MLB Power Rankings 2012: Biggest Risers of the Week

We've already witnessed some remarkable stories this baseball season, as well as some remarkable disappointments.

Whether it's a former bottom-feeder soaring into contention or a stacked team falling well below expectations, we've seen it all in 2012.

Some teams are one-sided, some are balanced yet unspectacular and others, well, are just bad all-around.

As we look ahead to the final third of the 2012 Major League Baseball season, here's where each team stands. The biggest risers of the week are in italics.

Note: Power rankings compiled before games on July 25

Left in the Dust

30. Houston Astros (34-64)

There was a time when the Astros were 22-23. But not anymore. The Astros have suffered a slide of gargantuan proportions. They have a 4.66 ERA as a team (28th in baseball) and they've only scored 375 runs (26th). However you slice it, the Astros are just a bad team.

29. Colorado Rockies (36-60)

The Rockies are clearly a one-sided team. They have the worst ERA in baseball (5.31), but they've scored the seventh-most runs (458).

28. Minnesota Twins (40-57)

The Twins have scored the 16th-most runs in baseball (413) but have the second-worst team ERA (4.97). The Twins have been outscored by 100 runs so far. Only the Rockies have a worse run differential.

27. Chicago Cubs (40-56)

The Cubs have a 4.28 ERA as a team (24th) and they've scored the fewest runs in baseball (354). They may actually be lucky they've only been outscored by 71 runs thus far. 

26. San Diego Padres (41-58)

The Padres have a decent team ERA (3.82), but they've scored the second-fewest runs in baseball (358). That will see you get outscored by 66 runs.

Boo Birds Aplenty

25. Kansas City Royals (41-55)

I said before the season that I didn't think the Royals' young talent was ready to contend yet. Little did I know how bad it would be. The Royals have scored the 20th-most runs in baseball (398) and they rank 25th in team ERA (4.44). It doesn't help that they traded Melky Cabrera for Jonathan Sanchez, who is now predictably on the worst pitching team in baseball in Colorado.

24. Seattle Mariners (43-56)

When the Mariners sent Ichiro Suzuki to the Yankees, sports business reporter Darren Rovell was probably calculating the drop in ticket sales somewhere. The Mariners have scored 389 runs this season (24th), although their pitching has been better (3.84 ERA). The Mariners are oddly 18-28 at home and 25-28 on the road, and they haven't won many close games.

23. Miami Marlins (45-52)

Oh, how the hyped have fallen. The Marlins rank 28th in runs (363), 19th in team ERA (4.10) and they just sent Hanley Ramirez to the Dodgers. Experiment = failed.

22. Milwaukee Brewers (44-52)

The Brewers' pitching (4.22 ERA) has hurt them more than their hitting in the absence of Prince Fielder. The biggest thing is that they aren't winning a lot of close games. They've lost five games in a row.

21. Philadelphia Phillies (44-54)

Like the Brewers, the Phillies' pitching has ultimately let the team down (4.22 ERA). On the bright side, they just re-signed unquestionable ace Cole Hamels to a multi-year extension. 

Relatively Respectable Clubs

20. New York Mets (47-50)

The Mets have stumbled as of late, losers of five straight. Their overall pitching has let them down (4.21 ERA), and R.A. Dickey is now beginning to slide. On the other hand, they rank 10th in runs scored (441)—Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes apparently weren't good for the club.

19. Cleveland Indians (49-48)

The Indians are still in the hunt for the postseason, but their pitching continues to fail them. They rank 27th with a 4.50 team ERA. Ubaldo Jimenez has been a major disappointment since coming over from Colorado.

18. Toronto Blue Jays (48-48)

If you're truly looking for a one-sided club, here you have it. The Blue Jays have scored the third-most runs in baseball (478) and clubbed the second-most home runs (139), but they have a team ERA of 4.49 (26th).

17. Boston Red Sox (49-49)

Oh, poor Boston. Not only do the Red Sox have a team ERA of 4.24 (23rd), they are outside of the playoff picture at the moment. They still score boatloads, however, so they have a slim chance of weaseling their way into the playoffs.

16. Arizona Diamondbacks (49-48)

The Diamondbacks are currently on a roll, winners of five straight, but they have some ground to make up to get to the playoffs. They are above average in offense (441 runs) and pitching (3.97 team ERA).

