MLB Power Rankings: Red Sox crash Top-10 going into All-Star break
(Please note these power rankings are a combination of current performance and long-term projected outlook)
Let's get started!
Eric Samulski,
Note: Rankings are from the morning of Monday, July 14.
Last week: 1
Even after getting swept by the Mariners over the weekend, the Tigers enter the All-Star break with the best record in baseball. Tarik Skubal is set to become the first Tigers' pitcher to start the All-Star Game since Max Scherzer in 2013.
Last week: 3
After losing seven straight, the Dodgers righted the ship by taking two out of three against the division rival Giants over the weekend. Tyler Glasnow made his return last week, and Blake Snell and Blake Treinen aren't far behind, so the Dodgers are about to get stronger.
Last week: 4
Including an excellent outing in a win over the Yankees on Sunday, Shota Imanaga holds a 2.31 ERA over four starts since returning from the injured list.
Last week: 2
Given the Astros moved on from Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman this offseason and they've been without Yordan Alvarez for most of the first half, it's pretty remarkable that they own the fourth-best record in baseball going into the All-Star break.
Last week: 8
The Brewers continue to surprise. Winners of seven straight — with a sweep of the Dodgers along the way — Milwaukee sits just one game behind the Cubs for the NL Central lead.
The debate over the Jacob Misiorowski All-Star selection is dominating the conversation around MLB in recent days — and understandably so — it got me to thinking of the best players who never went to the All-Star Game. Kirk Gibson is absolutely shocking to me, but also familiar names like Tim Salmon, Tom Candiotti, and Eric Chavez.
Last week: 6
The Blue Jays have cooled off a bit since their 10-game winning streak, but they go into the All-Star break in first place in the American League East. We should see them target a starting pitcher as the trade deadline approaches.
My favorite thing that happened this weekend was Blue Jays manager John Schneider getting ejected after a potential Davis Schneider home run was ruled foul, only to have the outfielder hit a home run immediately following the ejection. Baseball is so weird and fun.
John Schneider was livid and got ejected after Davis Schneider's potential homer was ruled foul 😳 pic.twitter.com/vR876EctSb
THIS ONE COUNTS 🙌
Davis Schneider goes yard after his earlier shot was ruled foul 💥 pic.twitter.com/g8jkVVysoY
Last week: 5
Pretty cool gesture by the Phillies, as Cristopher Sánchez activated the $50,000 All-Star bonus in his contract despite him being a notable snub for the midsummer classic. Sánchez responded by throwing a gem on Sunday, as the club salvaged the series finale against the Padres to go into the All-Star break with a half-game lead in the NL East.
Last week: 7
Kodai Senga made a successful return from a hamstring injury on Friday and Sean Manaea looked great despite taking the loss in his season debut on Sunday, so things are looking up for the Mets as they move into second half.
Last week: 9
While the Yankees lost to the Cubs on Saturday, Aaron Judge became the fastest player in MLB history to reach 350 career home runs. It's one thing to write that sentence, but the thing is, he's absolutely obliterated the record book in this regard.
Fewest career games to 350 home runs:
Aaron Judge: 1,088
Mark McGwire: 1,280
Juan Gonzalez: 1,298
Alex Rodriguez: 1,301
Harmon Killebrew: 1,319
Albert Pujols: 1,320 https://t.co/ZSb21CwyPD
Last week: 16
I was high on the Red Sox coming into the year, and while things haven't exactly worked out the way I thought they would — Rafael Devers trade included — they've won 10 straight games to put themselves in a strong position leading into the trade deadline.
CEDDANNE RAFAELA HITS IT OUT OF FENWAY 😤
THE @REDSOX ARE WALK-OFF WINNERS! pic.twitter.com/6LEzWZVQ7E
Ceddanne Rafaela now has five homers and 14 RBI over his last eight games.
Last week: 11
Jackson Merrill was down in the dumps with a 3-for-43 (.070) stretch before his two-homer game against Zack Wheeler and the Phillies on Saturday. He's had a bumpy (and injury-riddled) first half, but something closer to his rookie performance would be a huge development for the Padres.
Last week: 13
While 33-year-old Robbie Ray will not pitch in the All-Star Game — he was replaced by Mets left-hander David Peterson — he earned his first selection since his age-25 season in 2017.
Last week: 12
A great weekend for the Mariners, who swept the Tigers before taking LSU left-hander Kade Anderson with the No. 3 pick in Sunday's draft. Many considered Anderson to be the best player in this year's class. Now it's time for 'The Big Dumper' to get his close-up in Monday's Home Run Derby.
CAL RALEIGH
GRAND SLAM
HOMER NO. 38 pic.twitter.com/dlbEjAGU87
Last week: 14
Iván Herrera made his return to the Cardinals on Sunday after missing just about a month with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. He's been great when healthy this season with eight homers, 34 RBI, and a .320/.394/.529 batting line, but he also missed time in the first half with a knee injury. The Cardinals plan to mostly use him out of the DH spot the rest of the way.
