MLB Power Rankings: Is There a New No. 1 Team After Week 14?

With yet another thrilling week of MLB action in the books, we prepare to close the door on June and, after the first week of July, on the first half of the season schedule.

Five of the six divisions in the league boast a legitimate race, while the Atlanta Braves still keep hope in the NL East that they can cut into the Phillies' lead of five games.

More than half of MLB's 30 teams are within five games of their divisional lead, promising to make the summer full of thrilling baseball as the season wears on.

Only two weeks remain before the All-Star break, so teams will strive to improve their standing immediately so they will have a clearer picture of where they stand by the July 31 trading deadline.

At the conclusion of Week 14, where does your team stand in the latest Bleacher Report Power Rankings? Where do you think they should be?

30. Houston Astros 28-51

It's going to take a lot for the Astros to be able to vacate the bottom spot in these rankings.

Already mired in last place in the NL Central, as well as the lowly No. 30 ranking amongst all MLB teams, they lost the away portion of the Lone Star Series against the Rangers, and then were swept by the Rays at home. At only 1-5, it was a miserable week in Houston.

This week won't get any easier, as they welcome the Rangers to Minute Maid Park for a three-game series beginning Tuesday, then the Red Sox arrive for a three-game set to close out the week.

Most around baseball are wondering when the fire sale will begin, and it could begin any day now.

29. Chicago Cubs 31-46

Chicago's famed lovable losers are at it again.

Sitting just above the Astros in the race for baseball's worst record, the Cubs did little to improve their ranking with two series losses and a 2-4 record over the last week.

With a series loss in Kansas City, then another at U.S. Cellular against the White Sox, the Cubs managed only 22 runs in the six games.

Dead last in team ERA, WHIP and quality starts, the Cubs' issues lie mainly in their ability to keep opponents at bay, though the ineptitude seems to have permeated most aspects their game.

This week, they'll begin with a makeup game against the Rockies at Wrigley, then they'll welcome the Giants for a four-game mid-week series before the White Sox take the crosstown trip for a three game set over the weekend.

28. Minnesota Twins

With a hot streak in the week prior, the surprisingly terrible Twins appeared to be primed to move on up in the rankings.

That was not to be however, as they stumbled again, going 1-5 over the last week, cementing their status as the team with the worst record in the American League.

Already ravaged by injuries throughout the roster, the Twins lost Delmon Young to a badly sprained ankle when he ran into the fence awkwardly chasing a long drive at Miller Park in Milwaukee. The oft-injured Justin Morneau also was told that he needs neck surgery to relieve pressure on a pinched nerve and will miss six weeks.

The week began with a series loss against the Giants in San Francisco in which they beat up on Madison Bumgarner, but were then dominated by Ryan Vogelsong and Tim Lincecum.

They then traveled to Milwaukee, currently MLB's toughest ballpark to win in, and were swept by the hot scorching Brewers, as they were outscored 21-6 in the three-game set.

This week, they'll have two series at home, first against the Dodgers, and then they'll welcome the Brewers, who aren't nearly as formidable away from Milwaukee.

Considering the severe injury plague that has befallen the Twins in 2011, they might want to get comfortable near the bottom in these rankings.

27. Florida Marlins 34-44

I guess you have to look for bright spots where you can find them.

Despite winning only two of six games last week against the Angels and Mariners, those two victories were actually double the Marlins' win total from their previous 20 contests.

Scoring only 17 runs in six games over the week, Florida continued their free-fall that saw them plummet from second in the NL East a few weeks ago to dead last currently.

The series loss to the Angels was par for the course, but they endured more agony as they closed out the weekend with an extra-innings loss on a wild pitch to ensure a series loss to the Mariners.

New manager Jack McKeon, 80 years old and going strong, has presided over a 2-4 stretch, something of a small victory for a team that has fallen from 29-19 on May 26 to 34-44 today.

They'll hit the road again, this time through Oakland and Rangers Ballpark, before returning home for a Fourth of July series with the Phillies.

In years past, in a situation like this, a patented Florida fire sale would be right around the corner, but with a new stadium on the way, that appears much less likely this time. One thing is for certain: They desperately need their franchise player, Hanley Ramirez, to figure out what has gone wrong and return to the dynamic player he has always been.

26. Kansas City Royals 33-45

The excitement from the early season success has worn off recently in Kansas City. Though there remains plenty for fans to be excited about in the coming seasons, 2011 is beginning to play out like most other recent years in KC.

Over the last week, they went only 2-4, being swept at home by the Diamondbacks before winning the weekend series against the Cubs with victories in the final two games of the three-game set.

