MLB Pitcher Power Rankings: Zack Greinke Rounds Out Stellar Rotation for Angels

So there you have it:

Zack Greinke is an Angel!

Jered Weaver, CJ Wilson, Dan Haren and Greinke all in one rotation?

That’s almost not fair!

Currently Los Angeles (Anaheim, whatever) sits three games back of Texas with Oakland creeping up right behind them.

It’s a tight division race in the AL West except for that one straggler (sorry, Seattle!), and odds are the two teams out will face each other in the one-game Wild Card playoff.

If the Angels have to take their paces at High Noon, they’ve got the biggest guns in the division and arguably the league (although it would be more fitting for Texas to be involved in a draw, right?).

The 2009 Cy Young winner appears to dovetail with this powerful rotation in all ways but one:

Weaver, Wilson and Haren all have SoCal ties.

Greinke is from Orlando!

No matter, by putting these four guys together, LA is in position to make some magic happen in the postseason.

10. Matt Cain, Giants

Last week: N/A

Stats: 10-3 record, 2.80 ERA

I got some heat from people for leaving Cain off this list last week.

I understand he’s a great pitcher, but he has only one win in June.

And it came against Houston…

9. RA Dickey, Mets

Last week: 9

Stats: 14-2 record, 2.83 ERA

It’s been a rough month for Dickey.

He’s 2-1 with a 5.13 ERA in five starts.

8. Lance Lynn, Cardinals

Last week: 6

Stats: 13-4 record, 3.42 ERA

Jason Motte… I mean Lance Lynn. Sorry. Let me start over.

Lance Lynn is (kinda) keeping the Cardinals in the playoff hunt with his 3-0 record in June.

7. Felix Hernandez, Seattle

Last week: N/A

Stats: 9-5 record, 2.79 ERA

On a better team Hernandez would ostensibly have a better record.

Still he picked up three straight wins this month and has been a bright spot on a putrid Mariners club.

6. Chris Sale, White Sox

Last week: 8

Stats: 12-3 record, 2.61 ERA

Sale made it three straight months with one loss or less with his 3-1 record in July.

He’s a major reason that the White Sox have shocked the league this year.

5. Justin Verlander, Tigers

Last week: 1

Stats: 11-7 record, 2.63 ERA

Things have gone south for Upton… I mean, Verlander.

The Tigers ace has lost his last two starts in Cleveland and Boston and had his streak of consecutive starts with at least six innings pitched snapped.

The last time Verlander failed to go six innings was August 17, 2010.

4. AJ Burnett, Pirates

Last week: N/A

Stats: 13-3 record, 3.27 ERA

Burnett has won his last three starts and nearly threw a no-no against the Cubs on Monday.

And you want to know the crazy thing?

The way things are going for the Pirates, he could be pitching (a game) in October.

3. David Price, Rays

Last week: 3

Stats: 14-4 record, 2.64 ERA

A no-decision in Oakland curbed a three-game win streak for Mr. Price.

2. Johnny Cueto, Reds

Last week: 4

Stats: 13-5, 2.39 ERA

It’s been four straight wins for Cueto and his Reds appear to be creating separation in the NL Central.

1. Jared Weaver, Angles

Last week: 2

Stats: 14-1 record, 2.29 ERA

A streak of eight straight wins dating back to July?

That’s pretty solid.

Tom Schreier writes a weekly column for TheFanManifesto.com.

Follow him on Twitter @tschreier3.