MLB Power Rankings: An Updated Look at Where All 30 Teams Stand
With the All-Star break behind us and the trade deadline rapidly approaching, it figures to be a busy couple of weeks around the baseball landscape.
This week's power rankings reflect just one series' worth of games, as the All-Star festivities made it an abridged week, so there was not as much shuffling as normal.
When putting together this list, we considered the following factors:
- Last week's record
- Quality of opponent
- Key injuries/trades
- Recent performance beyond the last week
While those four areas remained the deciding factors in where teams moved in the rankings, the focus of this week's team-by-team write-ups is what we can expect on the trade market between now and the July 31 deadline.
The goal, as always, is to be as objective as possible. But a certain amount of subjectivity will always come into play with something like this.
Just remember: This is a fluid process. Teams will rise and fall on a weekly basis relative to where they ranked previously. You keep winning, you keep climbing—it's as simple as that.
30. Philadelphia Phillies (32-62, Previous: 30)
1 of 30
Last Week: 3-0
A three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins to begin the second half should be enough for the Philadelphia Phillies front office to hold off on any sort of trade deadline sell-off, and at this point they could even look to add a few more veteran pieces to the mix.
Could you imagine?
Cole Hamels did not exactly wow scouts in attendance Sunday (3 IP, 8 H, 5 ER), and that's now his second consecutive rough outing. According to Buster Olney of ESPN, that's been enough for one of the most asked questions around baseball to be, "Is there something wrong with Hamels?"
Aside from their ace, speedy outfielder Ben Revere and closer Jonathan Papelbon look like the two most likely Phillies to be dealt at this point.
Hitter of the Week
- RF Jeff Francoeur (3-for-3, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Chad Billingsley (W, 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K)
29. Colorado Rockies (39-51, Previous: 27)
2 of 30
Last Week: 0-2
If any team outside of the Philadelphia Phillies needs to take the trade deadline as an opportunity to shake things up in a big way, it's the Colorado Rockies.
It probably wouldn't be wise to bet on Troy Tulowitzki being moved, but the team has other intriguing trade chips at its disposal.
Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post lists outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon, first baseman Wilin Rosario and closer John Axford as the most likely players on the team to be moved.
CarGo is the interesting name there. He's been hitting well of late, but he's still owed $37 million over the next two years and has an injury history that will make teams at least think twice about taking on that kind of commitment.
Hitter of the Week
- SS Troy Tulowitzki (3-for-5, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Chad Bettis (ND, 6.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K)
28. Miami Marlins (38-54, Previous: 25)
3 of 30
Last Week: 0-3
A 3-8 rough patch that includes a three-game sweep at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies to start the second half should all but cement the Miami Marlins as sellers between now and the deadline.
They don't have a ton in the way of movable pieces, but starters Mat Latos (14 GS, 3-6, 4.90 ERA) and Dan Haren (19 GS, 7-5, 3.46 ERA) should both generate interest from teams looking to add an arm but not mortgage a ton of high-end talent.
Latos next takes the ball Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and there figures to be plenty of scouts in attendance for that one.
On a positive note, Jose Fernandez continues to looks sharp in his return from Tommy John surgery. He's now 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA in three starts and averaging a healthy 95.4 miles per hour with his fastball, according to FanGraphs.
Hitter of the Week
- RF Cole Gillespie (5-for-12, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Jose Fernandez (ND, 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K)
27. Cincinnati Reds (40-49, Previous: 26)
4 of 30
Last Week: 1-2
With All-Star Game-hosting honors now in the rearview mirror, the Cincinnati Reds finally appear ready to take center stage at the trade deadline as perhaps the most interesting seller on the market.
According to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, owner Bob Castellini has officially given the go-ahead for a significant sell-off.
Fay goes on to list Todd Frazier as perhaps the only untouchable player on the roster, though young, controllable talent like Billy Hamilton, Michael Lorenzen and Anthony DeSclafani as well as high-priced veterans like Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips and Homer Bailey probably won't be going anywhere, either.
