Rays remain atop Power Rankings

The Tampa Bay Rays continue to be the hottest team in baseball. Led by superstars Randy Arozarena, Wander Franco and Isaac Paredes, the Rays continue to solidify their place in the top spot of Our Esquina’s Weekly Power Rankings.

Their power hitting and flashy style of play helped them sweep the hot Pittsburgh Pirates and then claim a series win against their bitter rivals the New York Yankees. 

At 28-7, the AL East leaders are the only team in baseball with a single digit in the loss column. 

No. 2. Atlanta Braves

After falling to No 3 last week, the Braves are back at No 2. The defending World Series champion Houston Astros stumbled from No. 2 last week to all the way out of the Power Rankings.

Pulling away early in NL East

The Braves gave themselves a seven-game lead in the NL East by sweeping the Miami Marlins and taking two out of three against the promising Baltimore Orioles. 

Runs don’t come at a premium in Atlanta. Matt Olson and Ronald Acuña Jr. are tied for the most runs in the major leagues with 30 apiece.

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Acuña is off to a fantastic start to the 2023 campaign. He has the fifth best batting average (.338). Acuña also has six home runs and 15 stolen bases, which ranks second in all of baseball. 

With great pitching and clutch hitting, the Braves have shown they are the best team in the National League.

No. 3. Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles own the second best record in the AL. They are also second in the highly contested AL East, which puts them at third in this week’s Power Rankings.

Baltimore split its schedule last week with three wins and three loses. The Orioles beat the Royals twice out of three games and won one game against the Braves.

Veteran Cedric Mullins and second-year player Adley Rutschman are giving Baltimore something to cheer about. 

No. 4. Toronto Blue Jays

With the Blue Jays at No. 4, three AL East teams round up the top four. Although the Red Sox swept them at Fenway Park, the Blue Jays rebounded by sweeping the Pirates. 

Bo Bichette and Co. cannot stop hitting. Bichette leads the majors with 49 hits. Matt Chapman is not far behind with 44. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has 42. They are the only team with three players in the top 10 in hits. 

No. 5. Texas Rangers

Since Opening Day, the Rangers have remained firm atop of the AL West Division.

Although Jacob deGrom is on the injured list, the Rangers have not lost their stride. They split the two-game set with the Diamondbacks and increased their lead in the AL West by winning the series against the Angels.

No. 6. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers have gone 12-4 in their last 16 games, which is the best record in the NL over that span. 

Don’t troll the Dodgers

Los Angeles swept the Phillies in dominant fashion, scoring more than 10 runs in each of the three games. Mookie Betts hit one of the most dramatic home runs of the year Sunday to tie the score at 2 in the ninth.

On the verge of dropping the three-game series against the pesty Padres, Betts tied the score in the ninth. The Dodgers added three runs in the 10th to stun the Petco Park crowd.

The San Diego Padres trolled the Dodgers after winning the first game of the three-game series. That seemed to poke the bear. Los Angeles won the rest of the games to take the series. 

No. 7. Red Sox. No. 8. Diamondbacks. No. 9. Pirates. No. 10. Angels

The Red Sox, Diamondbacks, Pirates, and Angels complete this week’s Power Rankings.