There is hope on, though, as the Royals have generally been in most games lately, although they haven't emerged victorious often enough. In their last 10 defeats, they lost by two or less runs in eight of them.

With a little good fortune swinging their way, they could improve upon their standing as many of their young players become more accustomed to big league ball.

This week, they'll begin a nine-game road-trip with a three-game series in San Diego, followed by three in Denver against the Rockies.

25. Los Angeles Dodgers 35-44

Though the Dodgers sit one game above the Padres currently, San Diego is coming off consecutive series wins against the Red Sox at Fenway and against the Braves in San Diego.

It's difficult to find much positivity surrounding the Dodgers at the moment, with all the extracurricular activity weighing the franchise down. Hopefully, they can get the ownership situation sorted out rather quickly so the negativity doesn't permeate the entire organization and create a culture of losing in Los Angeles.

The Dodgers were 3-3 last week, but capped it off by losing a home series to the freeway-close Angels. Winning only four of their last 12, the Dodgers are sliding towards the basement of the NL West. Beginning last week, they sat three games ahead of the Padres for the worst record in the division, but only one game separates them now.

This week presents an opportunity for them, as they travel to Minnesota for three against the injury-hobbled Twins, and then they'll have the chance to exact revenge upon the Angels as they head to Anaheim for a three-game set over the coming weekend.

24. Oakland Athletics 35-44

With a tough road-trip behind them, the Oakland A's will look to improve their fortunes with a nine-game homestand beginning this week.

First, they'll host the free-falling Marlins for three before the Diamondbacks come to the Bay Area to close out the week. The homestand will conclude early next week with three games against Seattle.

Last week, the A's went 2-4, dropping the series to the Mets at Citi Field then losing two of three to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

Though Oakland pitched well, they were unable to muster much offense, as they scored only 13 runs in six games over the week. On the positive side, they only allowed 15 runs in the same span.

23. Baltimore Orioles 35-40

The Orioles have made significant strides under Buck Showalter and are now a tough task for any team to face. However, they still reside in the AL East and once again find themselves in a familiar position: last place.

Though they went only 3-3 last week, they concluded it with a thrilling series victory over the NL's top-scoring team, the Cincinnati Reds.

This week, they'll take on the Cardinals for three games in Baltimore before flying to Atlanta for a weekend series against the Braves.

22. San Diego Padres 34-45

Though they sit in last place in the NL West, the San Diego Padres had a great week to follow up a terrible one in the seven days prior.

With an unforeseen series win over the Red Sox at Fenway, then two victories in three games against the Braves in San Diego, the Padres have reason to be excited as they only trail the Dodgers by one game. Their ticket out of last place might be getting nearer.

With three games against the struggling Royals in San Diego, then a three-game set against the Mariners at Safeco Field, the Padres have another week of potentially winnable games that could see them climb out of the West's basement and beyond the Dodgers.

21. Chicago White Sox 38-41

For a team loaded with so much talent, the White Sox are frustratingly inconsistent. While many expected them to challenge for the AL Central title this year, they have underachieved in nearly every way, making the top of the division feel so far from a realistic possibility.

Over the last week, they went 3-3, winning the homes series against the Cubs before losing two-of-three to the visiting Nationals. They've gone 5-5 in their last 10 games, confirming the mediocrity that has befallen them this season.

With Alex Rios and Gordon Beckham still not hitting and Adam Dunn lingering below .180, there are far too many holes in a lineup that should be near the top in several offensive categories.

Perhaps they can get some offense going this week, as they visit Colorado for three games before returning to Chicago for a weekend set against the Cubs at Wrigley.

It feels as if a cataclysmic Ozzie moment is lingering just around the corner. Again.

20. Colorado Rockies 38-39

That bomb that Giambi crushed off of A.J. Burnett was something to behold. That was serious.

The Rockies endured another 3-3 week, taking two of three in Cleveland before losing two of three to the Yankees in the Bronx.

Never fear, Rockies fans; apparently they're just waiting for Tulo to heat up again so they can go on another second-half blitz to charge towards the top of the division. We've certainly seen it before.

This week, they have a lone makeup game at Wrigley to begin the week before returning home to host the White Sox and Royals in Denver.

19. New York Mets 39-39

Fresh off a thrilling series victory over the Rangers in Arlington, the Mets have climbed back to .500 and will hope to continue improving from there.

They won the series in Arlington, two games to one, and began the week by winning two-of-three over the A's at Citi Field.

