MLB power rankings
Rays are surprising 12-4 and lead AL East
There’s usually a legitimate reason to write off the Rays.
This season feels different.
As hard as it is to believe, it’s been 11 years since Tampa Bay reached the World Series and made the transformation from expansion disaster into winning franchise.
With the Rays in the midst of a fiveyear postseason drought after getting to the playoffs four times in six seasons from 2008 to 2013, it’s easy to roll your eyes at the quirky way the organization operates and just feel like the club’s magic has run out.
Even coming off a 90-win season with a 26-year-old Cy Young winner, the Rays didn’t enter 2019 with particularly high expectations, assumed to lag behind the Red Sox and Yankees.
The club’s success in past years has felt like a bit of an accident at times, but the architects of the 2019 team knew exactly what they were doing.
This team doesn’t have the flaws that might have sunk its predecessors. They are deep across the board and are going to make a real run at the American League East crown this season.
Here’s how our eight-person panel voted this week (records and statistics through Sunday):
1. Astros, 11-5 (+5 from last week)
❚ Top prospect Kyle Tucker off to a slow start (4-for-33) in Class AAA.
2. Rays, 12-4 (+2)
❚ Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows making the Chris Archer trade look like a steal.
3. Brewers, 10-6 (-1)
❚ After breakout 2018, Jesus Aguilar
struggling to start the season.
4. Mariners, 13-5 (+5)
❚ Broke major league record with homers in 15 consecutive games to start the season.
5. Padres, 11-6 (+10)
❚ Fernando Tatis Jr. (5 HRs in 16 games) showing his power is for real.
T-6. Mets, 9-6 (+2)
❚ Pete Alonso becomes first player since 1900 with 11 extra-base hits in first 10 career games.
T-6. Phillies, 9-5 (-3)
❚ Bullpen is looking even worse than we thought it would.
8. Dodgers, 9-8 (-7)
❚ Six-game losing streak erased the team’s 8-2 start.
9. Braves, 9-6 (+4)
❚ How did they persuade Ozzie Albies to take seven years for $35 million? 10. Twins, 8-4 (+1) ❚ Byron Buxton is partying like it’s the second half of 2017.
11. Cardinals, 9-6 (+5)
❚ After injury-hampered 2018, shortstop Paul DeJong on fire to start the new season.
12. Nationals, 7-7 (+2)
❚ Anthony Rendon is finally getting to be the star of the show.
13. Yankees, 6-9 (-8)
❚ DJ LeMahieu is going to compete for another batting title.
14. Athletics, 10-9 (-2)
❚ Khris Davis first in the majors to reach 10 home runs.
15. Indians, 8-7 (-8)
❚ Hoping Carlos Gonzalez can inject life into sputtering offense. 16. Red Sox, 6-10 (-6)
❚ Starters had an 8.09 ERA through 15 games.
17. Pirates, 8-6 (+2)
❚ Rotation had an NL-best 1.78 ERA through 13 games.
18. Cubs, 5-9 (+1)
❚ Yu Darvish has a 7.50 ERA and 11 walks in 12 innings through three starts.
19. Tigers, 8-7 (-1)
❚ Matt Boyd struck out 29 in his first 171⁄3 innings.
20. Angels, 8-7 (+2)
❚ Matt Harvey’s first three starts: 141⁄3 IP, 16 ER.
21. Giants, 7-10 (+5)
❚ Bullpen had an MLB-best 1.86 ERA through 16 games. 22. Diamondbacks, 7-9 (-2) ❚ Adam Jones thriving in his new home.
23. Reds, 5-9 (+5)
❚ Sonny Gray (2.03 ERA in three starts) looking better than he has in years.
24. Rangers, 7-7 (-1)
❚ Rookie manager Chris Woodward making a good first impression.
25. Rockies, 4-12 (-4)
❚ Nolan Arenado didn’t hit his first homer until game No. 16.
26. Blue Jays, 5-11 (-1)
❚ Freddy Galvis through 16 games: .351, 5 HRs, 11 RBI.
27. Orioles, 6-10 (—)
❚ Chris Davis snaps his 0-for-54 streak.
28. White Sox, 5-9 (-4)
❚ Small sample size, but Tim Anderson is coming into his own.
29. Royals, 5-10 (+1)
❚ Alex Gordon has seemingly remembered how to hit.
30. Marlins, 4-12 (-2)
❚ Jorge Alfaro, acquired in the JT Realmuto trade, thriving with regular playing time.