Contenders

15. Baltimore Orioles (51-46)

Baltimore's record doesn't match up to its stats, which means the Orioles could be left out of the playoffs this season. For example, the Orioles own a 51-46 record, but they've actually been outscored by 48 runs this season. They rank 21st in runs scored (397) and 17th in team ERA (4.04).

14. Tampa Bay Rays (50-47)

The Rays haven't been a powerhouse on offense this season (399 runs, 19th), but their pitching is formidable. The team ERA sits at 3.64, seventh-best in baseball.

13. Los Angeles Dodgers (53-45)

The Dodgers may have the third-best team ERA in baseball, and that could very well get them into the postseason, but they also rank 25th in runs scored (381). It's hard to rank them very highly in that regard.

12. Chicago White Sox (52-45)

The White Sox rank 18th in team ERA (4.07), but they've also scored the sixth-most runs in baseball (458) and have won two straight. It's going to be an interesting run for the playoffs.

11. Detroit Tigers (52-45)

The Tigers ranks eighth and 14th in runs scored and team ERA, respectively. You have Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder on offense and, well, that guy named Justin Verlander as your ace. It wouldn't hurt for the rest of the team to pick it up, though. 

Teams to Be Feared

10. St. Louis Cardinals (51-46)

On one hand, the Cardinals rank fourth and 10th in runs scored and team ERA, respectively. On the other hand, they haven't won a series against a team that currently has a winning record since June 12-14 against the White Sox.

9. Pittsburgh Pirates (54-42)

The Pirates may have the sixth-best record in baseball, but they've lost their last two games and they rank 23rd in runs scored. If the team pitching holds up, however, they should make it into the playoffs.

8. Los Angeles Angels (53-45)

The Angels rank 12th and 11th in runs scored and team ERA, respectively. They're good, but not great. They've gone 5-5 in their last 10 games. On the other hand, Mike Trout is an absolute beast who can already carry a team at just 20 years of age.

7. Atlanta Braves (53-44)

The Braves rank ninth and 16th in runs scored and team ERA, respectively, but they don't have anyone else dependable in their starting rotation beyond Tim Hudson and Ben Sheets. That's why landing a solid starting pitcher before the trade deadline is critical for this club.

6. Oakland Athletics (52-44)

The Athletics are one of the most remarkable stories this baseball season. Another case of "Beane Ball" in Oakland? I would say so.

In fact, this may be even more remarkable than 2002 because Beane doesn't have a Big Three like he did with Barry Zito, Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson back then. How do the Athletics lose Gio Gonzalez and Trevor Cahill and rank fourth in the majors in team ERA? Oh yeah, because they have Tommy Milone and Jarrod Parker. Who? Exactly.

Powerhouses

5. San Francisco Giants (55-42)

Not a bad season of baseball for the Bay Area. The Giants have a better offense than they did last season, and they are ranked fifth in team ERA (3.43) despite Tim Lincecum's struggles. This looks a lot like the 2010 team to me. In fact, it may be more talented.

4. Cincinnati Reds (57-40)

The Reds have won six straight games, as well as 13 of their past 15. To say they are red-hot would be an understatement (and a delightful pun). Interestingly enough, they've done it more with their pitching than their hitting. They rank second in team ERA (3.29), and Johnny Cueto has been flat-out dominant.

3. New York Yankees (58-39)

The Yankees, owners of the best record in baseball, rank fifth and ninth in runs scored and team ERA, respectively. But they don't have the pitching the Nationals do or the hitting the Rangers do, and that is why they rank third overall.

2. Washington Nationals (57-39)

What else can you say about this team's pitching? The Nationals hold a 3.22 team ERA this season, best in the majors, and they are able to scrap a few runs, too. Beyond Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmerman and Gio Gonzalez, they also have Edwin Jackson and Ross Detwiler. A pitching coach's dream.

1. Texas Rangers (57-39)

I will say that the Rangers are my favorite team now, but after the loss of Colby Lewis, they must grab a top-of-the-rotation starter to vie for the championship this season. They've scored the most runs in baseball (483) and own the eighth-best team ERA (3.69). They've outscored opponents by a combined 87 runs this season, second-best in baseball.

Follow me on Twitter. We can talk about baseball together.