However, if the Reds move the likes of Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, Aroldis Chapman, Jay Bruce and Marlon Byrd, they could wind up with a substantial prospect haul to help expedite the upcoming retool/rebuild.
Hitter of the Week
- 1B Joey Votto (7-for-12, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Mike Leake (W, 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K)
26. Arizona Diamondbacks (42-48, Previous: 23)
5 of 30
Last Week: 0-3
Props to the Arizona Diamondbacks on a better-than-expected first half, but they have now lost six straight after being swept by the San Francisco Giants, and they currently sit 9.5 games back in the NL West standings.
They have a young roster without much in the way of trade chips, though veteran reliever Brad Ziegler (40 G, 14-of-16 SV, 1.13 ERA) would certainly be of interest if he were made available.
A very reasonable $5.5 million option for next year could be reason enough for them to hold on to him, though.
In other news, the team came to terms with No. 1 overall pick Dansby Swanson ahead of the signing deadline with a $6.5 million bonus. He'll likely be on the fast track to the big leagues after an impressive career at Vanderbilt.
Hitter of the Week
- LF David Peralta (5-for-11, 3 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Patrick Corbin (L, 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K)
25. San Diego Padres (43-49, Previous: 28)
6 of 30
Last Week: 2-0
Justin Upton left Sunday's game for precautionary reasons after feeling tightness in his left oblique, and the Internet immediately went into #hugwatch.
That should tell you everything you need to know about the current state of the San Diego Padres.
A team expected to be a serious player in the National League after a busy offseason is now looking more and more like a potential seller, and Upton sits atop the list of potential trade chips with free agency awaiting in the offseason.
Starter Ian Kennedy is also a free agent at season's end, while closer Craig Kimbrel and setup man Joaquin Benoit could both net a significant return in a seller's market for relief pitching.
Hitter of the Week
- RF Matt Kemp (3-for-7, 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- RP Craig Kimbrel (2-of-2 SV, 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K)
24. Chicago White Sox (42-48, Previous: 22)
7 of 30
Last Week: 1-3
A 9-2 stretch near the end of the first half had it briefly looking like the Chicago White Sox could claw their way back into things in the AL Central, but they've lost four of five since, and that momentum appears to have run out.
Jeff Samardzija is their big trade chip, and there will be plenty of other teams in attendance when he takes the ball next against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.
In other news, the team designated third baseman Conor Gillaspie for assignment Sunday, according to Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago.
The team's Opening Day third baseman had been a nice find the past two seasons when he hit .265/.322/.404 with a 2.1 WAR. Those triple-slash numbers were down to .237/.276/.364 this season, though, and he had recently lost his job to prospect Tyler Saladino.
Hitter of the Week
- CF Adam Eaton (5-for-15, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP John Danks (W, 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 4 K)
23. Texas Rangers (43-48, Previous: 24)
8 of 30
Last Week: 1-2
It's been quite the tumble down these rankings for the Texas Rangers, who have now gone a dismal 7-18 in their last 25 games after looking like potential contenders a month ago.
The team has been linked to a number of pitchers on the trade market, including Cole Hamels (via Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports) and Mike Leake (via Jon Heyman of CBS Sports).
While Hamels would make sense as a long-term pickup who would help next year and beyond, it's hard to see the Rangers having much use for a rental player like Leake.
In fact, don't be surprised if they decide to flip their own free-agent-to-be Yovani Gallardo (20 GS, 7-9, 2.91 ERA), acquired during the offseason and enjoying the best season of his career.
Hitter of the Week
- 2B Rougned Odor (6-for-14, 2 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Colby Lewis (W, 7.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K)
22. Milwaukee Brewers (41-52, Previous: 29)
9 of 30
Last Week: 3-0
A three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who wrapped up the first half in the No. 1 spot in these power rankings, is certainly a nice way to start the second half for the Milwaukee Brewers.
