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Finally, one of the preseason favorites to win the World Series made a huge move, compared to previous weeks. No, it wasn’t the defending champion Chicago Cubs who are languishing in the woeful NL Central Division. It was the Boston Red Sox, who appear set for a World Series run now that ace David Price is back in the rotation.
Check out my in-depth MLB power rankings June week 1 for both the American League and National League!
2017 Weekly MLB Power Rankings June Week 1
American League MLB Power Rankings June Week 1
** All records as of June 4
1. Houston Astros 41-16
Last Week: 1
As of June 4, the Stros have won 10 in a row. They’ve swept the Orioles, Rangers, and Royals and won the last game in a 4-game set versus Detroit. Houston has won 13 of their last 14 games. That’s amazing.
2. New York Yankees 32-22
Last Week: 2
The Yankees hold a tenuous 2-game lead over Boston as of June 4. The Red Sox and Yankees battle in 3 games this week. The team that wins 2 out of 3 is going to be the squad that gets the most love in the World Series futures.
3. Boston Red Sox 31-25
Last Week: 4
Boston now has 2 of the best pitchers in all of baseball in the rotation. We’ve all watched how Chris Sale has dominated batters this season. David Price showed that he’s back when holding the Baltimore Orioles to 1 earned run off 3 hits in 7 innings on June 3. The rest of the AL had better watch out.
4. Minnesota Twins 29-24
Last Week: 3
Somehow, someway, the Minnesota Twins maintained a 1-game lead over the Cleveland Indians this past week. I have no idea how Minnesota is doing it. Oh, wait, I do. The entire AL Central is a mess. Minny is less of a mess than any of the other teams…at least for now.
5. Cleveland Indians 29-26
Last Week: 5
In their last 10, Cleveland has lost 4 times to Kansas City and once to Oakland. Oakland and KC are the two worst teams on my AL Power Rankings list for this week. Tells you something, doesn’t it?
6. Baltimore Orioles 29-26
Last Week: 6
The greatest magician on the planet, Baltimore manager Buck Showalter, brought a sleight of hand trick out of his bag. The Orioles turned around a 7-game losing streak by winning 4 out of 7 last week. They beat the Yankees in 2 out of 3. They split 4 games with the Red Sox. Not bad considering how well those squads are playing.
7. Detroit Tigers 28-28
Last Week: 11
The Tigers jump all the way to 7 on my AL Power Rankings. How? Although they lost 1 out of 3 to KC, they swept the Chicago White Sox 3 to 0 to end the week.
8. Tampa Bay Rays 29-30
Last Week: 7
The Rays are only 5.5 games behind the Yankees in the AL East. How is Tampa staying in contention? A lot of it must do with the rotation, which has a 4.04 team ERA. That ranks 8th in MLB.
9. Los Angeles Angels 29-31
Last Week: 8
In the week where Albert Pujols hit his 600th home run, the Angels were just okay. They lost 3 out of 4 to the Minnesota Twins. They beat the Atlanta Braves in 2 out of 3. But, here’s the thing: Mike Trout is still on the disabled list. So, not too shabby considering that.
10. Toronto Blue Jays 28-29
Last Week: 12
Beating Cincinnati 3 to 0 in 3 games isn’t overly impressive. The Reds are more of a paper tiger than the Orioles. But, splitting a 4-game series with the Yankees is impressive. I don’t believe The Blue Jays have the rotation to win the AL East. But, the Jays should make it interesting.
11. Seattle Mariners 28-30
Last Week: 14
Seattle jumps all the way to 11 from 14. Why not? No team last week in Major League Baseball was as impressive as the Mariners. Seattle beat Colorado in 3 out of 4. What’s truly incredible is that 2 Seattle wins were at Coors Field where the Rockies often dominate.
12. Texas Rangers 26-31
Last Week: 9
They just keep hanging around, don’t they? No team in the AL West catches the awesome Houston Astros. But, Texas, like the rest of the squads in the AL West, could garner a wildcard berth. Still, losing 2 out of 3 to Tampa Bay, and getting swept by the Stros made for a bad week.
13. Chicago White Sox 24-31
Last Week: 10
The first game of the week was sweet. The White Sox beat the Red Sox 5 to 4. The entire week went south after that. Chicago lost twice to the Red Sox. The Tigers swept them in 3 games.
