Astros head into second half of season as baseball’s No. 1
The Houston Astros start the second-half of the season with the No. 1 spot in USA Today MLB power rankings.
But don’t look back, their reign of nine straight weeks at the top spot is being challenged by the re-hot Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dodgers have won 26 of their last 30 games and have a one game advantage in the win column over the Astros. The Dodgers’ plus-163 run differential is also the best in National League history for a team heading into the All-Star break.
From 1 to 30, how they stack up (team, movement in rankings):
1. Houston Astros: –
● Anxiously await the return of starting pitchers Dallas Keuchel and Collin McHugh.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers: –
● Do they have a shot at winning 110 games or more?
3. Washington Nationals: +1
● Who needs a bullpen when youhave Max Scherzer?
4. Arizona Diamondbacks: -1
● Club needs just 17 more wins to tie 2016 total (69).
5. Boston Red Sox: +2
● Begin second half with an eight-game homestand against Yankees, Blue Jays.
6. Colorado Rockies: -1
● Just 5-13 since boasting the NL's best record on June 21.
7. Cleveland Indians: +1
● Terry Francona expected to rejoin the club to start second half.
8. New York Yankees: -2
● Aaron Judge slugging home runs that still haven't landed yet. that still haven’t landed yet.
9. Milwaukee Brewers: –
● NL Central leaders have the third-easiest schedule in the second half.
10. Tampa Bay Rays: +2
● How long until prospect Brent Honeywell and his screwball make MLB debut?
T-11. Minnesota Twins: -2
● If the club can only figure out how to win at Target Field (15-24).
T-11. Kansas City Royals: +3
Buy or sell? Still a burning question.
13. Chicago Cubs: -2
● .239 batting average at the break 28th worst in the majors.
14. Texas Rangers: -1
● Cole Hamels & Yu Darvish have combined to win just 10 games.
15. St. Louis Cardinals: +6
● Rookie Luke Voit making a big first impression.
16. Los Angeles Angels: -1
● Will he be the same Mike Trout after missing 39 games with an injured thumb?
17. Baltimore Orioles: -1
● Pitching staff (5.07 ERA) proving to be the Achilles’ heel once again.
18. Seattle Mariners: –
● The playoff drought likely to continue unless GM Jerry DiPoto makes a move.
19. Atlanta Braves: +1
● Open the second have with 13 games against the Diamondbacks, Dodgers and Cubs.
20. Pittsburgh Pirates: -1
● Is Andrew McCutchen deadline trade bait?
21. Miami Marlins: +4
● Michael Jordan, Pitbull lend celebrity to Marlins ownership bids.
22. Toronto Blue Jays: -5
● Once-potent offense ranks 14th in the AL in runs scored.
23. New York Mets: –
● Is this the end of the road for manager Terry Collins?
24. Detroit Tigers: –
● Is it football season yet?
25. Cincinnati Reds: +2
● Will the Reds trade All-Star short-stop Zack Cozart?
26. Chicago White Sox: -4
● Where will Jose Quintana finish the season?
27. Oakland Athletics: -1
● Yonder Alonso continues to be bright spot on struggling club.
28. San Diego Padres: – ● MLB-worst minus-128 run differential, on a recent 20-18 run.
29. San Francisco Giants: –
● Madison Bumgarner set to return from April bike accident.
30. Philadelphia Phillies: –
● On pace to finish last in its division for the third time in four years.