That comes after a strong 13-6 finish to the first half, and with their win Sunday the team is now an even 34-34 since Craig Counsell took over as manager.
The hole they've dug themselves is too deep to climb out of at this point, but they might not be as motivated for a full-blown fire sale as they were a month ago.
First baseman Adam Lind, outfielder Gerardo Parra and starter Kyle Lohse still look like prime candidates to be dealt before the deadline, but guys like Carlos Gomez, Jean Segura and Francisco Rodriguez may be sticking around now.
Hitter of the Week
- 3B Aramis Ramirez (6-for-9, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Mike Fiers (W, 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K)
21. Seattle Mariners (42-50, Previous: 21)
10 of 30
Last Week: 1-2
The Seattle Mariners are rapidly running out of time to kick things into gear and make a run at living up to lofty preseason expectations, as they began the second half with a series loss to the New York Yankees.
According to Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times, it's unlikely the Mariners make any significant moves on the trade market; their players will simply have to perform better if they are going to get back into the playoff picture.
General manager Jack Zduriencik said the following, via Divish:
"We did the Mark Trumbo thing. We tried to jump the market and make a deal at the time that we thought could bring in, what we considered, a pretty good power bat for our lineup, to help augment what we already have. I think anything else will probably be moves within the organization. There's always the possibility something could happen, but you’re not really counting on it.
"
Hitter of the Week
- 3B Kyle Seager (4-for-12, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Hisashi Iwakuma (W, 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K)
20. Atlanta Braves (43-49, Previous: 20)
11 of 30
Last Week: 1-2
The Atlanta Braves don't have much left to trade after shipping out a number of pieces during the offseason, but they are nonetheless expected to be sellers at the deadline.
Third baseman Juan Uribe, outfielder Cameron Maybin and reliever Jim Johnson top the list of potential trade chips, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
Maybin is an interesting case, as he's struggled throughout his career to turn potential and tools into legitimate production but has hit a solid .285/.352/.409 with eight home runs and 44 RBI this season.
He's signed for $8 million next season with a $9 million option in 2017 and is still just 28 years old, so if teams believe his turnaround is legitimate, he'd be a relatively cheap investment beyond just a one-year rental.
Hitter of the Week
- OF Eury Perez (2-for-7, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Shelby Miller (L, 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 8 K)
19. Boston Red Sox (42-49, Previous: 17)
12 of 30
Last Week: 0-2
The Boston Red Sox showed some signs of life near the end of the first half with an 8-2 stretch of games.
However, they dropped a series to the New York Yankees heading into the All-Star break and have lost their first two games in a four-game series with the Los Angeles Angels to start the second half, putting them eight games back in the AL East heading into the week.
While the Red Sox continue to scout Cole Hamels, who makes sense as an addition for 2015 and beyond, chances are they won't be in the market for any rental-type players given their current standing.
Instead, they may take the second half as an opportunity to assess their young talent, especially on the pitching side of things, where the future is still very much up in the air but they have a number of options.
Hitter of the Week
- 3B Pablo Sandoval (2-for-6, 1 2B)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Wade Miley (ND, 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K)
18. Cleveland Indians (44-47, Previous: 19)
13 of 30
Last Week: 2-1
The resounding feeling heading into the All-Star break is that the Cleveland Indians were a team capable of putting together a run during the second half on the strength of their starting rotation.
A series win over the Cincinnati Reds is a nice start, but they still need to find more consistency offensively if they are going to vault into the role of contender.
They averaged 3.94 runs per game with a minus-19 run differential in the first half, and getting Michael Brantley back to his 2014 level of production would go a long way toward improving their offense as a whole.
This week brings matchups with the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago White Sox as the Indians look to cut into a 5.5-game deficit for the second AL wild-card spot.
Hitter of the Week
- LF Michael Brantley (4-for-11, 2 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 1 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Carlos Carrasco (ND, 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K)
17. Oakland Athletics (43-51, Previous: 17)
14 of 30
Last Week: 2-1
The Oakland Athletics wrapped up the first half with a plus-44 run differential, so it's fair to say they are probably a better team than their record to this point might indicate.
