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MLB power rankings: hottest baseball clubs move up 7 spots

The MLB power rankings for this week, feature the Cincinnati Reds who made the playoffs in 2020, which is nothing, even with the expanded format. Still, they have not won a postseason game since 2012, when they were managed by Dusty Baker, and have not won a postseason series since 1995. The winning pitcher for that series was David Wells when he was 32 years old before he became a Yankee.

It has been a while since the Reds have experienced the type of pure joy they felt in the past week. They were unbeaten this week, all on the road, winning three games in Kansas City and then three more in Houston against the Astros.

Cincinnati has won eight in a row and is only a half-game out of first position. Out of all the National League Central teams, they are the highest in MLB Power Rankings. And when fans watch them play it becomes clear why.

Here are the MLB power rankings for this week:

1. Rays 51-24 (last week: 1)

The Tampa Bay Rays began the week with two losses in Oakland but bounced back to win three games in a row before dropping the last two games of their series in San Diego. They still have a comfortable five-game lead in the AL East, but the lurking Orioles who have two games at the Trop to start the week should be watched.

They should put some good distance between themselves and the rest of the division with a sweep.

2. Braves 46-27 (last week:3)

Atlanta had quite the easy schedule this week three in Detroit and three at home against the Colorado Rockies but the Braves did what was expected of them. They won five of six and expanded their lead in the NL East.

They have had to keep up with the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies who have won four in a row and six in a row, respectively. The Braves have quite a week ahead of them: three against Philadelphia and three against the Reds.

3. Rangers 44-27 (last week: 2)

Third on the list of MLB power rankings is the Texas Rangers who already gave their fans many highlights this season, and when the reel of their best moments are played at the end of the season, you can expect Texas’ win over the Blue Jays to be added.

After trailing behind, 6-0, they outscored the wobbling Jays 11-1 the rest of the way to win the series. Corey Seager is definitely earning every ounce of his contract: Seager has a 1.076 OPS on the season.

4. Orioles 44-27 (last week: 3)

The Fangraphs Playoffs Odds may still not have faith in the Baltimore Orioles they have lower odds to reach the postseason than the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres, but they stopped listening to reports from outsiders, computers or otherwise a long time ago.

If they are going to play against the Rays, their two-game set this week is a good chance to start.

5. D-backs 43-28 (last week: 5)

No matter what is said about Ichiro Suzuki and Fred Lynn; the two players to win MVP their rookie year but they were no records of them getting MVP chants from the home crowd two months into that rookie season.

That is what played out this week with Corbin Carroll, who has the Arizona Diamondbacks holding steady on top of the NL West. Arizona has a funky week coming up: three matches in Milwaukee, then a makeup match on Thursday in Washington, and then three all the way out in San Francisco.

6. Dodgers (6)

7. Astros (7)

8. Yankees (8)

9. Marlins (11)

10. Angels (10)

11. Blue Jays (9)

12. Giants (17)

13. Phillies (18)

14. Twins (10)

15. Reds (22)

16. Brewers (14)

17. Padres (15)