It's summer blockbuster season, and MLB is writing a few interesting movies of its own.
"The Pride of the Yankees" might as well be "The Surprise of the Yankees." Up in Boston, "The Hunt for Red (Sox) October" is starting to raise some questions. Someone get Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger on the phone, because with what Minnesota is doing, "Twins" Jose Altuve Jersey might need a sequel.
Baseball lends itself to Hollywood-type stuff, and this year has been no exception. Just look at two of baseball's best in the Dodgers and Astros.
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The Dodgers finally take over the No. 1 spot in these rankings after a strong No. 1 run at the box office by the Astros. This likely won't be the last time these teams jockey for position, either. Could we see a repeat of 2017 come Oscar season?
Who knows? Until then, feast your eyes on the latest SN MLB Power Rankings. As always,
1. Dodgers
Previous: 2
Truth be told, a case can still be made for the Astros to be No. 1, but it's hard to deny the Dodgers this spot right now.
The Dodgers are 17-7 against NL West opponents good, when you consider the rest of the NL West's ineptitude and 12-4in their past 16 games. Dodgers pitching has allowed two runs or fewer in eight of those games, and shut out opponents in four. Their 1.83 staff ERA in the past 13 gamesis exceptional, as well.
2. Astros
Previous: 1
When everything is right for Houston, they're built like a tank with a Ferrari engine. Right now, the Astros aremore beat up than your sketchy neighbor's old Honda. Jose Altuve, George Springer and Carlos Correa are all on the IL, but the good news is that Houston is winning without those guys, which only speaks to the depth everyone knew they had.
After all, when you're able to call up the minor league home run leader to fill a spot, and he homers in his first game, that's pretty good.
The Astros are still in a good spot, and the Evan Gattis Jersey case can still be made for them as No. 1. But until they get other pieces back, the Dodgers get the nod.
3. Twins
Previous: 4
What's most interesting about the Twins in 2019: their ability to beat the snot out of everybody.
While they've feasted on AL Central opponents to a 14-6 record they're beating good teams outside the division as well, which is very unlike the 2018 Indians, who some also said fattened up on a weak division. For comparison: The 2018 Indians were 49-27 vs. AL Central squads, leaving just a 44-44 record vs. everybody else.
The Twins are 4-3 Jake Marisnick Jersey vs. Houston, 3-1 vs. Tampa Bayand stole a game from the Yankees earlier in the season, so they've made some statements against good teams and beat up on the bad ones when they've faced them.
Minnesota will have an opportunity to fatten up on more bad teams in June, so don't expect them to slow down any time soon.
4. Yankees
Previous: 3
In an attempt to appease the baseball gods, the Yankees sacrificed Domingo Germn to the IL in exchange for Didi Gregorius. This may be inaccurate reporting, but I believe it to be true.
In any case, the Yankees lost Germn to a hip injury and were reportedly runners up in the Dallas Keuchel sweepstakes, which leaves a word for their rotation: yikes. Yes, they've fared well so far season, but they don't have that true horse in the rotation to eat up innings and really spell the bullpen at this point in the year.
With some bullpen i sues setting in lately some of that can be attributed to higher-than-normal use over the course of the season the Yankees need to weather the storm of an average rotation with some injury question marks. That's the next big test for the Bombers.
5. Rays
Previous: 6
The Rays have taken several gut punches this year and have kept winning. They've dealt with the lo sof Tyler Glasnow.Matt Duffy has suffered setbacks in his rehab. Blake Snell fought a piece of granite and lost. They've dropped two series to the Yankees early in the year.
Through it all, they're a half-game ahead of theYankees and aren't going quietly into the night George Springer Jersey . They will not vanish without a fight. They're going to live on. They're going to survive. Today, we celebrate our Independe- I mean, today we celebrate the Rays re-entering the top five in these Power Rankings. Good job, Tampa.
The Rays have still been able to pitch. Their 210runs allowed mark isn't just the best in the American League, but it's best in the majors by a pretty wide margin.
6. Cubs
Previous: 5
Chicago signing Craig Kimbrel is a big plus for a bullpen that has had its ups and downs in 2019. With a 4.11bullpen ERA, the Cubs are just about middle of the road when it comes to their relief capabilities.
With rumors that the North Siders are still in the market for bullpen help which they should be they could reinforce arguably the biggest flaw of the squad. The starting pitching has been good, with Kyle Hendricks and Jon Lester reading the way.
7. Brewers
Previous: 8
Sending Keston Hiura down was a mistake when any spark in the NL Central race might be the difference, even at this point in the season.
The Brewers better hope Travis Shaw is good, because he was hitting just .163 before his injury sidelined him for about a month. Aside from Shaw, the Brewers are still getting some great offensive production from Christian Yelich, Yasmani Grandal and others, so it's no harm no foul for now.
Also, the Gio Gonzalez IL stint should be a little concerning and should serve as a cautionary tale: Sign players in the offseason. Stop playing this stupid, stupid game of signing players in June. It's dumb. It does Yordan Alvarez Jersey a di service to your fans and your team.
8. Phillies
Previous: 7
Aaron Nola had a very good May, pitching to a 2.73 ERA and allowing 10 runs over six starts. In two June starts, Nola has already allowed nine runs in 12 innings. Philadelphia is going to need Nola to be the May and 2018 Nola if the Phillies want to hold off the next team on this list.
9. Braves
Previous: 10
It didn't take long for Dallas Keuchel to sign once the MLB Draft wrapped up, and his decision to sign with the Braves is a big coup for Atlanta.
The disappointingly average NL East is still up for grabs, as no teamhas separated itself from the pack, and adding Keuchel to a rotation Aledmys Diaz Jersey with young, productivearms Max Fried and Mike Soroka should help. Should is the operating word here. The Beard still has to produce, and who knows how effective he'll be coming off a long layoff.
10. Red Sox
Previous: 8
The Red Sox showed signs of life in the beginning of May, going 8-2 to open the month. Chris Sale got right, Mookie Betts started hitting and all was right in Beantown.
Fast forward a month and a few days and the Red Sox still sit a sole gameover .500 in a division that see