MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers Continue to Deliver

Written by Jimmy Boyd on May 28, 2009

mlb-power-52809 1. Los Angeles Dodgers (33-15, 1st NL West) – The Dodgers have five more wins than any other team in baseball. Since a little hiccup, when they dropped 4 of 5 from May 7th-12th, the Dodgers have won 11 of their last 14. After a four-game series with the struggling Cubs, LA heads back home for a 9-game home stand. The Dodgers are an impressive 18-5 at home this season so we may have to get used to seeing their name at the top of the rankings for a while.

2. New York Yankees (27-20, Tied 1st AL East) – The Yankees are 14-5 since A-Rod returned to action, having won 5 of 6 series’. The Yankees’ offense ranks 3rd in the league in runs per game (5.66), 4th in batting average (2.80), 1st in OPS (.844), and 1st in homeruns (77).

3. Boston Red Sox (27,20, Tied 1st AL East) – Bean Town has dropped 4 of 6, but I still feel like it is the third best team in baseball right now. The Sox are a phenomenal 17-6 at home and 16-6 against their division. I expect to see a tight race with the Yanks for the top spot in the East from here on out.

4. St. Louis Cardinals (28-19, 1st NL Central) – The Cards have bounced back from a rough patch to win 7 of 9, including a big series win over Milwaukee to regain the top spot in the division. The Cards lead the league in ERA (3.58) and WHIP (1.28) and they have the best player in baseball, in my opinion, in Albert Pujols.

5. Detroit Tigers (26-19, 1st AL Central) – You have to love the way the Tigers are playing right now, having won 9 of their last 12, which includes a series sweep of the AL West leading Rangers. Ace Justin Verlander has been sensational. He has a 5-0 record over his last 6 starts and the Tigers have won 6 of his last 7 starts. I think it’s safe to say Verlander is back and so are the Tigers.

6. Texas Rangers (27-19, 1st AL West) – The Rangers have lost 2 of their last 3 series, but they are still 17-7 their last 24 games. The Rangers are a solid 15-8 at home and an ever deadlier 10-2 against the AL West. They have a home series with the A’s starting Friday before they go to New York and Boston to see what they’re really made of.

7. Milwaukee Brewers (27-20, 2nd NL Central) – The Brew Crew has cooled since a stretch which saw them win 13 of 15, but they are still sitting just a game back in the Central. Perhaps they have overachieved a little bit early on, but I’m not ready to write them off yet.

8. New York Mets (26-20, 1st NL East) – The Mets won a series at Fenway, where the Red Sox have been next to unbeatable this season. Then they took advantage of a 3-game set with the lowly Nationals. At 7-2, with a 1.77 ERA, Johan Santana could be on his way to the NL Cy Young.

9. Philadelphia Phillies (25-20, 2nd NL East) – The defending World Series champs aren’t out of the gate as fast as many expected, but they are just a half game back in the standings despite not playing their best. The Phillies could catapult into first place over the weekend as they get the last place Nats at home for a 3-game set starting Friday.

10. Cincinnati Reds (26-20, 3rd NL Central) – The Reds have won 4 in a row and 6 of their last 8 to find themselves just 1.5 games out of first in the Central. We find out what this team is really made of when they head to Milwaukee this weekend.

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