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MLB Power Rankings, Award Tracker: Braves, Dodgers pulling away at top
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- MLB Power Rankings, Award Tracker: Braves, Dodgers pulling away at top
Each week, The California Post will power rank MLB's 30 teams and check in on one intriguing awards race. Here is this week's edition (records through Thursday night):
1.) Braves (42-21)
The Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr. hit five home runs in his last seven games before Friday's MLB action. AP Photo/Lynne Sladky
The Dodgers are making a push to reclaim the top spot in these rankings. But now, the Braves continue to do just too much winning. They are 10-5 in their last 15 games, 32-14 since April 14, and on pace for nearly 110 wins. Drake Baldwin and Matt Olson are both top eight in the NL in OPS, and Ronald Acuña Jr. is heating up with five home runs in his last seven games. (Last week: 1st)
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2.) Dodgers (40-23)
The Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani is making a run at the NL batting title and the NL Cy Young Award. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Don't look now but the once-slumping Shohei Ohtani is not only back on track for another MVP season, and making a case for his first Cy Young Award, but is also positioning himself for a run at the NL batting title . (Last week: 2nd)
3.) Yankees (37-25)
The Yankees avoided getting swept at home for the first time this season by beating Cleveland on Thursday. But Aaron Judge's confounding injury saga culminated in some bad news Thursday: He has a stress fracture to a rib and will be sidelined for at least the next 4-6 weeks. That only accentuates the gap growing between the Braves/Dodgers and everyone else. (Last week: 3rd)
The Yankees' Aaron Judge has a stress fracture to a rib and will be sidelined at least a month. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
4.) Brewers (37-23)
TheBrewers have won 24 of their last 34 games and might only be getting stronger. After missing the start of the year with a hand fracture, young star Jackson Chourio has been one of the hottest hitters in the majors lately, batting almost .500 over the last week. (Last week: 5th)
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5.) Phillies (33-29)
Orel Hershiser's scoreless-inning streak record remains safe, after Cristopher Sánchez finally had his streak snapped at 50 ⅔ innings. The Phillies' revival, however, remains alive and well, after they bounced back from a series loss to the Dodgers with their second sweep of the Padres in the last week and a half. (Last week: 6th)
6.) Rays (36-23)
No team in the majors had been going through it more than the Tigers … until the Rays welcomed them to the Trop and got swept. The surprise Rays are still leading the AL East but have now dropped eight of 10. Consider this #RegressionToTheMean watch, especially considering their plus-five run differential. (Last week: 4th)
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7.) Guardians (36-28)
Speaking of #RegressionToTheMean candidates, the Guardians have gone back to playing .500 ball the last couple weeks. Luckily for them, there is no team like the Yankees nipping at their heels in the AL Central. (Last week: 9th)
Slade Cecconi has been uneven for the Guardians. Getty Images
8.) Mariners (33-30)
The big movers in this week's rankings, the Mariners are finally starting to look like the team that came within a win of the World Series last year, winning eight games in a row behind an offense that is finally finding some life. (Last week: 15th)
9.) Cardinals (32-28)
The Cardinals rank in the bottom half of the majors in scoring (21st) and team ERA (17th) yet continue to keep their heads above water. Breakout closer Riley O'Brien is starting to come up in trade buzz. But for now, St. Louis doesn't look like an obvious seller. (Last week: 8th)
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10.) Cubs (33-30)
Honestly, what the Cubs have done so far this year is nothing short of impressive. They have two separate 10-game winning streaks, then found themselves on the verge of falling to just a game above .500, then stormed back from a three-run ninth-inning deficit for a walk-off win Thursday. A true model of consistency! (Last week: 7th)
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11.) Pirates (34-29)
Paul Skenes has been BABIP'd to death in his last four starts, suffering a 5.85 ERA in four Pirates losses. However, Pittsburgh is 10-3 otherwise in that stretch, holding steady in one of the NL's wild-card spots for now. (Last week: 12th)
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12.) Diamondbacks (33-29)
The Dbacks' recent attempts at signing big-name pitchers have not exactly worked out well. Corbin Burnes ' setback from Tommy John surgery, which will keep him out until September, is just the latest example. At least Eduardo Rodriguez is finally pitching well. (Last week: 10th)
13.) Padres (32-29)
On May 18, the Padres won a series-opening game against the Dodgers to take over first place in the NL West. Since then, they have lost 11 of 14 games, suffered five straight defeats during a Washington-Philadelphia road trip this week and fallen seven games back in the standings. But, hey, at least Fernando Tatis Jr. finally has a home run! (Last week: 11th)
Fernando Tatis Jr. finally hit a home run this year. Getty Images
14.) White Sox (33-29)
Munetaka Murakami magic is on hold, with the Japanese slugger set to miss 4-6 weeks. But it hasn't slowed down the White Sox yet, who remain just two games back in the AL Central while getting big production from Miguel Vargas (15 home runs, 41 RBIs, .871 OPS) and Colson Montgomery (15 home runs, 36 RBIs, .788 OPS) as well. (Last week: 14th)
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15.) Reds (31-30)