The question is: Does the front office have enough faith in the roster's potentially making a second-half run to not sell at the trade deadline?
Scott Kazmir, Tyler Clippard and Ben Zobrist are all free agents at the end of the season, and all three would generate plenty of attention and a significant return on the trade market.
Kazmir in particular carries a ton of value, as he's gone 5-5 with a 2.38 ERA, a 1.085 WHIP and 101 strikeouts in 109.2 innings of work.
Hitter of the Week
- LF Jake Smolinski (4-for-7, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Scott Kazmir (ND, 8.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K)
16. Detroit Tigers (45-46, Previous: 16)
15 of 30
Last Week: 1-2
The Detroit Tigers have been chasing the Kansas City Royals in the AL Central standings since May 9, when the Tigers surrendered the division lead to them.
At this point, the two teams are clearly heading in different directions, as a series loss to the Baltimore Orioles puts the Tigers a season-high 10.5 games back in the division and 4.5 games out for a wild-card spot.
Being without Miguel Cabrera hurts, but even if he were healthy, he wouldn't do anything to solve the team's issues on the mound.
At this point, the Tigers simply don't look like a contender, and unless they can string together some wins, they may have to seriously consider flipping David Price at the deadline.
Hitter of the Week
- SS Jose Iglesias (5-for-10, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 5 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP David Price (L, 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 12 K)
15. Tampa Bay Rays (47-47, Previous: 13)
16 of 30
Last Week: 1-2
The AL East standings continue to shift seemingly on a daily basis, and with a series loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Tampa Bay Rays are now tied for third place at 4.5 games back.
Despite hitting just .240/.305/.377 as a team and averaging 3.65 runs per game during the first half, the team has managed to stay afloat on the strength of its starting pitching, led by breakout star Chris Archer.
As a small-market club, the Rays won't be in the running to make any huge moves at the trade deadline. Instead, their most significant additions could simply come in the form of guys getting healthy.
Asdrubal Cabrera (strained hamstring), Steven Souza (finger laceration) and Desmond Jennings (knee surgery) are all currently on the disabled list, with Souza representing the best power threat in the lineup with a team-high 15 home runs on the season.
Hitter of the Week
- 2B Logan Forsythe (4-for-9, 1 2B, 1 RBI)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Chris Archer (L, 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K)
14. Toronto Blue Jays (47-47, Previous: 15)
17 of 30
Last Week: 2-1
With a series win over the Tampa Bay Rays to begin the second half, the Toronto Blue Jays are 4.5 games back in the AL East standings and four games out for the second AL wild-card spot.
It's no secret that they have the best offense in baseball, averaging 5.30 runs per game with a .770 OPS, but it's the pitching staff that will ultimately determine how their 2015 season plays out.
Mark Buehrle (18 GS, 10-5, 3.34 ERA) and Marco Estrada (14 GS, 7-5, 3.22 ERA) have been a solid duo, but they're not exactly going to scare anyone in a postseason series, and the rest of the rotation has been hit-and-miss.
A front-line starter and a proven closer both look like must-adds between now and the deadline if the team is going to take full advantage of a wide-open AL East and the best offense in the league.
Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija and Mike Leake are the team's top targets on the starting pitcher market, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
Hitter of the Week
- RF Jose Bautista (3-for-10, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Marco Estrada (W, 8.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K)
13. Baltimore Orioles (46-45, Previous: 14)
18 of 30
Last Week: 2-1
The Baltimore Orioles maintained their half-game lead for second place in the AL East with a series win over the Detroit Tigers.
Finding consistent production on either side of Adam Jones in the outfield has been an issue this season, so it's not a huge surprise to hear the team has shown interest in both Justin Upton and Carlos Gomez, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
That said, Rosenthal rightfully asks if the team has the prospect talent to pull off a trade for someone of that caliber, and in the end the Orioles may simply wind up standing pat and hoping for the best.
