Surging clubs closing in on Power Rankings Top 5

Whereas there have been no modifications inside the High 5 this week, issues are actually tightening up atop the Energy Rankings.

A group aside from the Rays acquired a first-place vote for the primary time in months, and eight groups earned High 5 consideration — together with three NL West golf equipment that discovered themselves locked in a decent battle for the No. 5 spot.

Listed below are this week’s rankings:

Greatest soar: The Reds made the most important soar for the second straight week, shifting up one other seven spots to No. 8. In addition they jumped seven spots in last week’s rankingsgoing from No. 22 to No. 15. Cincinnati’s 12-game successful streak came to an end Saturday in a one-run loss towards the NL-leading Braves. Rookie sensation Elly De La Cruz is hitting .333 with three homers, eight stolen bases and a .989 OPS by his first 17 profession video games — oh, and he hit for the cycle Friday towards Atlanta.

Greatest drop: The Yankees received 4 of six this week, together with taking two of three from the AL West-leading Rangers to shut the weekend, nevertheless it’s nonetheless been a tough couple of weeks within the Bronx that resulted within the membership dropping 4 spots, from No. 8 to No. 12. New York is simply 7-10 over its previous 17 video games, Aaron Judge has no timetable to return from his toe damage, and it stays unsure how the Josh Donaldson situation will play out. That mentioned, the Yanks are in an ideal spot to make a run this week with three video games apiece towards the struggling A’s and Cardinals.

1) Rays, 54-27 (final week: 1)

Tampa Bay is scuffling for perhaps the primary time all yr. Together with benching superstar Wander Franco for 2 video games this week (although he homered in his return to the lineup Saturday), the Rays haven’t received any of their previous 4 collection. Their final collection win got here once they took two of three from the Rangers from June Sept. 11. Since that set, Tampa Bay break up a four-game set with the last-place A’s, misplaced two of three to the Padres, break up two with the O’s and break up 4 video games towards the last-place Royals. The Rays nonetheless maintain the best record in the Majorshowever they’re simply two video games forward of the Braves — and solely 4 1/2 forward of the Orioles within the AL East.

2) Braves, 50-27 (final week: 2)

The Braves simply carry on successful. They acquired one first-place vote from our panel after every week through which they went to Philadelphia and won both games towards the rival Phillies, then snapped the Reds’ 12-game winning streak by successful back-to-back games in Cincinnati to shut the weekend. General, Atlanta has received 10 of its final 11 to maneuver inside two video games of the Rays for one of the best report within the Majors. The Marlins (six video games again) are the one group within the NL East fewer than 10 video games again of Atlanta.

3) Rangers, 47-30 (final week: 3)

It’s onerous to not marvel what Corey Seager’s numbers might look like had he not missed greater than a month earlier this season as a result of a strained left hamstring. The Rangers’ shortstop is hitting .349 with a 1.028 OPS. He has 10 homers and 46 RBIs in simply 46 video games — that’s a 35-homer, 162-RBI tempo over 162 video games. Seager has had loads of assist up and down the Texas lineup — and from the pitching staff — on a group that finds itself with a 5 1/2-game lead within the AL West.

4) Orioles, 47-29 (final week: 4)

It was an up-and-down week for the O’s, who began by splitting a pair with the Rays earlier than dropping a 13-1 decision within the collection opener towards the Mariners. Nonetheless, Baltimore closed the weekend with a pair of wins, led by the red-hot Anthony Santander. Santander not solely robbed Julio Rodríguez of a house run on Sunday afternoon, however he hit one in every of his personal — his fifth prior to now six video games. The O’s have a troublesome stretch to finish the primary half, with 4 video games towards the surging Reds, six towards the first-place Twins and three towards the rival Yankees.

5) D-backs, 47-32 (final week: 5)

The D-backs nonetheless sit atop the NL West regardless of losing two of three to the Giants over the weekend. Arizona won the finale Sunday to keep away from the sweep, however issues received’t get any simpler this week because the D-backs welcome the MLB-leading Rays to Chase Discipline on Tuesday to start a three-game set. Nationwide League Cy Younger candidate Zac Gallen figures to be on the mound for the collection opener, which ought to bode properly for the D-backs, contemplating he’s 7-0 with a 1.00 ERA in eight dwelling begins this season.

The remainder of the sphere of 30: