MLB Power Rankings July 18

Every week MLB teams will be ranked for the rest of the season. Here are the 2022 MLB power rankings for the week of July 18.

1. New York Yankees

Record: 64-28

Previous Ranking: 1

The Yankees have proved to be mortal, as they dropped a series to the abysmal Cincinnati Reds, with 2 of the games entering extra innings. The massive lead they built a few weeks back, has proved to be enough to keep them atop the Power Rankings. But how long will they last at number 1?

2. Los Angeles Dodgers

Record: 60-30

Previous Ranking: 3

The Dodgers are closing in on the Yankees, playing near-perfect baseball. They have been on fire as of late, with a perfect combination of dominant pitching and electric hitting. They sit less than 5 games from the best record in baseball.

3. Houston Astros

Record: 59-32

Previous Ranking:2

The Astros managed to drop a spot while not playing badly in their own right. They had a pretty mediocre week. Justin Verlander, on the other hand, had an incredible start this week, throwing 6 shutout innings with 11 strikeouts. It lowered his season ERA down below 2.00.

4. New York Mets

Record: 58-35

Previous Ranking: 4

2B Jeff McNeil was elevated to the starting second baseman for the NL All-Star team. Pete Alonso will represent the Mets in the 2022 Home Run Derby, as he looks to defend his back-to-back derby wins. The Mets are also 23 games over .500 for the first time since 2006.

5. Atlanta Braves

Record: 56-38

Previous Ranking: 5

Ronald Acuna will represent the Braves in the 2022 Home Run Derby. Acuna is the 7 seed and will take on Pete Alonso, the reigning champ, in the first round. This will undoubtably be the best first round matchup of the derby.

6. San Diego Padres

Record: 52-42

Previous Ranking: 6

The Padres are expected to be one of the top destinations for Juan Soto, IF the Nationals are to trade him. A trade for Soto would return an absurd package, but the Padres hope to pair Soto with their own superstar, Fernando Tatis Jr.

7. Tampa Bay Rays

Record: 51-41

Previous Ranking: 10

The Rays are the closest thing to catching the Yankees in the AL East. They are still 13 games back. They do hold a firm spot in the AL Wild Card going into the All-Star Break though.

8. Milwaukee Brewers

Record: 50-43

Previous Ranking: 7

The Brewers lost a few games of division control to the Cardinals this week. They ended the week on a 3 game slide. They still hold a 0.5-game lead in the NL Central, largely to do with Corbin Burnes and his 2.14 ERA.

9. Seattle Mariners

Record: 51-42

Previous Ranking: 14

The Mariners are HOT! They have won 14 games in a row heading into the All-Star Break. FOURTEEN! They have climbed up 11 spots in the last two weeks because of this incredible hot streak. Julio Rodriguez will also represent them in the Home Run Derby as the 6 seed.

10. Toronto Blue Jays

Record: 50-43

Previous Ranking: 9

The Blue Jays lineup is coming to form. They look like the dangerous 1-9 lineup that everybody imagined they would be. They only have 1 qualified hitter with a batting average below .250 and all 7 qualified hitters have an OPS greater than .700.

11. Minnesota Twins

Record: 50-44

Previous Ranking: 11

Byron Buxton was moved to the AL starting outfield for the All-Star Game, replacing Mike Trout. Buxton has some tremendous numbers in the home run (23), RBI (43), and OPS (.830). But he has some lackluster numbers in batting average (.218) and OBP (.295),

12. St Louis Cardinals

Record: 50-44

Previous Ranking: 13

Paul Goldschmidt leads the Cardinals through the first half of the season. This week, Goldschmidt slugged his 300th career home run. Goldschmidt and the Cardinals sit within striking distance for the NL Central lead.

13. Boston Red Sox

Record: 48-45

Previous Ranking: 8

The Red Sox have struggled against the AL East this year. So far, they are 0-10-1 in series against the AL East. They have yet to record a series win in their own division. They will need to right that ship, as it is likely the AL East will have at least 2 or 3 playoff teams this year.

14. Philadelphia Phillies

Record: 49-43

Previous Ranking: 12

Kyle Schwarber will represent the Phillies in the 2022 Home Run Derby. Schwarber currently is ranked 2nd in the league with 29 home runs. He is the 1 seed in the Home Run Derby. He is the favorite to win the derby.

15. San Francisco Giants

Record: 48-43

Previous Ranking: 15

The Giants entered the All-Star Break on a 3-game win streak. They have serious ground to make up on the first-place Dodgers, who are 12.5 games ahead of them as of now. But they are just 0.5 games out of an NL Wild Card spot.