Last week: 15
Congratulations to Terry Francona, who became the 13th manager in MLB history to reach the 2,000-win club on Sunday. Does his team love him or what?
That's our bleeping skipper. pic.twitter.com/a6DrZdpSw1
Last week: 10
While the Blue Jays and Red Sox are rising, the Rays continue to fall. They've lost four straight and 12 out of their last 15 games. One positive? Shane McClanahan is nearing his return to the Rays' rotation.
Last week: 17
A frustrating first half for the Rangers, where they just can't seem to get over the hump, but it ended on an encouraging note this weekend as they took two out three from the Astros. You can squint and see how this club could go on a run in the second half. You could also see them spiraling. The next couple of weeks will be fascinating.
Last week: 18
Losers of nine out of their 13 games, the Diamondbacks increasingly look like sellers and they have a bunch of interesting players with Eugenio Suarez, Merrill Kelly, Zac Gallen, and Josh Naylor all reportedly on the block.
Last week: 20
What a first half for Byron Buxton. The apex? He accomplished the first triple in Target Field history on Saturday and did it on his own bobblehead day, to boot.
THE HOME RUN THAT COMPLETED BYRON BUXTON'S CYCLE!!!! pic.twitter.com/bhFUoSYDaT
Buxton is my pick for Monday's Home Run Derby. Let's keep this feel-good story going!
Last week: 21
Noah Cameron wrapped up a brilliant first half by spinning 6 2/3 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts as part of Sunday's win over the Mets. It's going to be hard for him to stand out in the AL rookie field which also includes Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz, but he's been a lifesaver for the Kansas City rotation with a 2.31 ERA across 12 starts.
Last week: 19
The Angels' approach to the draft is always interesting, and of course they surprised by taking UC Santa Barbara right-hander Tyler Bremner No. 2 overall. There were other college pitchers who were considered better by most experts, but the Angels clearly thought there wasn't a true standout in this year's class and they could manipulate their draft pool in other ways. But if we know anything about the Angels, we'll probably see Bremner in the majors sooner rather than later.
Last week: 23
The Orioles had seven picks in the top 93 players during the first day of the MLB Draft and they received high marks for their haul which included Auburn C/OF Ike Irish, Coastal Carolina C Caden Bodine, Arkansas SS Wehiwa Aloy, and prep OF Slater de Brun. They also finally got around to taking some pitchers with lefty Joseph Dzierwa out of Michigan State and right-hander JT Quinn out of Georgia.
Last week: 25
The Guardians have won six out of seven since their 10-game losing streak, but it might be too little too late.
Last week: 24
It was the Kyle Stowers Revenge Game on Sunday, as the former Orioles prospect went 5-for-5 with three homers, six RBI, and four runs scored in a blowout victory over Baltimore on Sunday.
THREE HOME RUNS FOR KYLE STOWERS! pic.twitter.com/Q1QUypjx7C
Last week: 22
The latest blow for the Braves is Austin Riley hitting the injured list with an abdominal strain. It would be surprising if he's back by the end of July, so this continues to look like a lost year for Atlanta.
Last week: 28
One year ago, Nick Kurtz heard his named called on draft day. On Sunday, he hit his 17th home run of the season and his 12th in 30 games since returning from the injured list. Folks have begun to put the Jim Thome comp on Kurtz recently. One you spot it, it's hard to unsee it.
Nick Kurtz sends one the other way for his 17th homer of the year 🚀 pic.twitter.com/J4XVWtoMw6
Last week: 26
Paul Skenes and MLB history have become synonymous. He's adding another first to the list on Tuesday, as he'll become the first pitcher in baseball history to start the All-Star Game in his first two MLB seasons.
The call to National League Starting Pitcher, Paul Skenes 🥲 pic.twitter.com/s38F41vV4o
Last week: 27
Interim Nationals general manager Mike DeBartolo had the weighty responsibility of making the No. 1 pick in Sunday's draft and they ultimately went with 17-year-old switch-hitting shortstop Eli Willits. Willits is the youngest No. 1 overall pick since Ken Griffey Jr. in 1987. No pressure, kid.
THE moment 🥹@EliWillits x @OU_Baseball pic.twitter.com/vMg5EepKy2
Last week: 29
2025 is the year of the high school shortstop and the White Sox played into the trend with the selection of Billy Carlson. In doing so, Corona (California) HS became the first high school in history to have two top-10 picks n the same year, as right-hander Seth Hernandez was selected sixth overall by the Pirates.
Last week: 30
Say what you will about how the Rockies have operated over the past decade or so, but the Ethan Holliday pick just makes so much sense for all parties.
Ethan Holliday is a gift to the Rockies at No. 4. And if the Rockies are ever going to turn it around, it will be with him.
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