This week will present a challenge for them, as they visit Detroit for a three-game series against the Tigers before returning home to host the scorching Yankees at Citi Field.

Whether winning or losing, watching Jose Reyes is one of the greatest thrills in the game today.

18. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 39-40

With a season full of such prolonged mediocrity, one would assume that the Angels were long-dead, sitting double digits out of first behind the reigning AL Champ Texas Rangers.

Somehow, though, the Rangers have failed to run away with the division, and the Angels sit a mere two-games out of first place.

The Halos are currently improving their overall ranking with a fourth consecutive series victory. They finished out the week at 4-2, winning two against two-of-three over the Marlins in Florida before taking two-of-three from the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine.

Mike Scioscia's squad now has the great fortune of finishing out the first half of the season with a massive 13-game homestand. This week, they'll welcome the Nationals for three games before the Dodgers travel down the 5 Freeway to take on the Angels in Anaheim.

If Vernon Wells can continue to show the signs of life that he has recently, it could go a long way toward improving the production of the entire offense.

17. Seattle Mariners 39-39

Riding the strength of their pitching staff, the Mariners continue to hang around, only 1.5 games behind Texas for the West lead.

Despite a severe lack of offense, there are signs of hope, as Justin Smoak has continued to hit, while the promotion of top-prospect Dustin Ackley has given Seattle fans reason to get excited.

They recently suffered through a disappointing week, getting swept at the outset as they lost three to the Nationals in DC. Thankfully, they feasted on fish shortly after, winning two-of-three from the plummeting Marlins to close out the week.

Seattle will begin this week with three against the Braves in Safeco before the Padres visit the Great Northwest for a three-game weekend series.

16. Toronto Blue Jays 39-39

Only 3-3 over the last week, the Blue Jays began badly by getting swept in Atlanta, but salvaged the stretch by sweeping the Cardinals in St. Louis over the weekend.

Sitting at 5-5 in their last 10, they've only scored 29 runs in that span, illustrating the issues with relying too heavily on the home run. Once they run cold, it becomes difficult to find other ways to score runs.

This week, they'll have a make-up in Detroit before welcoming the surging Pirates for a three-game set in Toronto. Following that series, the NL's premier club will visit Rogers Centre as the Blue Jays face off with the Phillies over the weekend.

15. Cincinnati Reds 40-39

Just when the Reds appear like they're going to make a move in the NL Central, they hit another rough patch and find themselves stagnating just above .500 again.

At only 2-4 last week, and 3-6 over their last three series, the Reds have continued to struggle in gaining any momentum. Losing to the Yankees in Cincinnati before traveling to Baltimore and losing two-of-three at Camden Yards, the Reds find themselves tied with the Pirates in the Central.

Thankfully for them, they still sit only four games off the division lead, so hope still remains.

Though they're still the top-scoring team in the NL, the offense hasn't been able to overcome the inconsistent pitching staff, which has the 24th-best team ERA in MLB.

They'll begin this week with a three-game series in Tampa against the scorching-hot Rays before returning to Cinci to host the faltering Indians.

14. St. Louis Cardinals 41-38

Though they are currently still embroiled in the NL Central race, and only three games behind the division-leading Brewers, the Cardinals are undoubtedly in the midst of their roughest patch of their season.

With co-ace Adam Wainwright lost before the season, many expected them to struggle out of the gate, but Tony LaRussa had his squad defying expectations through the season's first two months.

Unfortunately, they lost Albert Pujols to injury, and things have begun to resemble the expectations that many held for them.

Winning only three of their last 15 games, the Cards have struggled mightily since losing the best player in baseball.

Last week, they lost two-of-three at home to the Phillies before the Blue Jays swept them in Busch Stadium.

This week, they'll visit Camden Yards for a three-game set against the Orioles, followed by three games in Tampa against the streaking Rays.

13. Pittsburgh Pirates 39-38

Though they're sitting tied with the Cardinals, the Pirates are heading upward while the Cards are sliding consistently.

With a successful week in their rearview mirror, in which they won two-of-three at home over the Orioles before taking the series against the Red Sox, the Pirates sit over .500 with an eye toward the future.

After not experiencing a winning season since 1992, there is a ton to be excited about as the young Pirates are maturing together.

This week, they'll hit the road for three games in Toronto before heading to the nation's capital for a four-game set with the similarly youthful Nationals.

12. Washington Nationals 40-38

Winners of five-consecutive series and 13-of-15 games, the Washington Nationals are enjoying an incredible hot streak that has made them one of the hotter teams in baseball over the last few weeks.

