Carter's MLB Power Rankings, June 7: Red-Hot St. Louis Cardinals Jump to No. 3

Team Power Rankings

NOTE: Team W-L records and player statistics accurate as of Monday, June 7, at 11:00 AM CT.

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Team with the largest jump in the rankings.

BUST OF THE WEEK: Team with the furthest drop in the rankings.

1. Tampa Bay Rays (37-20)

If the Rays keep struggling, the Yankees could be taking their top spot soon.

2. New York Yankees (35-22)

The Bombers are taking advantage of the Rays' recent struggles, pulling within two games of them in the AL East.

3. St. Louis Cardinals (33-24) *TEAM OF THE WEEK*

I don’t know what manager Tony La Russa has been putting in his players’ pre-game drinks, but whatever it is, it’s been working! Outscoring opponents by a combined 26 runs will give a team a huge boost in the rankings, and that’s exactly what the Cardinals have done over the past seven games. As a result, I move them from No. 11 on my list to No. 3.

4. Atlanta Braves (33-24)

The Braves have gone 19-6 at home this season, which ranks at the top of the majors.

5. San Diego Padres (33-23)

The Padres pitching staff continues to dominate the majors. As a result, they move into the top five in my rankings.

6. Toronto Blue Jays (33-25)

If you would’ve told me at the beginning of the season that Jose Bautista would be MLB’s home run leader by the start of June, I would’ve told you to go slap yourself...because of this thought, I deserve to be slapped.

7. Minnesota Twins (33-24)

The Twins did have an off week, but there still shouldn’t be much to worry about. Their four losses this week were by a combined five runs.

8. Boston Red Sox (33-25)

The Red Sox have got to feel pretty good about themselves. They have gone 14-5 over their last 19 games and are now only 4.5 games behind the Rays. On top of that, they have the Cleveland Indians (21-34) as their opponents over their next four games.

9. Colorado Rockies (29-27)

It would be dumb to argue Ubaldo Jimenez as the favorite to win the NL Cy Young Award to this point.

10. San Francisco Giants (30-25)

Despite Tim Lincecum’s recent struggles, the Giants still have given up only the second-fewest number of runs in the majors (193).

11. Philadelphia Phillies (30-25) *BUST OF THE WEEK*

So Brad Lidge is back. Now it’s time to give him some late-inning leads to work with. This could be a difficult task. The Phillies went 2-5 last week and were outscored by a combined eight runs. Because of this I make them the BUST OF THE WEEK!

12. Cincinnati Reds (33-24)

The Reds have scored more runs than any other team in the National League (290).

 
13. New York Mets (30-27)

This team has been successful and all. But it seems like they are a totally different team on the road than they are at home. They are a great 22-9 at Citi Field but only own an 8-18 record on the road.

14. Florida Marlins (28-30)

Here’s a great number: 264—the number of strikeouts thrown by Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Anibal Sanchez, Chris Volstad, and Nate Robertson combined.

15. Texas Rangers (30-26)

With their upcoming schedule being reasonably soft, the Rangers look to extend their short lead in the AL West over the next few weeks.

16. Los Angeles Dodgers (33-24)

The Dodgers have six wins over their past eight games...all of them are by a single run. Not very exciting. As a result, I keep them at No. 16 for a second straight week.

17. Detroit Tigers (33-24)

Miguel Cabrera is (so far at least) the 2010 American League MVP. Who agrees?

18. Los Angeles Angels (30-28)

The hottest team in the American League right now. No other team has won at least eight of its last 10 games.

19. Oakland Athletics (30-28)

Kevin Kouzmanoff is hitting .400 with three home runs and a 1.223 OPS over his last seven games.

20. Chicago Cubs (25-31)

Until this past weekend, I wasn’t aware that Aramis Ramirez was still capable of hitting a home run. Despite him hitting one over the weekend, the Cubbies continue to drop in the rankings.

21. Washington Nationals (27-31)

I’m so ready for Tuesday. I predict six innings, seven strikeouts, and only one run given up by Stephen Strasburg for his first start against the Pirates.

22. Kansas City Royals (24-34)

Another typical week for the Royals: going 3-5 over their past eight games and being outscored by a combined nine runs.

23. Seattle Mariners (22-34)

The Mariners continue to play bad baseball. They were outscored by a combined 13 runs last week. I still don’t understand why people picked them to win the West when the season started.

24. Chicago White Sox (24-32)

The Sox went 3-4 last week and were also outscored by a combined 13 runs. This is just another week at the office for Ozzie Guillen’s club. I see a pink slip being placed in his hand soon.

25. Milwaukee Brewers (23-34)

The Brewers went 2-6 during their last eight games and were outscored by a terrible 22 runs in those games. That Corey Hart kid is playing well though.

26. Cleveland Indians (21-34)

The Indians went 3-5 this week and were outscored by a combined 11 runs in those games. They also continue to get worse and worse. Now they get the surging Red Sox next. Sure it’s a home series, but I smell a sweep coming soon.

