Carter's MLB Power Rankings, April 25: Rays Take Top Spot from Phillies

There's no reason why the Rays shouldn't be in the top spot in this week's power rankings. They are the only team to be ranked in the top five in both scoring and team ERA. They are also the only team that has won at least eight of its last 10 games.

The Royals' Jose Guillen (.352 average, 6 HR, 15 RBI) and the Brewers' Ryan Braun (.382 average, 5 HR, 20 RBI) take the top spots for the AL and NL MVP races while the Yanks' Andy Pettitte (1.29 ERA) and the Phillies' Roy Halladay (0.82 ERA) are on top the AL and NL Cy Young races.

Carter's top 30 teams in the MLB, ranked from strongest to weakest:

1. Tampa Bay Rays (13-5)

Offense Rank: 1

Pitching Rank: 5

Last 10 Games: 8-2

2. New York Yankees (12-5)

Offense Rank: 6

Pitching Rank: 3

Last 10 Games: 7-3

3. Philadelphia Phillies (11-6)

Offense Rank: 5

Pitching Rank: 7

Last 10 Games: 5-5

4. Minnesota Twins (13-5)

Offense Rank: 4

Pitching Rank: 9

Last 10 Games: 7-3

5. San Francisco Giants (10-7)

Offense Rank: 17

Pitching Rank: 1

Last 10 Games: 4-6

6. San Diego Padres (11-6)

Offense Rank: 16

Pitching Rank: 2

Last 10 Games: 8-2

7. St. Louis Cardinals (10-7)

Offense Rank: 19

Pitching Rank: 4

Last 10 Games: 5-5

8. Colorado Rockies (9-9)

Offense Rank: 9

Pitching Rank: 11

Last 10 Games: 4-6

9. Oakland Athletics (11-8)

Offense Rank: 13

Pitching Rank: 8

Last 10 Games: 5-5

10. New York Mets (9-9)

Offense Rank: 21

Pitching Rank: 6

Last 10 Games: 7-3

11. Milwaukee Brewers (8-9)

Offense Rank: 3

Pitching Rank: 21

Last 10 Games: 5-5

12. Seattle Mariners (9-9)

Offense Rank: 25

Pitching Rank: 10

Last 10 Games: 7-3

13. Florida Marlins (10-8)

Offense Rank: 8

Pitching Rank: 18

Last 10 Games: 6-4

14. Toronto Blue Jays (10-8)

Offense Rank: 14

Pitching Rank: 17

Last 10 Games: 4-6

15. Los Angeles Dodgers (8-9)

Offense Rank: 2

Pitching Rank: 27

Last 10 Games: 5-5

16. Arizona Diamondbacks (7-10)

Offense Rank: 7

Pitching Rank: 22

Last 10 Games: 3-7

17. Detroit Tigers (10-8)

Offense Rank: 10

Pitching Rank: 19

Last 10 Games: 4-6

18. Chicago Cubs (8-10)

Offense Rank: 18

Pitching Rank: 16

Last 10 Games: 4-6

19. Texas Rangers (7-10)

Offense Rank: 23

Pitching Rank: 13

Last 10 Games: 3-7

20. Atlanta Braves (8-9)

Offense Rank: 26

Pitching Rank: 14

Last 10 Games: 5-5

21. Cleveland Indians (8-9)

Offense Rank: 27

Pitching Rank: 12

Last 10 Games: 6-4

22. Washington Nationals (9-9)

Offense Rank: 11

Pitching Rank: 26

Last 10 Games: 6-4

23. Chicago White Sox (7-11)

Offense Rank: 24

Pitching Rank: 20

Last 10 Games: 4-6

24. Boston Red Sox (8-10)

Offense Rank: 20

Pitching Rank: 25

Last 10 Games: 4-6

25. Los Angeles Angels (9-10)

Offense Rank: 22

Pitching Rank: 19

Last 10 Games: 6-4

26. Kansas City Royals (6-11)

Offense Rank: 15

Pitching Rank: 28

Last 10 Games: 3-7

27. Houston Astros (7-10)

Offense Rank: 30

Pitching Rank: 15

Last 10 Games: 7-3

28. Cincinnati Reds (7-11)

Offense Rank: 12

Pitching Rank: 29

Last 10 Games: 2-8

29. Baltimore Orioles (2-16)

Offense Rank: 29

Pitching Rank: 23

Last 10 Games: 1-9

30. Pittsburgh Pirates (7-10)

Offense Rank: 28

Pitching Rank: 30

Last 10 Games: 4-6

Carter’s AL Most Valuable Player Award Race:

