There could be a new number one in the power rankings this week. You already know that the Detroit Tigers remain in the top 10, but how about the surging Baltimore Orioles or Oakland A’s?
1. Cincinnati Reds (82-53)- The Reds over take the top spot in the power rankings this week. The Reds are just a half game behind the Washington Nationals for the best record in baseball. This week the Reds won four straight, which included a sweep over the D-Backs and taking a series from the Houston Astros. Joey Votto could return to the lineup on Tuesday.
2. Washington Nationals (81-52)- We now know when Stephen Strasburg will be shut down for the rest of the year. Sept. 12 will mark the end for Strasburg. Will Mike Rizzo‘s decision to shut his ace down come back to haunt him during the playoffs?
3. Texas Rangers (79-54)- The Rangers mutilated the Cleveland Indians this past weekend and are 7-3 in their last 10 games. Ryan Dempster has been pitching better of late. In his last three starts, he has given up a combined total of three earned runs. The Rangers called up Jurickson Profar, another one of their big prospects. Profar hit a home run in his first major league at bat.
4. Oakland A’s (76-57)- Remember when the A’s were supposed to be a bad team? The A’s have been on fire, winning nine straight games and pushing within three of the Rangers for the division lead. They are far the hottest team in baseball and are making their presence felt around the AL.
5. New York Yankees (76-57)- The Yankees were nearly swept by the Orioles and have watched what was once a 10 game lead fall to only two games. The Bronx Bombers set to open up a big series with the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. The Rays are only 3.5 games behind the Yankees.
6. San Francisco Giants (76-58)- The Giants have managed to gain a 4.5 game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers since taking over the division. After a three game series with the D-Backs, the Dodgers and Giants face off again for three games.
7. Baltimore Orioles (74-59)- The Yankees are hearing the footsteps of the Orioles, who are now only two games behind in the AL East. The Orioles are having a fairytale season and Buck Showalter has to be one of the leading candidates for Manager of the Year award. If the Orioles make it to the playoffs, it would be the first time since 1997 that the O’s had a winning season and made the playoffs.
8. Atlanta Braves (75-59)- You’re down four in the ninth to the Philadelphia Phillies, so what do you do? Only drop a five spot on Johnathan Paplebon to complete an eight run comeback. How fitting it was Chipper Jones who hit the walk-off three run home run. Jones continues to be the best 40-year-old player in the MLB.
9. Detroit Tigers (72-61)- After getting swept by the Kansas City Royals, the Tigers opened up a huge three game series with the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park. For the second straight time, the Tigers swept the Sox right out of Detroit and are now tied for first place in the AL central. The Sox and Tigers face off again this week. This time it’s in Chicago for four games.
10. Tampa Bay Rays (73-61)- The Rays have a great chance to gain some ground on the Yankees. Monday afternoon, the Rays send James Shields to the mound to face off against the Yankees’ ace, C.C. Sabathia. If the Rays were to get a sweep they could be just a half game behind for first place in the AL East.
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where is #4 in your rankings ? lol..
It’s there