The Braves remain atop Power Rankings

Now that all the All-Star Game celebrations and festivities are over, it is time for the second half of America’s pastime. The Braves were the first team to reach 60 wins. 

However, their first series after the break did not go as planned. The two-game skid against the White Sox does not remove the Braves from atop Our Esquina’s Power Rankings. They have simply been the best. 

Atlanta has an MLB best 173 home runs, a .490 slugging percentage and an .829 OPS. Also, they have the best team ERA (3.67). 

Their outstanding play has helped them take a 9 ½ game lead in the NL East.

No. 2. Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Rays beat the Royals twice to get back on track. Prior to the All-Star break the Rays were losers of seven straight games. They are 3-7 in their last 10 games. 

With their current hiccups they have lost ground in the AL East and hold a one-game lead. The Rays’ pitching has been key to turning things around. They are third in WHIP and have the best opponent batting average at .228. 

Shane McClanahan is back to bolster the rotation and to help the Rays strengthen their AL East lead. 

No. 3. Baltimore Orioles 

The Orioles are baseball’s hottest team. Baltimore has won eight straight games, sweeping Minnesota and Miami. 

The Orioles have been propelled to the top by their young and veteran players. Anthony Santander was huge against the Marlins. Santander added to the first inning scoring parade on Sunday by launching his 100th career home run. 

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All-Star Adley Rutschman’s stellar play has helped the Orioles reduce their AL East deficit to one game. The Orioles have two series against the Dodgers and the Rays. 

No. 4. Texas Rangers

The Rangers had six players start in the All-Star game. That comes as no surprise as they have had the best offense this year. That scorching offense wasn’t affected by the Midsummer Classic. 

Texas swept the Guardians at home. The Rangers outscored Cleveland 20-9. They tallied 30 hits along with five home runs. 

Adolis Garcia had five RBIs, increasing his total to an MLB-best 80 RBIs. 

No. 5. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers are back atop the NL West standings and back in the Top 5in our power rankings. The Dodgers have been a scrappy team this year, relying on an abundance of players to sneak out wins. 

A mixture of acclaimed veterans like Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez and David Peralta have been fundamental to the Dodgers’ success. Betts and Martinez were All-Stars once again, while Peralta is having a respectable season. 

On the mound, the Dodgers have been leaning on rookie pitchers. Top pitching prospects Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan have been dependable while Julio Urias was out with a hamstring injury. 

They are 7-3 in their last 10 games and first in the NL West. 

No. 6. Toronto Blue Jays

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s Home Run Derby win has the Blue Jays fired up. Toronto came out swinging by sweeping Arizona in a three-game series. 

Toronto scored 19 runs. Guerrero kept his home run onslaught going with a solo shot in his first game after the break. 

The sweep against the Diamondback was huge as they are now 8-2 in their last 10 games and hold the second Wild Card spot in the AL. 

No. 7. Houston Astros, No. 8. Miami Marlins, No. 9. Arizona Diamondbacks, and No. 10 Milwaukee Brewers. 

The Houston Astros won a wild series in Anaheim 2-3 to hold the seventh spot in this week’s power rankings. 

Arizona and Miami faltered to start the second half. The Brewers won a crucial series against the Reds to regain first place in the NL Central.