27. Arizona Diamondbacks (22-35)

The D-backs have hit .223 and have a 5.66 ERA since May 7, going 8-20.

28. Houston Astros (22-35)

The Astros can finally get out of that dreaded No. 29 spot. They have a successful 6-2 record over the past eight games but still only outscored opponents by a combined one run during that span.

29. Baltimore Orioles (16-41)

The O’s are the only team that has won less than two of its last 10 games.

30. Pittsburgh Pirates (23-33)

Brad Lincoln, who's likely to make his MLB debut Wednesday, is 6-2 with a 3.16 ERA in 11 starts at Triple-A Indianapolis. It’s kind of embarrassing when the only interesting news I can find on the Pirates is about one of their minor league players. Just goes to show what kind of season they’ve been having.

Carter’s American League MVP Race

1. Miguel Cabrera (DET): .351 avg., 73 hits, 17 HR, 52 RBI
2. Robinson Cano (NYY): .363 avg., 82 hits, 12 HR, 45 RBI
3. Justin Morneau (MIN): .370 avg., 71 hits, 13 HR, 40 RBI
4. Vladimir Guerrero (TEX): .335 avg., 70 hits, 12 HR, 47 RBI
5. Vernon Wells (TOR): .306 avg., 68 hits, 15 HR, 40 RBI
6. Jose Bautista (TOR): .250 avg., 50 hits, 18 HR, 45 RBI
7. Paul Konerko (CHW): .272 avg., 49 hits, 17 HR, 41 RBI
8. Kevin Youkilis (BOS): .320 avg., 63 hits, 12 HR, 38 RBI
9. Jose Guillen (KC): .247 avg., 53 hits, 13 HR, 38 RBI
10. Ty Wigginton (BAL): .274 avg., 52 hits, 13 HR, 33 RBI

Carter’s National League MVP Race

1. Albert Pujols (STL): .317 avg., 66 hits, 14 HR, 44 RBI
2. Scott Rolen (CIN): .288 avg., 53 hits, 14 HR, 40 RBI
3. Joey Votto (CIN): .318 avg., 61 hits, 11 HR, 36 RBI
4. Andre Ethier (LAD): .353 avg., 54 hits, 11 HR, 40 RBI
5. Matt Kemp (LAD): .279 avg., 65 hits, 11 HR, 32 RBI
6. Dan Uggla (FLA): .268 avg., 56 hits, 13 HR, 34 RBI
7. Adrian Gonzalez (SD): .283 avg., 58 hits, 11 HR, 36 RBI
8. Corey Hart (MIL): .251 avg., 44 hits, 14 HR, 37 RBI
9. Mark Reynolds (ARZ): .215 avg., 41 hits, 12 HR, 41 RBI
10. Kelly Johnson (ARZ): .268 avg., 53 hits, 12 HR, 26 RBI

Carter’s American League Cy Young Award Race

1. David Price (TB): 8-2, 2.29 ERA, 53 strikeouts
2. Phil Hughes (NYY): 7-1, 2.54 ERA, 64 strikeouts
3. Andy Pettitte (NYY): 7-1, 2.47 ERA, 51 strikeouts
4. Jon Lester (BOS): 7-2, 2.73 ERA, 81 strikeouts
5. Jered Weaver (LAA): 5-2, 2.74 ERA, 83 strikeouts
6. Clay Buchholz (BOS): 8-3, 2.39 ERA, 49 strikeouts
7. Jeff Niemann (TB): 5-0, 2.79 ERA, 45 strikeouts
8. Ricky Romero (TOR): 5-2, 3.06 ERA, 86 strikeouts
9. Shaun Marcum (TOR): 5-2, 2.77 ERA, 62 strikeouts
10. Doug Fister (SEA): 3-3, 2.45 ERA, 32 strikeouts

Carter’s National League Cy Young Award Race

1. Ubaldo Jimenez (COL): 11-1, 0.93 ERA, 78 strikeouts
2. Roy Halladay (PHI): 8-3, 2.03 ERA, 77 strikeouts
3. Adam Wainwright (STL): 8-3, 2.05 ERA, 85 strikeouts
4. Jaime Garcia (STL): 5-2, 1.47 ERA, 55 strikeouts
5. Josh Johnson (STL): 6-2, 2.10 ERA, 77 strikeouts
6. Mike Leake (CIN): 5-0, 2.22 ERA, 50 strikeouts
7. Livan Hernandez (WSH): 4-3, 2.22 ERA, 30 strikeouts
8. Matt Cain (SF): 4-4, 2.36 ERA, 56 strikeouts
9. Mike Pelfrey (NYM): 8-1, 2.39 ERA, 52 strikeouts
10. Tim Hudson (ATL): 6-1, 2.44 ERA, 34 strikeouts