11-game run fuels Astros’ rise
After starting the season 1111, the Houston Astros reeled off an 11-game winning streak to resolidify themselves as one of the best teams in baseball – and up six spots to No. 3 in this week’s USA TODAY MLB power rankings.
The Astros limited opponents to three runs or less in every game of the streak, including four shutouts, before losing to the Washington Nationals on May 14. Houston bounced back for an 8-0 win the next day behind Justin Verlander, who is 5-1 with a 1.38 ERA in seven starts after missing last season recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Jose Altuve has been looking like his old self, batting .333 with hitting six home runs in 12 games to begin the month of May. Rookie Jeremy Peña Jr. looks like a budding star at shortstop, posting a .853 OPS with six homers and 20 RBI in his first 30 big-league games.
Houston is tied with the Los Angeles Angels atop the American League West through May 15.
Here’s how USA TODAY Sports’ eight-person panel voted this week:
Rank (movement from last week)
1. New York Yankees (+1) uThe BX Bash Brothers: Aaron Judge (12 HR) and Giancarlo Stanton (10) among AL leaders.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (-1) uClayton Kershaw heads to the injured list. 34-year-old had a 1.80 ERA in five starts. 3. Houston Astros (+6) uNew relievers Hector Neris (0.56 ERA) and Rafael Montero (0.61 ERA) have been key. 4. New York Mets (-1) uTylor Megill’s injury is going to ask some questions of the team’s pitching depth.
5. Milwaukee Brewers (-1) uChristian Yelich had 14 hits and 11 runs through 12 games in May.
6. San Diego Padres (-1)
uManny Machado is on pace to reach 200 hits for the first time. 7. Los Angeles Angels (+3) uIt might be time to start taking this team seriously in the American League West.
8. San Francisco Giants (+4) uOutfielder Luis Gonzalez (.382 average in May) keeps on hitting.
9. Tampa Bay Rays (-3) uThe Rays can stack up some wins this week with series against Tigers and Orioles.
10. Minnesota Twins (-2)
uShortstop Royce Lewis hit a grand slam vs. Cleveland for his first big-league homer.
11. St. Louis Cardinals (–)
uComing off a weekend series vs. Giants, Cardinals visit Mets for four-game set.
12. Toronto Blue Jays (-5)
uPitcher Hyun Jin Ryu held the Rays to one run in his first start off the injured list.
13. Chicago White Sox (–)
uLuis Robert hit .413 (19for-46) with 10 runs in his first 11 games of May.
14. Cleveland Guardians (+2)
uInfielder Owen Miller was hitting .298 with a .872 OPS through May 15.
15. Atlanta Braves (–)
uReliever A.J. Minter has 23 strikeouts with only two walks in 16 appearances.
16. Philadelphia Phillies (+3)
uAaron Nola coming on strong with a 3.29 ERA and 48 strikeouts in his last seven starts.
17. Arizona Diamondbacks (+1)
uD-backs are off to an 18-17 start after losing 110 games last season.
18. Seattle Mariners (+2)
uJulio Rodriguez was tied for the MLB lead with 10 steals through May 15.
19. Colorado Rockies (-4)
uShortstop Jose Iglesias has started the season hitting .313 (31-for-99).
20. Miami Marlins (-3) uPablo Lopez’s ERA went up (to 1.05) after giving up one run in seven innings vs. Brewers. 21. Boston Red Sox (+4) uRed Sox are battling with the Orioles to stay out of last place in the AL East.
22. Baltimore Orioles (–) uCedric Mullins hit .351 (20for-57) with three homers in his first 13 games of May.
23. Oakland Athletics (+4) uRemember “Moneyball”? This team’s .269 OBP is the worst in baseball.
24. Pittsburgh Pirates (-3) uOutfielder Ben Gamel hit .391 (18-for-46) to start May.
25. Texas Rangers (-2) uVeteran lefty Matt Moore has a 2.16 ERA in 10 relief appearances.
26. Chicago Cubs (–) uWillson Contreras (.892 OPS) should be a hot commodity at the trade deadline.
27. Kansas City Royals (-3) uHitting coach Terry Bradshaw out, minors guru Alex Zumwalt in amid shake-up.
28. Washington Nationals (–) uJuan Soto is heating up: 1.025 OPS and 4 homers through 12 games in May.
29. Detroit Tigers (–)
uThe Tigers have scored the fewest runs of any team in baseball.
30. Cincinnati Reds (–)
uCincinnati won two of three against the Brewers last week, scoring 28 runs.