Pro-GM Power Rankings - Episode 6

[Buster Olney]

Pro-GM Power Rankings
Episode: 6
Week: 12

Rising: Toronto Blue Jays (+2), Chicago White Sox (+2), Cleveland Indians (+2), St. Louis Cardinals (+2), Texas Rangers (+2)
Falling: Los Angeles Angels (-3), Detroit Tigers (-2), Philadelphia Phillies (-2), New York Yankees (-2), Boston Red Sox (-2)

Welcome to the sixth episode of my power rankings. This week, in addition to updated rankings, I've listed every team's MDP (Most Disappointing Player) thus far this season.

Key games to keep an eye on this week...

American League

• Cleveland Indians (4-6-1) vs Tampa Bay Rays (10-0-1)
• Toronto Blue Jays (8-2-1) vs Seattle Mariners (8-2-1)

National League

• New York Mets (6-5) vs Los Angeles Dodgers (5-6)
• Arizona Diamondbacks (5-5-1) vs Atlanta Braves (5-6)
• Colorado Rockies (10-1) vs St. Louis Cardinals (8-3)

1. Chicago Cubs (11-0)  
Last Week: 1
MDP: Christian Yelich
The Cubbies continue to roll through the NL. The Dodgers fell victim to this juggernaut of a team this week. You could certainly make an argument for Matt Moore as most disappointing, but given Yelich's track record and expectations he's certainly been a disappointment so far this year. He hasn't gotten on any sort of huge hot streak just yet and until that happens his season stats will continue to underwhelm. 

2. Cincinnati Reds (10-1)  
Last Week: 2
MDP: Jose Quintana
Reds made a statement with an easy win over a decent Braves team. Quintana has been really disappointing especially relative to his standards this season. That being said, he has had some really nice starts as well mixed in with bad ones so he just needs to find his consistency again. 

3. Toronto Blue Jays (8-2-1)  
Last Week: 5
MDP: Jake Arrieta
Get outta the way, Detroit! The Blue Jays blanked Detroit 10-0 this week and look to have gotten back on track after a shaky two game stretch. The pitching overall has been a disappointment for this team, but Arrieta in particular has looked nothing like his previous year's form. You wonder if he's fatigued after a few years of dominance. 

4. Tampa Bay Rays (10-0-1)  
Last Week: 3
MDP: Greg Bird
Beat the Twins 12-0 this past week. Hard to find someone less disappointing than Greg Bird this year. Injuries haven't given him an opportunity to turn things around, but when he's been healthy he's been straight trash. 

5. Chicago White Sox (8-1-2) 
Last Week: 7
MDP: Alcides Escobar
Ok, Chicago, ok. The "other" team in Chicago is making noise after tieing the Rays and beating the Angels in back to back weeks. I'm hopping onto this bandwagon!!!

6. Seattle Mariners (8-2-1) 
Last Week: 6
MDP: Maikel Franco
The Mariners continue to bounce back from a tough start to the year. They've done all this despite Maikel Franco having a really awful year from a hitting and luck perspective.

7. Los Angeles Angels (8-3)  
Last Week: 4
MDP: Bartolo Colon
WOW, big loss this week to the White Sox. The pitching really let Los Angeles down with Zack Wheeler posting a disgusting 43.20 ERA on the week. Probably just a fluke of a week, but pitching is definitely this team's achilles heel. No one expected Colon to be a difference maker SP, but he's usually serviceable and his current 7.78 ERA is anything but. After posting a 3.43 ERA in 2016, the Angels would love to see that ERA drop by even a couple points. 

8. Colorado Rockies (10-1)  
Last Week: 8
MDP: Sam Dyson
After suffering their first loss last week, the Rockies bounce back with a win over the short handed Nationals. Do I even need to explain why Dyson is the MDP of this team?

9. Baltimore Orioles (7-4)  
Last Week: 9
MDP: Kyle Schwarber
There ya go, Thames!!! After struggling through injuries, Thames came back with a thunder this week. Schwarber is starting to have some really nice games, but still can't get consistent. Could this just be a lost year for the young slugger?

10. Cleveland Indians (4-6-1) 
Last Week: 12
MDP: Masahiro Tanaka
I said this week's matchup against the Yanks could be a get right matchup for this team and they did just that winning by a score of 9-2. The best news? Odor is heating up big time. What has happened to Tanaka? He's giving home run after home run this year. His SO/9 rate is still high, so he isn't totally lost but he needs to keep the ball in the ballpark to find success again.

11. St. Louis Cardinals (8-3)
Last Week: 13
MDP: Dansby Swanson
Really impressive win by the Cardinals this week especially after losing CC and still missing King Felix. CC looks like he's out a while, but the good news is King Felix makes his return this week. Swanson has scuffled at the plate pretty much all year, but he's likely going through growing pains as he was fast-tracked to the majors. My biggest worry is his defense has suffered and that's something you never want to see especially from a young player.

12. Detroit Tigers (6-5) 
Last Week: 10
MDP: Mike Napoli
Yikes, this loss shows how the Tigers might just be destined for the "treadmill of mediocrity" this year where they beat the bad teams like the Red Sox last week, but lose against teams better than them on paper like the Blue Jays. Napoli has hit for power this year, but hasn't looked anything like he did for most of last year.

