: 24
25. Atlanta Braves (44-60) | Last week: 25
26. Oakland Athletics (46-62) | Last week 26
27. Pittsburgh Pirates (44-62) | Last week: 27
28. Washington Nationals (43-62) | Last week: 28
29. Chicago White Sox (38-68) | Last week: 29
30. Colorado Rockies (27-78) | Last week: 30