The Reds would currently be a second-place team if they played in the AL West and third in the AL Central, AL East or NL East. Unfortunately for them, the NL Central has been unexpectedly tough. Thus, they are the only winning team stuck in last in their division. (Last week: 13th)
16.) Blue Jays (30-33)
After recovering from their wretched start to the year, the Blue Jays had climbed all the way back to .500 … only to promptly lose four in a row. If it wasn't already clear, little will be easy for them this season. (Last week: 16th)
17.) Athletics (30-32)
If nothing else, the A's have at least given the city of Sacramento hope of one day having its own baseball team .But now, the temporary local ninecontinues to be completely mediocre. (Last week: 17th)
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18.) Nationals (31-32)
The way James Wood is playing — 16 home runs, 39 RBIs, 10 steals, .928 OPS — he should probably get consideration for an All-Star Game start. Too bad such an honor is based on fan voting, something that won't exactly work in his favor as a member of the rebuilding Nats. (Last week: 18th)
19.) Rangers (30-32)
Jacob deGrom recorded his 100th career victory as part of Texas ' recent five-game win streak.But if the Rangers can't stage a larger midseason turnaround, it's fair to wonder if his name will come up in trade deadline rumors. (Last week: 19th)
20.) Orioles (30-33)
At least we know the Orioles aren't the worst team in the AL East, after they took a series at Fenway Park this week. Suddenly, they've won nine of 13 games. (Last week: 24th)
Pete Alonso reacts after making an error during the Orioles' May 24 game. Screengrab via X/@JakeDRill
21.) Astros (28-36)
Josh Hader is back after missing the first couple months with an injury. The only problem: The Astros still have a team ERA over 5.00. Not a great recipe for creating save opportunities. (Last week: 20th)
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22.) Mets (27-35)
Hopefully, the Knicks have been a nice reprieve for Mets fans. Because with 100 games to go, this season still seems to be headed nowhere. Then again, crazier things have happened. It was this time last year that the Mets had the best record in baseball before ultimately missing the playoffs. Surely, that should give their suffering fan base some solace! (Last week: 21st)
23.) Red Sox (26-35)
The internet seemed to have a lot of questions about interim third base coach Chad Epperson waving a runner home from inside the foul line . But we say A+ for effort — or, at least, for creating a comically viral clip. The still scuffling Red Sox, who had Garrett Crochet suffer a setback this week, could use such light-hearted reprieves. (Last week: 22nd)
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24.) Twins (29-35)
How bad is the AL Central this year? The Twins aren't just third … but four games clear of the Tigers and Royals, who were both seen as possible playoff teams entering the year. (Last week: 23rd)
25.) Marlins (29-34)
Duke and Michigan will play a men's basketball gameat LoanDepot Park this December. Not that there'd be a scheduling conflict if they wanted to move it up to October. (Last week: 25th)
26.) Royals (25-38)
Good thing the World Cup is coming.The soccer-mad Kansas City market needs something to distract from what remains a miserable Royals season. (Last week: 26th)
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo gets the ball on Thursday afternoon. AP
27.) Giants (25-38)
Other struggling big-market teams have fired their managers this year. The Giants … opted to replace their third base coach . Because that will surely help turn the ship. (Last week: 27th)
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28.) Tigers (25-38)
Congratulations to the Tigers for winning their first series in –– checks notes –– five weeks! Now back to the Tarik Skubal trade rumors. (Last week: 29th)
29.) Rockies (24-39)
Congratulations to the Rockies for winning the Battle of the Weak (not a typo) against the Angels. Now back to … waiting around for any signs of future optimism. (Last week: 30th)
30.) Angels (24-39)
Remember that game when Jo Adell robbed three home runs? He gave one back in a head-scratching (or should we say, thumping) moment this week. (Last week: 28th).
Sanchez's scoreless innings streak ended at 50 ⅔ innings this week. Getty Images
Award Tracker: National League Cy Young
1.) Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies (7-2, 1.46 ERA, 86 ⅓ innings, 103 strikeouts, 1.09 WHIP)
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Sanchez's scoreless innings streak ended at 50 ⅔ innings this week, offering us an opportunity to reflect on the record 59 consecutive shutout innings Orel Hershiser pitched for the Dodgers in 1988. Hershiser's run started with the final four innings of a complete game. From there, Hershiser went on to pitch five complete-game shutouts in a row. He broke Don Drysdale's previous record of 58 by pitching the first 10 innings of a 16-inning loss to the Padres. As incredible as Sanchez was, his streak didn't compare to Hershiser's.
2.) Jacob Misiorowski , Brewers (6-2, 1.65 ERA, 71 IP, 108 Ks, 0.79 WHIP)
The 24-year-old fireballer was untouchable last month. Over the six starts he made in May, Misiorowski was charged with only one run in 38 ⅓ innings pitched.
3.) Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (6-2, 0.74 ERA, 61 IP, 67 strikeouts, 0.79 WHIP)
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Ohtani was first in this tracker last time we checked in . And if you had to pick one pitcher in the NL to start a must-win game, you would pick him — or maybe Yoshinobu Yamamoto . But that's not what the Cy Young Award recognizes. A huge part of what makes a starting pitcher valuable is the number of innings he can take down, and it's becoming clear Ohtani just won't have enough of them compared to Sanchez, or even Misiorowski.