One player who could be a real X-factor in the second half is Chris Tillman. He's gone 2-0 with a 1.40 ERA in his last four starts, including eight shutout innings of one-hit ball in his last start, after beginning the year 5-7 with a 6.22 ERA in his 14 starts.
Hitter of the Week
- 2B Jonathan Schoop (6-for-12, 2 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Chris Tillman (W, 8.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K)
12. Minnesota Twins (50-42, Previous: 11)
19 of 30
Last Week: 1-2
It's put-up-or-shut-up time for the Minnesota Twins.
They've been among the biggest surprises of 2015 and are currently slotted in one of the AL wild-card spots, but they have played sub-.500 baseball (20-23) since the beginning of June.
A 7-1 stretch heading into this past weekend appeared to have them on the rise once again, but then they dropped consecutive games and the series to the Oakland Athletics.
The team's primary focus at the deadline will be finding bullpen help, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Closer Glen Perkins has been lights-out once again, but the bullpen as a whole ranks 23rd with a 3.89 ERA.
Hitter of the Week
- 2B Brian Dozier (4-for-11, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Ervin Santana (W, 7.2 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K)
11. New York Mets (48-44, Previous: 9)
20 of 30
Last Week: 1-2
Fantastic starting pitching and a nonexistent offense has been the story of the season for the New York Mets, and something has to give between now and the deadline if this team is going to make a legitimate run.
The Mets are currently hitting an MLB-worst .234 as a team and averaging just 3.45 runs per game, and simply relying on David Wright to get healthy and spark the offense is probably wishful thinking at this point.
Mike Puma of the New York Post pegged Brandon Nimmo, Gavin Cecchini and Michael Fulmer as prospects the team would be willing to move to add a bat. He also noted the Mets are not in a hurry to deal left-hander Jon Niese, as he continues to be an important part of the rotation.
Marc Carig of Newsday pointed to lower-cost additions like Gerardo Parra and Will Venable as potential targets, while calling up top prospect Michael Conforto is also an option to upgrade the outfield production.
Hitter of the Week
- SS Ruben Tejada (7-for-14, 2 2B, 3 RBI)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Jon Niese (ND, 7.2 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K)
10. Washington Nationals (49-41, Previous: 8)
21 of 30
Last Week: 1-2
It's going to be a tough road ahead for the Washington Nationals. Just look at the pitchers they're slated to face over the next eight games.
- 7/20: Matt Harvey
- 7/21: Jacob deGrom
- 7/22: Noah Syndergaard
- 7/23: Francisco Liriano
- 7/24: Jeff Locke
- 7/25: A.J. Burnett
- 7/26: Gerrit Cole
- 7/28: Jose Fernandez
Yikes.
After losing their weekend series with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Nationals' lead still stands at two games over the New York Mets in the NL East, so that three-game set to kick off this coming week will be a big one.
The focus in terms of deadline additions is strengthening the bullpen, specifically adding a reliable late-inning arm to pair with closer Drew Storen, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
Hitter of the Week
- 3B Yunel Escobar (5-for-13, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Max Scherzer (L, 6.0 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K)
9. San Francisco Giants (49-43, Previous: 12)
22 of 30
Last Week: 3-0
The San Francisco Giants closed out the first half with a sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies, and they have now built their winning streak to six games after picking up another sweep over the Arizona Diamondbacks to begin the second half.
Hunter Pence has sparked the offense when healthy, hitting .298/.348/.500 with 24 RBI in 26 games. The team is 19-6 (.760) with him in the starting lineup, compared to 30-37 (.448) without him.
Another starting pitcher remains priority No. 1 at the deadline. Madison Bumgarner (10-5, 3.27 ERA) and Chris Heston (9-5, 3.39 ERA) have been solid, but the rest of the team's starters have combined to go 20-23 with a 4.41 ERA on the year.