1. Jose Guillen (KC): .352 avg., 25 hits, 6 HR, 15 RBI

2. Vernon Wells (TOR): .324 avg., 22 hits, 7 HR, 13 RBI

3. Miguel Cabrera (DET): .361 avg., 26 hits, 4 HR, 22 RBI

4. Nelson Cruz (TEX): .321 avg., 18 hits, 7 HR, 17 RBI

5. Kendry Morales (LAA): .300 avg., 21 hits, 5 HR, 13 RBI

6. Ty Wigginton (BAL): .333 avg., 16 hits, 6 HR, 12 RBI

7. Dustin Pedroia (BOS): .284 avg., 21 hits, 5 HR, 13 RBI

8. Paul Konerko (CHW): .267 avg., 16 hits, 7 HR, 13 RBI

9. Alex Gonzalez (TOR): .276 avg., 21 hits, 5 HR, 13 RBI

10. Andruw Jones (CHW): .295 avg., 13 hits, 6 HR, 9 RBI

Carter’s NL Most Valuable Player Award Race:

1. Ryan Braun (MIL): .382 avg., 26 hits, 5 HR, 20 RBI

2. Matt Kemp (LAD): .319 avg., 23 hits. 7 HR, 20 RBI

3. Andre Ethier (LAD): .362 avg., 21 hits, 5 HR, 16 RBI

4. Chase Utley (PHI): .297 avg., 19 hits, 6 HR, 14 RBI

5. Albert Pujols (STL): .275 avg., 19 hits, 6 HR. 16 RBI

7. Dan Uggla (FLA): .333 avg., 23 hits, 4 HR, 11 RBI

8. Adrian Gonzalez (SD): .322 avg., 19 hits, 5 HR, 12 RBI

9. Kelly Johnson (ARZ): .327 avg., 18 hits, 6 HR, 10 RBI

19. Mark Reynolds (ARZ): .222 avg., 13 hits, 6 HR, 16 RBI

Carter’s AL Cy Young Award Race:

1. Andy Pettitte (NYY): 3-0, 1.29 ERA, 22 strikeouts

2. John Danks (CHW): 2-0, 1.29 ERA, 17 strikeouts

3. Francisco Liriano (MIN): 2-0, 1.29 ERA, 17 strikeouts

4. Ricky Romero (TOR): 1-1, 1.80 ERA, 25 strikeouts

5. Felix Hernandez (SEA): 2-0, 2.15 ERA, 24 strikeouts

6. Justin Duchscherer (OAK): 2-0, 1.82 ERA, 15 strikeouts

7. Matt Garza (TB): 3-1, 2.17 ERA, 25 strikeouts

8. C.J. Wilson (TEX): 1-1, 1.37 ERA, 16 strikeouts

9. Doug Fister (SEA): 2-1, 1.67 ERA, 13 strikeouts

10. Dana Eveland (TOR): 2-0, 1.93 ERA, 9 strikeouts

Carter’s NL Cy Young Award Race:

1. Roy Halladay (PHI): 4-0, 0.82 ERA, 28 strikeouts

2. Ubaldo Jimenez (COL): 4-0, 0.95 ERA, 25 strikeouts

3. Tim Lincecum (SF): 4-0, 1.00 ERA, 32 strikeouts

4. Mike Pelfrey (NYM): 3-0, 0.86 ERA, 16 strikeouts, 1 save

5. Barry Zito (SF): 3-0, 1.32 ERA, 19 strikeouts

6. Carlos Silva (CHC): 2-0, 0.95 ERA, 12 strikeouts

7. Livan Hernandez (WSH): 2-1, 0.75 ERA, 9 strikeouts

8. Brad Penny (STL): 2-0, 1.29 ERA, 13 strikeouts

9. Adam Wainwright (STL): 3-1, 1.69 ERA, 25 strikeouts

10. Jaime Garcia (STL): 1-1, 1.42 ERA, 12 strikeouts