During the just concluded week, they swept three against the Mariners in DC before taking two-of-three against the White Sox in Chicago.

This week, they'll take their game to Anaheim, where they'll face off with the Angels for three, before heading home to close out the first half with an 11-game homestand. It will begin late this week with a four-game series against the streaking Pirates.

11. Cleveland Indians 40-36

The only reason the Indians are able to maintain their spot above the streaking Nationals is the fact that Cleveland still sits only one game out of first place. Otherwise, the scorching Nationals would have blown right past them in the rankings.

While many predicted this, the Indians are proving that their early success was a mirage. Sitting 13 games over .500 at the beginning of June, the Tribe has gone 8-16 during the month to fall to only four games over .500.

They began last week by losing two-of-three to the Rockies in Cleveland and finished it out by being swept in a three-game series in San Francisco.

Cleveland will stay on the road for three games in Arizona to start this week before returning to Ohio for three games in Cincinnati over the weekend..

They'll finish out the first half with three against the Yankees in Cleveland, then a four-game set against the Blue Jays.

10. Texas Rangers 41-38

It seems as if the Rangers should have run away with the West by now. However, the hot pitching staff in Seattle has kept the Mariners in it, and the ever-familiar injury bug has hampered Texas as it always seems to.

They went 3-3 over last week, taking two-of-three over the Astros before losing two-of-three to the visiting Mets in front of their home crowd in Arlington. Alexi Ogando continued his June swoon, and the Rangers will hope it's simply a hiccup, since they'll need his arm badly down the stretch.

The Rangers face the softest portion of their schedule to close out the first half, and if they don't perform well, they should take a long look in the mirror to truly evaluate where their ambitions lie.

This week, they visit Houston for three games before returning home for three against the Marlins. They'll conclude the first half with three against Baltimore and four against Oakland, giving them four consecutive series against last place clubs.

If they're going to build their cushion in the West, now would be the best time to do so.

9. Detroit Tigers 42-36

Just 3-3 over the last week, and winners of just four of their last nine, the Tigers will look to close out the first half strong in order to solidify their slim lead over the staggering Indians.

They lost two-of-three at Dodger Stadium to begin the week, but rebounded with a thrilling series win in Arizona, taking two-of-three from the D-backs.

Detroit began June only two games over .500, but have steadily risen to six-over as they prepare to conclude the month.

With a solitary makeup at home against Toronto, they'll stay in Detroit all week with three games against the Mets before welcoming the NL West-leading Giants for three over the weekend.

The Tigers will follow this week with a road trip through Anaheim and Kansas City to finish out the first half of the season.

8. Arizona Diamondbacks 43-36

After finishing out the last week at 4-2, the Diamondbacks find themselves only 1.5 games behind the Giants for the NL West lead.

They began last week with a three-game sweep of the Royals in Kansas City, but then lost two-of-three in Detroit to conclude the week.

They'll welcome the Indians for three to begin Week 15 before heading to Oakland for a weekend series against the A's.

7. Atlanta Braves 44-35

Following a 4-2 week, the Braves have won five of their last seven, and enter Seattle hot as they prepare for a three-game set against the Mariners. Should be some great pitching match-ups in that series.

Though they finished the week by losing two-of-three to the Padres at Petco Park, they swept the Blue Jays in Toronto to begin the week, only allowing two runs to a powerful Toronto lineup.

This week, they'll follow the Seattle series by returning home to host the Orioles for three games over the weekend.

6. Boston Red Sox 45-32

While it's true that the Red Sox have the third-best record in baseball and sit only 0.5 games behind the Yankees for tops in the AL East, Boston had a week that they'd rather forget.

They began the week 1.5 games ahead of the Yankees in the East, but a 2-4 week saw them stagger and lose their grip on the division lead to their hated rivals.

Perhaps nearly unthinkable, the Red Sox began the week by losing two-of-three to the lowly Padres at Fenway Park. As one of the better home teams in the league, the Sox certainly didn't expect that outcome against the NL West cellar dwellers.

Following that series, they traveled to Pittsburgh to face the upstart Pirates. Though the Pirates have been hot, they remain below-.500 at home, but were able to overcome the mighty visitors from Boston.

This week, the Red Sox will travel to Philadelphia for a three-game set against baseball's best team before hitting Houston for a three-game series against baseball's worst team.

With a strong week, they could break back into the top-five and forget about the the seven days prior.

5. Tampa Bay Rays 44-34

Though it may seem crazy to rank a third-place team so high, these are power rankings, not standings. You can simply look up the league standings if you want everyone ranked according to their record.