13. Philadelphia Phillies (8-3)  
Last Week: 11
MDP: Trevor Story
I said last week that this week's matchup against the Cards would give us an idea of where this team stands. Well, right now it doesn't look great and that undefeated start to the year seems like an eternity ago. Phillies fans certainly expected more than this from Story after his storybook 2016 season. If he can show more power there's still hope he can become at least 75% of what he was last year.

14. Arizona Diamondbacks (5-5-1) 
Last Week: 15
MDP: Mark Melancon
The Diamondbacks beat up on the inferior Brewers team in week 11. Melancon has had a very disappointing year as the Giants closer. First, the Giants are having a very bad year. Second, when he has had opportunities he's already blown 4 of them.

15. New York Mets (6-5) 
Last Week: 16
MDP: Todd Frazier
A very close win against the Pirates this week vs the Mets. Todd Frazier started off the year hurt and hasn't found his stroke yet this season. He has shown his patented power, but cannot make contact with the ball enough so far. This week's matchup vs the Dodgers is very intriguing.

16. New York Yankees (5-6) 
Last Week: 14
MDP: Starling Marte
A loss to a dangerous Indians team is expected from this Yankees team that was overrated from the start. Marte as the MDP seems like a cop out, but it's true. The Yankees have a very winnable matchup this week against the Rangers.

17. Pittsburgh Pirates (4-7) 
Last Week: 17
MDP: Adam Wainwright
I thought Wainwright had turned the corner a couple weeks ago, but he followed up last week's shoddy performance with another stinker lasting only 1.2 innings in his only start in week 11. That won't get it done for a team that needs its good players to play up to their standards. The Pirates have a easy matchup this week against the Giants.

18. San Diego Padres (5-5-1) 
Last Week: 19
MDP: Byron Buxton
Nice little bounceback win against Miami this week. Buxton couldn't have started the year any worse than he did and while he has shown some signs of life he's still been a big disappointment as a former #1 prospect. The Padres play the Reds this week. An upset, while unlikely, would obviously be huge.

19. Atlanta Braves (5-6) 
Last Week: 18
MDP: Troy Tulowitzki
A very tough matchup vs the Reds and as expected the Braves couldn't hang with one of the best team's in the league. Tulowitzki has proven that his best years are behind him, but even his biggest backers must be surprised at his current .242 average to go along with limited power (2 homers). The Braves need him to play well in a key game this week against Arizona.

20. Washington Nationals (5-6) 
Last Week: 20
MDP: Jonathan Lucroy
The Nationals couldn't do enough vs the Rockies this week to pull off the upset. Lucroy hasn't hit very well this year relative to his lofty standards mostly due to hitting the ball on the ground too often. Chirinos has taken some time away from him in Texas and that situation looks a little shaky at the moment. Nationals play the Cubs this week, so they'll be 5-7 by this point next week.

21. Los Angeles Dodgers (5-6)
Last Week: 21
MDP: Joc Pederson
The Dodgers actually put up an ok fight against the Cubs, only losing 8-4. McCullers is still hurt and it's tough to see this team winning as long as that stays true. Pederson hasn't hit for the power he's known for and he's only hitting .211 on the year thus far. As a young player, he has time to turn it around, but have ML pitchers figured him out already?

22. Oakland Athletics (1-10) 
Last Week: 23
MDP: Devon Travis
Yeah it's just not happening for this team this year. 1-10 is too tough to come back from despite all the talent on the roster. Travis has actually been fine when healthy, but he went down against with knee issues a couple weeks ago.

23. Texas Rangers (3-8) 
Last Week: 25
MDP: Rick Porcello
Very impressive showing by Texas this week, especially Lorenzo Cain's power surge. Porcello has been anything but impressive. His CY Young 2016 seems like a dream now.

24. Boston Red Sox (4-7) 
Last Week: 22
MDP: Alex Gordon
Red Sox ran into the buzzsaw that is the Mariners in week 11. Alex Gordon was signed as a potential trade piece, but has done nothing but swing and miss as he has a .194 average on the season with only 3 homers on the year. A week 12 match against the surging White Sox doesn't bode well.

25. Kansas City Royals (2-9) 
Last Week: 24
MDP: Jason Heyward
The Royals got destroyed by the Rangers 10-1, but that was more of just a crazy week for Texas than a terrible showing by Kansas City. Heyward has been improved from his forgettable 2016, but hasn't been able to stay healthy due to nagging injuries.

26. Milwaukee Brewers (3-8) 
Last Week: 26
MDP: Danny Salazar
Salazar couldn't keep his rotation spot and has struggled to a 5.40 ERA so far this year.

27. Houston Astros (1-10) 
Last Week: 27
MDP: Rajai Davis
Hard to find one MDP on a team filled with bad players, but Rajai Davis has not done well despite being in a decent situation getting at bats in Oakland. Should be a fun matchup against Miami this week.

28. Miami Marlins (0-11) 
Last Week: 28
MDP: Jurickson Profar
Profar has been nothing but disappointing since he was called up to the MLB for fantasy owners and Rangers fans alike.

29. Minnesota Twins (0-10) 
Last Week: 29
MDP: Edwin Diaz
Diaz had super high expectations after his breakout on the scene last year, but has been shaky for most of this year. He's been better as of late, but still the biggest disappointment on this team given the expectations.

30. San Francisco Giants (0-10) 
Last Week: 30
MDP: Michael Morse
Morse used to be one of the most consistent hitters year in year out, but he's only hitting .194 this year on an overall bad Giants team.