14. Kansas City Royals 24-31
Last Week: 15
The Royals lost 2 out of 3 to Detroit. Then, they beat Cleveland in 2 out of 3. KC is only 6 games behind Minnesota in the terrible AL Central.
15. Oakland Athletics 24-32
Last Week: 13
Oakland lost 5 out of 7 last week. They’re ranked 25th in team ERA and 26th in team batting average. So, the A’s can’t pitch or hit. That’s not good.
National League League MLB Power Rankings June Week 1
** All records as of June 4
1. Washington Nationals 25-20
Last Week: 2
Yes, Washington regains the top spot in the NL. But, let’s be honest, the MLB schedulers are who Washington should thank. The Nats got to play the Padres, Giants, and A’s all in a row. That’s 9 straight games versus doorstops. Washington won 7 out of 9.
2. Colorado Rockies 36-23
Last Week: 1
Losing 3 out of 4 to Seattle is inexplicable. Heck, losing 1 out of 3 to the Padres is also inexplicable. Maybe, the Rockies were taking it easy? Seattle is an American League team. I still have faith in Colorado.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers 35-23
Last Week: 3
As of June 4, the Dodgers are .5 games behind the Rockies. LAD split a 4-game series with St. Louis before beating Milwaukee in 2 out of 3.
4. Arizona Diamondbacks 34-25
Last Week: 4
The D’Backs are only 2 games behind the Rockies. If you’re a Zona fan, you’ve gotta love how well Zack Greinke is pitching. His 7-3 record includes a 3.06 ERA and a beautiful .98 WHIP.
5. Milwaukee Brewers 30-27
Last Week: 5
Just like the AL Central, the NL Central is a free for all. Who knows which team comes out on top when it’s all said and done. Milwaukee stays right at 5 on my NL Power Rankings because as of June 4, they’re 1 game ahead of Chicago and 2 games ahead of St. Louis.
6. Chicago Cubs 28-27
Last Week: 6
Every Cubs fan on the planet had to love how Chicago ended the week sweeping the rival St. Louis Cardinals. Unfortunately, both the L.A. Dodgers and the Padres, yes, the San Diego Padres, had swept the Cubbies before the 3-game series against St. Louis.
7. St. Louis Cardinals 26-28
Last Week: 6
Who would have thought that after June 1, neither St. Louis nor the Chicago Cubs would be in first place in the NL Central? The Cards blew their chance to make up ground on Milwaukee by losing 3 in a row to the Cubs.
8. Cincinnati Reds 25-30
Last Week: 8
The Reds remain contenders in the NL Central. But, just like what happened to Colorado, an AL team swept Cincinnati last week. The Blue Jays beat the Reds 3 games to 0. To end the week, Cincy lost 2 out of 3 to the Atlanta Braves.
9. Pittsburgh Pirates 26-31
Last Week: 11
Pittsburgh is only 4 games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central. I don’t believe the Pirates are good enough to win the division. Then again, no team in the NL Central has established itself yet.
10. Atlanta Braves 24-30
Last Week: 9
You could switch the Braves with the Mets or the Marlins and it wouldn’t matter. Atlanta isn’t very good…
11. New York Mets 24-31
Last Week: 10
…But, neither are the Mets…
12. Miami Marlins 24-31
Last Week: 13
…And, neither are the Marlins. Washington only has a 10-game lead over the Braves, and 11 game leads over the Marlins and Mets. I don’t think any of those teams makes a run at the Nationals.
13. San Francisco Giants 23-35
Last Week: 12
The Giants took a step back this past week. That’s what happens when you lose 2 out of 3 to the Philadelphia Phillies.
14. San Diego Padres 23-35
Last Week: 15
San Diego got off the schneide by jumping from 15 to 14. That’s a win for the horrible San Diego Padres. I guess, playing in a pitcher’s ballpark only works if you’ve got solid starters.
15. Philadelphia Phillies 19-35
Last Week: 14
The good news for Philly fans is that the worst team in baseball ended the week with 2 wins over the San Francisco Giants. The bad news for Philly fans is that before the 2 wins, the Phillies had lost 5 in a row. Philadelphia has regained its rightful place as the worst team in baseball.
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