According to Peter Gammons, prospect Tyler Beede is a name that has been frequently asked for in trade talks, but it's hard to see the team moving him and risking a Zack Wheeler 2.0.
Hitter of the Week
- RF Hunter Pence (5-for-12, 2 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Madison Bumgarner (W, 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K)
8. Chicago Cubs (49-41, Previous: 10)
23 of 30
Last Week: 2-1
The Chicago Cubs are still battling offensive inconsistency, but they have managed to avoid any lengthy losing streaks to this point.
With a series win over the Atlanta Braves, they currently hold a one-game lead over the San Francisco Giants for the No. 2 wild-card spot in the NL.
Zack Greinke is the best pitcher in baseball right now, no question, but Jake Arrieta is making a strong case to be No. 2 on that list based on recent performance. He threw another gem Sunday and is now 5-0 with a 0.96 ERA in his last six starts.
One more starter to round out the rotation remains on the wish list, and there have also been rumblings that the team could target an outfield bat, as noted by Jon Morosi of Fox Sports.
In transaction news, the Cubs finally bit the bullet and designated Edwin Jackson on Sunday, calling up reliever Rafael Soriano to take his place in the bullpen, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Hitter of the Week
- RF Jorge Soler (3-for-13, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Jake Arrieta (W, 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 K)
7. New York Yankees (50-41, Previous: 7)
24 of 30
Last Week: 2-1
The New York Yankees have emerged as top dogs in the AL East, as a series win over the Seattle Mariners gives them a four-game lead heading into the week.
Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda and a healthy Ivan Nova give the team three solid starters, and even CC Sabathia looked good his last time out (6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 7 K).
Meanwhile, the bullpen trio of Chasen Shreve (33 G, 1.93 ERA, 9.2 K/9), Dellin Betances (43 G, 1.47 ERA, 14.5 K/9) and Andrew Miller (31 G, 1.44 ERA, 14.4 K/9) continues to shorten games.
Another starting pitcher is probably a must, if only from a depth standpoint, but don't expect the team to mortgage any top prospects from a farm system it's worked hard to build back up over the past few seasons.
Hitter of the Week
- 1B Mark Teixeira (5-for-10, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Masahiro Tanaka (W, 7.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 K)
6. Houston Astros (51-43, Previous: 6)
25 of 30
Last Week: 2-1
The Houston Astros were not playing well heading into the All-Star break, suffering through a 1-8 stretch that effectively cost them their lead in the AL West standings.
With that in mind, a series win over the Texas Rangers to begin the second half is big from a momentum standpoint.
Dallas Keuchel continues to impress on the mound, improving to 12-4 with a 2.12 ERA with another terrific start Sunday, but the Astros will likely need to add another frontline arm to join him atop the rotation if they're going to make a serious run.
Reds ace Johnny Cueto has been identified as the team's top target in the past, while they have also talked with the San Diego Padres about their pitchers, according to Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
That being said, adding a bat has become "a growing point of focus," according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.
Hitter of the Week
- SS Carlos Correa (5-for-11, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Dallas Keuchel (W, 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 13 K)
5. Los Angeles Angels (50-40, Previous: 5)
26 of 30
Last Week: 2-0
The Los Angeles Angels entered the All-Star break playing very well, going 11-3 in their last 14 games of the first half, and they picked up right where they left off by taking the first two games of a four-game series with the Boston Red Sox.
It took Garrett Richards some time to shake off the rust after beginning the season on the disabled list, but he's now gone 5-2 with a 2.17 ERA and 1.067 WHIP in his last seven starts. That includes a two-hit shutout of the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.
Finding a productive left-handed bat remains a need, as the Angels have hit just .241/.302/.355 from the left side this season.
Reds outfielder Jay Bruce is one player in whom the team has shown interest, according to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports. After a rough season last year, Bruce has posted an .806 OPS with 14 home runs and 46 RBI in 2015.