16. Cleveland Guardians

Record: 46-44

Previous Ranking: 16

Jose Ramirez has been the biggest bright spot for the Guardians this year. He is currently 2nd in the MLB in RBIs, just 2 RBIs behind Pete Alonso of the New York Mets. Ramirez is also set to take part in the 2022 Home Run Derby. He will be the 5 seed and will take on Juan Soto in round 1.

17. Chicago White Sox

Record: 46-46

Previous Ranking: 19

The White Sox entered the All-Star break with the same record as the Baltimore Orioles. The White Sox were once World Series contenders, now they fight to outperform one of the lower-level teams in the league. On the bright side, they are just 3 games out of a playoff spot.

18. Baltimore Orioles

Record: 46-46

Previous Ranking: 17

The Orioles came back down to earth after a 5-4 loss to the Twins on July 15th. This halted a 10-game win streak, which marked their longest win streak of the last 23 years. They continue to try to build off of their scorching start to July.

19. Miami Marlins

Record: 43-48

Previous Ranking: 18

The Marlins’ pitching staff has kept the Marlins afloat in the NL Wild Card race. They sit 5.5 games back at the break and they will need their offense to come around in order to make a second-half push.

20. Texas Rangers

Record: 41-49

Previous Ranking: 21

The Rangers made a splash in the 2022 MLB Draft on Sunday. They selected the highly talked about starting pitcher, Kumar Rocker, with the 3rd overall pick. He will join his college teammate, Jack Leiter, in the Rangers farm system.

21. Colorado Rockies

Record: 43-50

Previous Ranking: 22

The Rockies made a great selection in the 2022 MLB Draft, where they selected Gabriel Hughes, a RHP out of Gonzaga. He has an electric fastball/slider combo that is likely to profile and work at the Major League level.

22. Los Angeles Angels

Record: 39-53

Previous Ranking: 20

The Angels are putting together another underwhelming season. They feature 2 MLB superstars yet can’t put together a team around them to be successful. I’m sorry Angels fans, this is truly a disappointing season.

23. Arizona Diamondbacks

Record: 40-52

Previous Ranking: 23

The Diamondbacks selected the highest followed prospect of the 2022 MLB draft, Druw Jones, an OF from Wesleyan High School in Georgia. He is the son of the 10x Gold Glove winner, Andruw Jones. He was the number 1 ranked draft prospect.

24. Pittsburgh Pirates

Record: 39-54

Previous Ranking: 24

The Pirates’ favorite time of year is here: The MLB Draft. With the 4th overall pick, they selected Termarr Johnson, an infielder from Mays High School in Georgia. This is an incredibly high upside pick that should excite Pirates fans.

25. Detroit Tigers

Record: 37-55

Previous Ranking: 25

Spencer Torkelson, the number 1 pick in the 2020 MLB draft, has had a disastrous start to his MLB career. He was recently demoted to Triple-A after he began the season with just 5 home runs and a slash line of .197/.282/.296.

26. Cincinnati Reds

Record: 34-57

Previous Ranking: 27

The Reds have been pretty hot as of late. They pulled off one of the bigger upsets of the year when they took 2/3 games from the first-place Yankees this week. Starting pitcher, Luis Castillo, is one of the hottest names on the trade block this year. It is expected that he will be dealt before the deadline.

27. Kansas City Royals

Record: 36-56

Previous Ranking: 28

The Royals have cemented themselves at the bottom of the league. Highly touted prospect, Nick Pratto, made his debut and hit his first home run this week. He’s the Royals number 2 ranked prospect and the MLBs number 69 ranked prospect.

28. Chicago Cubs

Record: 35-57

Previous Ranking: 26

The Cubs lost both games of the doubleheader against the Mets, both coming in extra innings. Mychal Givens took both losses on the day, despite not allowing an earned run.

29. Oakland Athletics

Record: 32-61

Previous Ranking: 30

The Athletics have climbed out of the daunting hole of the 30th ranked spot. Pitcher Paul Blackburn was the Athletics’ sole 2022 AL All-Star selection this year. This will be Blackburn’s first All-Star appearance in his six-year career.

30. Washington Nationals

Record: 31-63

Previous Ranking: 29

When it rains, it pours. Not only have the Nationals fallen to 30th in these rankings, because of their recent struggle on the field. But now, superstar Juan Soto has declined his $440 million extension, which has made the Nationals reportedly make him available in trades.

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