The Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Dodgers continue to be the main storylines on the baseball scene for two very different reasons. While the Dodgers continue to shockingly struggle, the Indians can’t seem to be stopped. They won their record-setting 22nd game in a row on Thursday as the fans in Cleveland celebrated like they won the World Series. The Indians got the win in thrilling fashion as they were down to their last strike on their last out before finding a win to tie the game. They later would pull it out in extra innings. They’re still behind the Dodgers in the power rankings but if these trends continue, they’ll find themselves in the top spot. Let’s take a closer look at the updated MLB power rankings.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
Last Week: 1
World Series Championship Odds: +400
The Dodgers lead the National League West by 10 games after getting swept at home by Colorado, but they won two of three in San Francisco. Next, they’ll head to Washington and Philadelphia. Yaisel Puig hit .346 with a homer and six RBIs for the Dodgers, who hit just .211 for the week. Clayton Kershaw and Yu Darvish both split a pair of starts and allowed a combined 10 runs in 21.0 innings of work for the Dodgers. They have long been the best team in the MLB but they have hit a wall of late.
2. Cleveland Indians
Last Week: 2
World Series Championship Odds: +400
The Indians set an American League record with their 22nd win in a row after sweeping Baltimore and Detroit at home, and they earning a thrilling win over the Kansas City Royals. They’ll head to Los Angeles to take on the Angels next and then Seattle as they lead the AL Central by 13.5 games. Francisco Lindor was on fire, hitting .464 with four homers and eight RBIs over the last week, while Corey Kluber and Mike Clevinger both won two starts, allowing three runs over 27.2 innings as the Indians had an unbelievable ERA of 1.00 as a staff. There’s no question that they are the best team in the MLB right now but will they be able to carry that through the playoffs?
3. Washington Nationals
Last Week: 4
World Series Championship Odds: +600
The Nationals lead the NL East by 20 games as they won three of four at home over Philadelphia, but they’ve lost the first two of three at home with Atlanta. They’ll host the Los Angeles Dodgers next, and then head to Atlanta. Michael Taylor batted .526 with a pair of homers and eight RBIs, while Max Scherzer had an up-and-down week. He split a pair of starts, but Scherzer also gave up 11 runs in 12.0 innings.
4. Houston Astros
Last Week: 3
World Series Championship Odds: +600
The Astros top the AL West by 13 games after losing four straight in Oakland, but they’ve split the first two of three in Los Angeles against the Angeles. Next, they’ll host Seattle and the Chicago White Sox. Jose Altuve batted .304 with a pair of homers and four RBIs, while Justin Verlander threw a one-hitter over eight innings in a win over the Angels, but the Astros had an 8.07 ERA as a staff.
5. Boston Red Sox
Last Week: 5
World Series Championship Odds: +800
The Red Sox lead the AL East by three games after they won two of three at home over Tampa Bay, and they’ve split the first two of three at home with Oakland. The Red Sox travel to Tampa Bay and Baltimore next. Mookie Betts hit .278 with three home runs and 10 RBIs for the week. Chris Sale tossed a complete-game shutout over Tampa Bay, scattering six hits.
6. Chicago Cubs
Last Week: 6
World Series Championship Odds: +1000
The Cubs pace the NL Central by 2.5 games after they were swept at home by Milwaukee, but they’ve won the first two of three with the New York Mets, also at home. They’ll host St. Louis next, and then head to Tampa Bay. At the plate, Albert Almora hit .400 with a pair of homers and eight RBIs, while Jon Lester won both of his starts, allowing three runs over 12.0 innings.
7. New York Yankees
Last Week: 7
World Series Championship Odds: +1400
The Yankees trail the Red Sox by three games in the AL East, but they have the top spot in the wild-card standings by three games after winning two of three in Texas and Tampa Bay. They’ll return home to host Baltimore and Minnesota next. Aaron Judge batted just .200 for the week, but he hit three home runs and drove in five runs. Chad Green was great coming out of the bullpen, going 2-0 in three appearances while allowing a run in 5.0 innings.
8. Arizona Diamondbacks
Last Week: 8
World Series Championship Odds: +1500
The Diamondbacks trail the Dodgers by 10 games in the NL West, but they have the top wild-card spot by four games after losing two of three at home to San Diego, and they’ve lost two of the first three of four at home with Colorado. They’ll travel to San Francisco and San Diego next. J.D. Martinez batted a blistering .520 with four home runs and eight runs driven in for the week, while on the hill, Patrick Corbin split a pair of starts, giving up nine runs in 11.0 innings.
9. Colorado Rockies
Last Week: 9
World Series Championship Odds: +4500
The Rockies are 14 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West, but they have the second wild-card spot by three games after sweeping the Dodgers on the road, and they’ve won two of the first three of four games in Arizona. They’ll host San Diego next, followed by two games in San Francisco. Nolan Arenado hit .417 with three home runs and 11 RBIs, and Jon Gray led them on the mound, winning both of his starts for the week and he allowed three runs in 13.0 innings of work.
10. Milwaukee Brewers
Last Week: 10
World Series Championship Odds: +6000
The Brewers trail the Cubs by 2.5 games in the NL Central, and they’re three games behind Colorado in the race for the second wild-card spot after they swept the Cubs in Chicago, and then they won two of three at home with Pittsburgh. Next, the Brewers will head to Miami and Pittsburgh. Eric Thames batted .385 for the week, hitting a pair of home runs with four RBIs. Chase Anderson won both of his starts to lead the way on the mound, and he gave up a single run in 10.1 innings for the Brewers. They’re a long shot according to the MLB odds.
The MLB season is in full swing, so if you’re looking at betting lines, in-game betting and World Series futures, click here to bet on MLB (or any other sports) at BetDSI