Hitter of the Week
- RF Kole Calhoun (4-for-7, 1 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Garrett Richards (W, 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K)
4. Pittsburgh Pirates (53-38, Previous: 1)
27 of 30
Last Week: 0-3
A series win over the St. Louis Cardinals vaulted the Pittsburgh Pirates into the No. 1 spot in these rankings heading into the All-Star break, but after being swept by the Milwaukee Brewers, they drop back down to No. 4.
The team's rotation remains its biggest strength, and while the three-headed monster of Gerrit Cole, Francisco Liriano and A.J. Burnett is no secret, the team has also gotten a terrific performance of late from Jeff Locke (1.77 ERA, 0.984 WHIP in July).
With Josh Harrison on the disabled list and shortstop Jordy Mercer carted off after suffering an apparent leg injury from a Carlos Gomez slide Sunday, the Pirates could be in the market for some infield depth.
They are also in search of an upgrade at first base, where Pedro Alvarez has been horrible defensively and has failed to make up for those shortcomings offensively.
Hitter of the Week
- IF Jung Ho Kang (4-for-9, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Jeff Locke (L, 7.1 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K)
3. Los Angeles Dodgers (53-40, Previous: 4)
28 of 30
Last Week: 2-1
The Los Angeles Dodgers picked up a series win over a good Washington Nationals team to start the second half, but the big story is still the dominance of Zack Greinke.
With eight shutout innings head-to-head against Max Scherzer on Sunday, Greinke has run his scoreless innings streak to 43.2 innings, the fourth-longest streak since 1960.
After Sunday's performance, Greinke is now 9-2 with a 1.30 ERA and 0.822 WHIP on the season.
The scary thing is, Clayton Kershaw seems to be hitting his stride as well, as he's working on a 20.1-inning scoreless streak of his own and has allowed just one earned run in 24 innings this month.
The performance of those two guys won't stop the Dodgers from adding a starter before the deadline as they turn their attention to the postseason and what the rotation will look like behind their two aces.
Hitter of the Week
- 1B Adrian Gonzalez (7-for-11, 1 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Zack Greinke (W, 8.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 11 K)
2. Kansas City Royals (55-35, Previous: 3)
29 of 30
Last Week: 3-1
The Kansas City Royals opened the second half by taking three of four from the Chicago White Sox, backing up their new standing as World Series favorites, at least according to the Vegas odds.
It was a big four-game series for Lorenzo Cain, who is now hitting .321/.378/.513 with 21 doubles, 10 home runs and 45 RBI.
Those numbers, coupled with his Gold Glove-caliber defense, have made Cain a 5.2 WAR player, and he has to be considered among the favorites for AL MVP honors at this point.
As far as their deadline needs, another starting pitcher seems like the clear top priority, and Joel Sherman of the New York Post named the Royals as one of the teams most aggressively pursuing another arm.
Hitter of the Week
- CF Lorenzo Cain (7-for-17, 2 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Danny Duffy (W, 8.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K)
1. St. Louis Cardinals (58-34, Previous: 2)
30 of 30
Last Week: 2-1
The St. Louis Cardinals climb back into the No. 1 spot in the rankings after a series win over the New York Mets, but the Kansas City Royals are nipping at their heels.
Getting Matt Holliday back in the lineup is big, as he returned after missing over a month with a quad strain.
Even though his power numbers are way down this season (.416 SLG, 3 HR), he's still hitting an impressive .400 with runners in scoring position.
"He's just been and always has been a consistent presence in this lineup for a long time," manager Mike Matheny told reporters (via ESPN.com). "It's great to have him back."
Adding another starter for the sake of depth, perhaps another veteran bullpen arm and at least exploring options at first base figure to be on the deadline to-do list.
Hitter of the Week
- OF Randal Grichuk (4-for-12, 1 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Lance Lynn (W, 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K)
All standard and advanced stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, unless otherwise noted. Hitter and pitcher of the week stats reflect games played from Friday, July 17, through Sunday, July 19.
