MLB Power Rankings 2012: Teams That Will Rise During Dog Days of Summer

Tim DanielsJun 7, 2018

As the MLB season nears the quarter pole, contenders are slowly starting to separate themselves from pretenders. There's still plenty of time for under-performing teams to make a charge up the standings, however, giving hope to fanbases that had high expectations.

Let's take a look at three teams that have records well below what most people were expecting coming into the year that will bounce back before the leaves start changing colors. A full power rankings list follows the highlighted teams.

Philadelphia Phillies

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The Phillies' offense has battled inconsistency in the early going, which isn't surprising since Ryan Howard and Chase Utley have both been out with injuries. The bigger problem has been the team's pitching struggles.

Cliff Lee just recovered from an oblique and will provide a boost to the rotation. That should help the starting staff reach an elite level once again and take a lot of pressure off a bullpen that only has two reliable arms.

Philadelphia needs to start getting some better health luck, but assuming they get it, a second-half run will be on the horizon. The Phillies have too much talent on the roster to stay in the NL East basement for much longer.

Detroit Tigers

After adding Prince Fielder to an already potent lineup in the offseason, the Tigers were expected to run away with the AL Central. It just hasn't happened, and the former Milwaukee Brewers star's lackluster play has been a big reason why.

Fielder's on-base percentage checks in at .340, nearly 50 points below his career average. Add in the fact Miguel Cabrera hasn't been his usual dynamic self, and it's easy to see why the Tigers are hovering around .500 so far.

Both of those guys should pick up the pace over the next few months to go along with surprise contributors like Austin Jackson. That should get Detroit's offense clicking like anticipated, letting them take control of the division.

Chicago White Sox

If there's one team that can challenge the Tigers, it's the White Sox. Jake Peavy and Gavin Floyd lead a talented pitching staff that also features Philip Humber, who threw a perfect game earlier in the year. Now they just need to get the offense going.

Adam Dunn has rediscovered his power-hitting stroke after inexplicably losing it last season, and Paul Konerko has been his consistent self. Otherwise, there's been plenty of disappointment throughout the White Sox lineup.

Once players like Alexei Ramirez and Dayan Viciedo find a groove, things will start turning around. It will give Chicago's offense more depth and should give the pitching staff a little more breathing room. If the Tigers falter, the White Sox should be right there to take advantage.

MLB Power Rankings – May 14

1. Texas Rangers

2. Los Angeles Dodgers

3. Atlanta Braves

4. Baltimore Orioles

5. Washington Nationals

6. St. Louis Cardinals

7. New York Yankees

8. Tampa Bay Rays

9. Toronto Blue Jays

10. Miami Marlins

11. Cincinnati Reds