The actual standings in baseball and the standings according to the odds makers are quite different. That’s why our power rankings – based on the MLB futures – present a different look than what we see in the standings. For example, the Chicago Cubs are in second place in the National League Central and while they’re playing better recently, have mostly been a disappointment this year. However, the odds makers feel this team can still turn things on whenever they want. As for the New York Yankees, who are nine games above .500 and have been one of the best teams in baseball, are merely fifth in terms of the odds. At any rate, here’s a look at the weekly power rankings. All stats and standings are prior to the games on Thursday, June 22nd.
1. Houston Astros
Last Week: 1
World Series Championship Odds: +600
The Astros lead the American League West by 12.5 games after losing two of three at home to Boston, and they’ve now won three of four in Oakland before Thursday’s finale, then they head to Seattle and welcome the Athletics at home. Carlos Correa hit .348 (the Astros hit .348 as a team) with a pair of homers and four RBIs over the week, while the staff had a 2.43 ERA, led by Mike Fiers, who was 1-0 in two starts with an ERA of 1.38.
2. Chicago Cubs
Last Week: 2
World Series Championship Odds: +650
The Cubs are just 1.5 games behind Milwaukee in the National League Central after winning two of three in Pittsburgh, then at home over San Diego, then they head out to face Miami and Washington next week. Anthony Rizzo continues to tear the cover off the ball, hitting .391 with two homers and six RBIs, while John Lackey (1-0, 1.50) and Jon Lester (0-0, 3.50) gave the Cubs good starts, and the staff had a 3.25 ERA.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
Last Week: 3
World Series Championship Odds: +700
The Dodgers are at the top of the NL West by 0.5 games over Colorado after sweeping in Cincinnati, then they won the first three of four at home against the New York Mets before the finale. The Dodgers then return home to host Colorado and then there is a home-and-home with the Los Angeles Angels. Cody Bellinger hit .355 with five homers (the Dodgers hit 22 homers) and 10 RBIs, and his 22 home runs now lead the National League. Clayton Kershaw is the first NL pitcher to 10 wins after a victory over the Mets.
4. Washington Nationals
Last Week: 4
World Series Championship Odds: +800
The Nationals lead the NL East by 9.5 games after winning three of four in New York over the Mets, then they lost two of three in Miami before hosting Cincinnati and the Cubs this week. Daniel Murphy hit .417 with a homer and six RBIs this week, while Max Scherzer spit a pair of starts with an ERA of 0.56, and his 2.09 ERA leads the NL over Kershaw’s 2.61,
5. New York Yankees
Last Week: 5
World Series Championship Odds: +800
The Yankees stayed ahead of Boston by 0.5 games in the AL East despite getting swep
in Oakland, and they’ve split two with the Angels before Thursday’s game, then they host Texas before travelling to meet the Chicago White Sox. Aaron Judge, who leads the majors with 24 homers, hit .261 with a pair of home runs and five RBIs this week, but the staff had an ERA of 6.18 and Masahiro Tanaka had another poor outing, taking his numbers to 5-7 with an ERA of 6.34 for the season.
6. Cleveland Indians
Last Week: 8
World Series Championship Odds: +800
The Indians overtook Minnesota in the AL Central and now lead by 1.5 games after sweeping the Twins on the road, and they won the first two of three in Baltimore before Thursday’s game. The Twins visit this weekend and then the Indians host Texas. Lonnie Chisenhall hit .429 with three homers and 13 RBIs, while the staff had an ERA of 2.81 and Corey Kluber pitched a three-hit complete-game shutout in a win over a rout of Baltimore, along with 11 strikeouts and no walks.
7. Colorado Rockies
Last Week: 6
World Series Championship Odds: +1000
The Rockies are hot on the Dodgers’ heels after sweeping San Francisco at home, then they split two with Arizona before Thursday’s finale. The Rockies have a huge series away against the Dodgers this weekend, then they head to San Francisco. Nolan Arenado hit for the cycle this week and hit .481 with a homer and 13 RBIs, while the staff had a 6.14 ERA, but still went 6-1; the lone loss went to Jeff Hoffman, who was 0-1 in two starts with an ERA of 10.38.
8. Boston Red Sox
Last Week: 7
World Series Championship Odds: +1000
The Red Sox are right behind the Yankees in the AL East after winning two of three in Houston, then they lost two of three in Kansas City and now they host the Angels and Twins this week. Xander Bogaerts carried a big stick, hitting .296 with a trio of home runs and seven RBIs for the week, event though the Red Sox hit just .240 as a team. Chris Sale split his two starts with an ERA of 2.20, and he is now 9-3 with an ERA of 2.85, ranking second in the AL in wins and fourth in
9. Arizona Diamondbacks
Last Week: 9
World Series Championship Odds: +1800
The Diamondbacks are 1.5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West after sweeping in Philadelphia and then split the first two of three in Colorado, and then they head home to host the Phillies and St. Louis. Paul Goldschmidt hit .391 with a pair of home runs and seven RBIs over the week, and the staff went 5-1 with an ERA of 2.67, led by Archie Bradley, who had a win and a hold in three appearances.
10. Toronto Blue Jays
Last Week: 10
World Series Championship Odds: +3500
The Blue Jays moved out of the AL East basement and trail the Yankees by five games after losing two of three at home to the White Sox, then they’ve won the two of three in a four-game set in Texas before heading to Kansas City and then back home to host Baltimore. Justin Smoak hit .391 with a pair of homers and four RBIs this week, but Marco Estrada was hit hard once again, taking his numbers to 4-5 with an ERA of 4.98.
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