There wasn’t much of a change in the baseball power rankings this week, except at the top, where there is a new No. 1 for the first time this season. The Houston Astros are now the favorite. They continue to cruise while the Chicago Cubs – the team that entered the season as the favorite – continue to struggle. The Cubs are just 25-21, which isn’t bad, but the Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks, Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers all have better records than them in the National League. Here is our weekly look at the baseball power rankings.
1. Houston Astros
Last Week: 2
World Series Championship Odds: +450
The Astros were swept at home by Cleveland, then bounced back to win two of the first three of their four-game set with Detroit before Baltimore visits, and then they head to Minnesota. The Astros hit just .202 as a team this week, but they did hit nine homers to drive in some runs. Lance McCullers Jr. had another strong outing, tossing a one-hitter over 5.1 innings in a 6-2 win over the Tigers. Also of note for the Astros, ace Dallas Kuechel should be back this week from a pinched nerve in his neck that caused him to miss a start. They take the top spot in the weekly baseball power rankings.
2. Chicago Cubs
Last Week: 1
World Series Championship Odds: +500
The Cubs split two games with Milwaukee (the third was postponed) at home, then took two of three with San Francisco before Thursday’s finale, then they head west to face the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego. Anthony Rizzo was on fire, hitting .368 with four homers and six RBIs, and Jake Arrieta allowed no runs in a start for the first time since his first start of the season.
3. Cleveland Indians
Last Week: 3
World Series Championship Odds: +650
The Indians followed up their sweep in Houston by splitting two in Cincinnati, then they lost their first of a home-and-home with the Reds before Thursday’s game. Edwin Encarnacion hit .304 with three homers and six RBIs, while Andrew Miller continues to be lights out as he had three holds and a win, and has yet to allow a run this season.
4. Washington Nationals
Last Week: 4
World Series Championship Odds: +800
The Nationals lost two of three in Atlanta and then won the first two of their three-game set at home with Seattle, then San Diego comes to town before Washington heads west to San Francisco. Anthony Rendon continued his hot streak, hitting .303 this week with three homers and eight RBIs, while the Washington starters went 3-2 this week, with Stephen Strasburg striking out 11 in his win.
5. Boston Red Sox
Last Week: 5
World Series Championship Odds: +800
The Red Sox lost three of four in Oakland, then returned home to win the first two of their three-game set with Texas before hosting Seattle, and then going on the road to take on the White Sox. Mitch Moreland had a big week, hitting .368 with three home runs and eight RBIs, and on the mound, Chris Sale went 1-0 in two starts with a 3.14 ERA, 16 strikeouts and just a single walk. David Price is also making rehab starts now as he heals from an elbow strain, so that is good news for the Red Sox.
6. New York Yankees
Last Week: 6
World Series Championship Odds: +1000
The Yankees lost two of three in Tampa Bay, then came home to win two of their first three against Kansas City before Thursday’s finale, and then Oakland comes to the Big Apple before the Yankees head to Baltimore. Didi Gregorius hit .360 with two home runs and five RBIs, while Dellin Betances saved all three chances he got, allowing no runs and a hit with seven strikeouts and no walks in 3.1 innings.
7. Los Angeles Dodgers
Last Week: 7
World Series Championship Odds: +1000
The Dodgers won three of four at home against Miami, and then split the first two of their three-game set against St. Louis before the finale on Thursday, then the Cubs come to town before the Dodgers visit St. Louis. The Dodgers hit just .233 as a team, but managed to hit nine home runs and drive in 33 RBIs, but National League batting-average leader Justin Turner should be back soon from a hamstring problem. The pitching staff had an ERA of 3.22 and Clayton Kershaw was once again flawless, tossing a three-hit complete game with 10 strikeout and a run in a 2-1 win over the Cardinals.
8. Colorado Rockies
Last Week: 8
World Series Championship Odds: +1500
The Rockies won two of three in Cincinnati, and were going for a four-game sweep in Philadelphia as of Thursday before hosting St. Louis next week, along with a home-and-home with Seattle. The pitching staff held up well with an ERA of 3.60, and their starters went 6-1 with a no-decision over the week, while Greg Holland continued his perfect season with two more saves. The most surprising part of the Rockies’ early success might be their exploits away from Coors Field. For a team that is known for being built around their home park, the Rockies are 18-8 through their first 26 games on the road.
9. St. Louis Cardinals
Last Week: 9
World Series Championship Odds: +1500
The Cardinals lost two of three at home to San Francisco before splitting the first two games of their three-game set in Los Angeles against the Dodgers, then they head to Colorado before welcoming the Dodgers to Missouri. The Cardinals didn’t have a good week offensively, hitting .233 with two homers and four RBIs, which wasted a slew of solid pitching performances as the Cardinals had an ERA of 2.60 over the week, but went just 2-4.
10. Baltimore Orioles
Last Week: 10
World Series Championship Odds: +2000
The Orioles won two of three at home against Toronto, and then were swept by Minnesota at home before heading to Houston for the weekend, and then the Yankees visit Baltimore. The Orioles hit .2367 as a team this week, but they banged out 13 home runs and drove in 32 RBIs. However, the pitching staff had an ERA of 4.67 and went 2-6. Dylan Bundy had a terrible week, going 0-2 with an ERA of 5.54, while Chris Tillman wasn’t much better, going 0-1 in two starts with an ERA of 5.73.
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