The Rays have been red-hot, and it's still incredibly impressive. With eight wins in their last nine games, and a 5-1 week that concluded with a four-game winning streak, the Rays clawed their way into the top five.

Within the incredibly tough AL East, they sit third, but they would lead all other divisions in baseball aside from the National League East with their 44-34 record.

They started last week by taking two of three in Milwaukee against the team with MLB's best home record. Over the weekend, they completed an emphatic three-game sweep of the Astros in which they outscored the home team by a 26-13 margin.

Tampa Bay have been road warriors, owning MLB's best record away from home at 26-16. They'll be put to the test this week, as they have three against the Reds in Cinci before visiting Busch Stadium for a weekend series against the Cardinals.

4. Milwaukee Brewers 44-35

Look at Nishioka clearing himself from the bag after getting leveled by Nick Swisher earlier in the year.

Milwaukee has shot to the top of the NL Central, opportunistically capitalizing on the misfortunes of the Cardinals to take their spot atop the division. 

The Brewers finished a 4-2 homestand in which they lost the first half by dropping two-of-three to the Rays before sweeping the lowly Twins to end the week on a high note.

Their mettle will be tested this week, though, as they head to the Bronx for a three-game set against the Yankees before hitting Minnesota for a three-game weekend series at Target Field.

At only 15-24 on the road, the Brewers will be out to prove that they're not solely a Miller Park phenomenon and are capable of winning away from home as well.

They'll send Greinke, Marcum and Wolf to the hill in hopes of subduing a scorching Yankee offense and will need to do so in order to maintain a top-five spot in these rankings.

3. San Francisco Giants 44-34

Following a terrible week in the seven days prior in which they went 2-5, the Giants are suddenly red hot, as they finished Week 14 at 5-1, and are riding a five-game winning streak.

During that five-win streak, the Giants' pitching staff allowed only six runs as they took the final two against Minnesota to win that series in San Francisco, and then swept the Indians at home as well.

Though they still can't hit much, only scoring 15 runs in that five-game winning stretch, with a pitching staff like theirs, sometimes that's just enough.

They'll face a test this week, though, as they spend the entire week on the road, where they're only 20-21. Fortunately, the beginning of that road trip is in Chicago, where they'll take on the struggling Cubs for four games. It'll get tougher late in the week, as they hit Detroit for a three-game set against the AL Central-leading Tigers.

Though they're sitting 1.5 games ahead of Arizona in the NL West for the moment, I still have a feeling that minus-4 run differential may eventually catch up to them.

2. New York Yankees 45-31

The Yankees are red hot in June, posting a 15-8 record that has taken them to the top of the AL East.

Following an embarrassing three-game sweep at Yankee Stadium at the hands of their rivals from Boston, the Yankees have gone 12-4.

All of the fears over how they'd fare without their captain Derek Jeter have been for naught. With youngster Eduardo Nunez manning shortstop, the team has enjoyed one of their hottest stretches all season. Brett Gardner and Nick Swisher have combined to excel in the lead-off spot, setting the tone for the rest of the formidable offense.

Over the last week, they stormed into Cincinnati and took two of three from the Reds before returning home to defeat the Rockies in a three-game set in the Bronx.

This week, they'll welcome the NL Central-leading Brewers to Yankee Stadium for a three-game set before taking the subway crosstown for a weekend showdown with the Mets at Citi Field.

With another strong week, they could challenge the Phillies for top spot in these rankings. That represents a double-edged sword, however, as the Yankees would love for the Phillies to begin their week strong with a series victory over the Red Sox, who begin the week only 0.5 games behind the Yankees in the East.

1. Philadelphia Phillies 49-30

With another successful week, the Phillies remain the team with the best record in MLB and once again sit atop these rankings.

Despite a significant challenge from the Yankees, who overtook the Red Sox for first in the AL East, the Phillies keep winning and have done little lose hold of this top spot.

By winning two-of-three in St. Louis, then two-of-three against Oakland in Philadelphia, the Phils went 4-2 over the last week and have won five of their seven series in June.

They allowed 17 runs in six games over the week, but 12 of them came in the series finale against the Cardinals, so the Phillie pitching staff has been as stingy as advertised.

The Phillies will welcome the Red Sox to Philadelphia for a huge three-game series mid-week, then they'll travel to Toronto to attempt to subdue Jose Bautista and the rest of his Blue Jays.

With the red-hot Yankees right behind them, the Phillies will need another hot week to retain their place atop these rankings.