Pro-GM Power Rankings - Episode 7

[Buster Olney]

Pro-GM Power Rankings
Episode: 7
Week: 13

Rising: Philadelphia Phillies (+2), New York Yankees (+2), Houston Astros (+2)
Falling: Arizona Diamondbacks (-4), Seattle Mariners (-2), Atlanta Braves (-2)

Welcome to the seventh episode of my power rankings. This week I'm just updating the rankings, but we'll be back with a new feature next week. With the playoffs a couple months away, I'll be including playoff-related content in the rankings in the near future as well.

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

American League

• Seattle Mariners (8-3-1) vs Tampa Bay Rays (11-0-1)
• Chicago White Sox (9-1-2) vs Baltimore Orioles (8-4)

National League

• Colorado Rockies (11-1) vs Philadelphia Phillies (9-3)

1. Chicago Cubs (12-0)  
Last Week: 1
While last week's easy win over the Nationals is great, there is trouble brewing in Chicago. Pineda has shown signs of his inconsistent self in previous years, Cozart, Marwin Gonzalez, and Carlos Gonzalez are nursing injuries, and Matt Bush blew another save. Week 13 against the Braves won't tell us much, but those are issues to be aware of. That being said, the Daniel Murphy addition this week only makes this team tougher.

2. Cincinnati Reds (11-1)  
Last Week: 2
The Reds handled the Padres easily this week by a score of 8-3. Carlos Gomez has been on an absolute tear and Quintana had a very nice start this week. When clicking on all cylinders, it's hard to put the Reds behind any team.

3. Toronto Blue Jays (9-2-1)  
Last Week: 3
Fantastic win over the Mariners this week by the surging Blue Jays. Vogt was DFA'd, but just got picked up by Milwaukee and looks to have another shot to right the ship after an awful year at the plate. deGrom is back in form after struggling last month and Kluber looks strong as well. Things are beginning to look alright in Toronto.

4. Tampa Bay Rays (11-0-1)  
Last Week: 4
Can anyone beat the Rays? Ozuna has not slowed down a bit and Springer looks like he's on PEDs. It's awesome to see Taillon back and pitching well. One worry is Dylan Bundy, who is having a career year but looks to be a bit fatigued. With plenty of issues surrounding his durability in previous years, you have to be at least a little worried.

5. Chicago White Sox (9-1-2) 
Last Week: 5
Easy win over the BoSox this week. Pollock still isn't healthy, but has resumed his rehab. This week's matchup vs Baltimore should be fun.

6. Los Angeles Angels (9-3)  
Last Week: 7
Very solid bounceback win for the Angels this week against the struggling Tigers. Goldschmidt is having a MVP caliber season and Michael Fulmer had a great start this week after a couple of so so ones. Osuna recently said he's been having mental health issues, so hopefully he gets better and that's something to monitor.

7. Colorado Rockies (11-1)  
Last Week: 8
Wow what a game this week against the Cardinals. Despite a subpar performance from the pitching staff, the Rockies pulled out a victory against the Cardinals. The addition of Addison Russell will only help this team for the stretch run.

8. Seattle Mariners (8-3-1) 
Last Week: 6
The Mariners faced the surging Blue Jays this week and while the batting categories were close enough, they got beat handily on the pitching side of things. Pitching looks like the Achilles heel of the team at the moment, we'll see if they make any moves at the deadline. The Rays in week 13 don't make things any easier.

9. Baltimore Orioles (8-4)  
Last Week: 9
It was an easy win against the Twins this week, but the bigger storyline was Schwarber being sent down. Yikes. Hopefully he figures it out in time to help this team this season.

10. Cleveland Indians (4-7-1) 
Last Week: 10
It's just up and down for this team every week. It wasn't an easy matchup against the Rays, but even a rare gem from Tanaka couldn't give Cleveland the victory. Odor is back in a slump going 3/30 this past week.

11. Philadelphia Phillies (9-3)  
Last Week: 13
The Phillies showed they can still beat up on the easier opponents in an easy win over the Brewers. Darvish pitched an absolute gem last week vs the Yankees.

12. St. Louis Cardinals (8-4)
Last Week: 11
A loss to the Rockies really hurts especially when you have a chance to beat one of the top teams in the NL, but the Cardinals put up a hell of a fight. King Felix is back, finally.

13. Detroit Tigers (6-6) 
Last Week: 12
Another loss for the Tigers as they faced a really tough Angels team. The Tigers had multiple players in a slump this past week and a couple of awful pitching performances outweighed a few decent ones. The Tigers need to right the ship against the Texas Rangers this week.

14. New York Yankees (6-6) 
Last Week: 16
This week's win against the Rangers didn't tell us any more than we already knew about this team. Dexter Fowler went back on the DL in what is becoming a tough season for him as he was just getting on a roll.

15. New York Mets (6-5-1) 
Last Week: 15
Last week's matchup against the Dodgers ended in a tie which helps and hurts both teams in a way. Gonzalez continues to pitch surprisingly well for the Mets, but iffy peripherals show he's due for a regression soon.

16. Pittsburgh Pirates (5-7) 
Last Week: 17
Pretty easy win over the Giants in week 12. Elvis Andrus is quietly having a career season at the plate. Wainwright bounced back with a good outing, but he's shown he can get blown up at any moment's notice.

17. Atlanta Braves (6-6) 
Last Week: 19
Really nice win this week as the Braves dominated the Diamondbacks. Brandon Phillips is having his best season in years and if the season ended today would have the highest average of his career.

18. Arizona Diamondbacks (5-6-1) 
Last Week: 14
Yikes, an ugly 10-1 loss to the Braves no thanks to Stroman's 15.75 ERA or Miggy's .143 average.

19. San Diego Padres (5-6-1) 
Last Week: 18
As predicted, the Padres couldn't do anything to threaten the Reds. Get this team a catcher and 1B!!! I hate to see an amazing season by Scherzer being wasted.

20. Los Angeles Dodgers (5-6-1)
Last Week: 21
Looks like Pederson read my criticism last week as he went off for two homers, 7 RBI, and hit .444 this week. Too bad it ended in a tie.

21. Washington Nationals (5-7) 
Last Week: 20
Like I said last week, the Nationals are now 5-7. Cano really struggled this week, hitting .185 which isn't gonna cut it.

22. Oakland Athletics (2-10) 
Last Week: 22
Athletics picked up their second win of the season last week vs the Royals. I've been rooting for this team all year because I think their better than they've showed, but I need to see a few more wins to take them seriously.

23. Texas Rangers (3-9) 
Last Week: 23
The Rangers went back to their losing ways in week 12. Week 13 against the struggling Tigers could be a potential upset if the Rangers can play well.

24. Boston Red Sox (4-8) 
Last Week: 24
A loss to the White Sox was expected, but it wasn't all bad as Tyler Austin and Rob Refsnyder were called up, giving this team a chance to evaluate their young talent.

25. Houston Astros (3-9) 
Last Week: 27
Let's go Astros!!!!

26. Kansas City Royals (2-10) 
Last Week: 25
They gave the Athletics their second win and Starlin Castro is now banged up, not a good week for the Royals.

27. Milwaukee Brewers (3-9) 
Last Week: 26
"Milwaukee Brewers did not meet minimum pitching requirements"

28. Miami Marlins (0-12) 
Last Week: 28

29. Minnesota Twins (0-12) 
Last Week: 29
Ian Happ had a great week, not that it mattered.

30. San Francisco Giants (0-12) 
Last Week: 30