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A major change occurred for MLB Power Rankings July Week 1. The New York Yankees had been either at 1 or 2 for most of the 2017 MLB Season. Not anymore. In the American League, the Boston Red Sox jumped up to 2. Boston has begun to solidify its position as one of the best teams in MLB.
Cleveland has also been on a roll. The Tribe are in first place in the AL Central. Who is in second place in the AL Central? How about Kansas City? Yep, the former doormat Royals are suddenly in the hunt for the AL Central Division title.
In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue to roll. The Dodgers’ top opponent in the NL West appears to be Arizona, who’s been keeping pace with LAD in the division while Colorado has fallen.
Check out our MLB power rankings July week 1!
MLB Power Rankings July Week 1
American League MLB Power Rankings July Week 1
** All records as of July 2
1. Houston Astros 56-27
Last Week: 1
After losing 4 to 13 to the Yankees in their first game of a 3-game series last week, Houston responded with 2 straight brilliant wins over NYY. They beat the Yankees 7-6 and 8-1 over the weekend. Houston continues to roll.
2. Boston Red Sox 47-35
Last Week: 3
Boston goes into the week having won 6 of their last 7. The Red Sox have a 3-game lead over New York in the AL East Division. Boston may not look back from here on out.
3. Cleveland Indians 44-37
Last Week: 4
Cleveland finally has sole possession of the AL Central Division. The Tribe is 3 games ahead of both Minnesota and Kansas City. KC should be the only team that can beat Cleveland for the post-season berth.
4. New York Yankees 43-37
Last Week: 2
The Yankees fall 2 spots. NYY All-Star pitcher Luis Severino can’t shake Houston’s batting line-up. The Stros bat .418 versus Severino. That, more than anything, could spell doom for NYY if it gets to the post-season.
5. Tampa Bay Rays 43-41
Last Week: 6
Tampa is a tough team. The Rays are only 5 games behind Boston in the AL East. If things go their way, who knows? Rays skipper Kevin Cash fractured his foot while running. That’s the big news from this week.
6. Minnesota Twins 41-40
Last Week: 5
The Twins are a spot ahead of KC because they’ve been more consistent this season. The truly bad news for Minny is that KC beat them 3 to 1 in a 4-game series last week.
7. Kansas City Royals 41-40
Last Week: 9
KC only won 2 of 3 games versus Detroit to start last week. They ended last week by trouncing Minnesota. Kansas City’s rotation has finally come together. That’s why they’re winning games.
8. L.A. Angels 43-43
Last Week: 8
The good news? The Angels have gotten all the way back to .500. The bad news? LAA is 14.5 games behind Houston in the AL West Division.
9. Baltimore Orioles 40-41
Last Week: 11
The Orioles are only 6.5 games behind Boston. They can play well enough to make it interesting in the AL East. The resurgence might have to do with starter Kevin Gausman. Gausman hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last 12.1 innings pitched.
10. Seattle Mariners 41-42
Last Week: 10
Seattle lost 2 in a row early in the week before winning 2 of 3 to end the week. Seattle’s 2 losses were to Philadelphia. The 2 wins were against the L.A. Angels.
11. Texas Rangers 40-42
Last Week: 7
The Rangers are 2-5 straight up in their last 7. They lost 3 of 4 to Cleveland in a 4-game series. Then, to end the week Texas lost 2 of 3 to the Chicago White Sox. Losing 2 of 3 to the Chicago White Sox is worse than losing 3 of 4 to the Tribe.
12. Toronto Blue Jays 37-44
Last Week: 12
At 9.5 games behind Boston, it might take a miracle for the Blue Jays to get back into the AL East Division race. The Blue Jays did trade for Cubs’ pitcher Miguel Montero. It doesn’t mean much. Montero isn’t any better than Russell Martin.
13. Detroit Tigers 36-44
Last Week: 14
The Tribe dominated the Tigers over the weekend. Detroit pitcher Justin Verlander had a 331-game streak of striking out at least 1 batter come to an end on July 2. That, more than anything, says how Detroit’s season has gone in 2017.
14. Chicago White Sox 36-45
Last Week: 15
The White Sox are 4-2 straight up in their last 6 games. They could get on a mini-run into wildcard contention. It’s difficult to see the White Sox getting close to Cleveland in the AL Central, though.
15. Oakland Athletics 35-47
Last Week: 13
The A’s are back in the AL Power Rankings’ cellar. That’s what happens when you lose 5 games in a row. 2 loses were to the Houston Astros. 3 losses were to the Atlanta Braves.
National League MLB Power Rankings July Week 1
** All records as of July 2
1. Los Angeles Dodgers 55-29
Last Week: 1
The Dodgers are 20-4 straight up in their last 24. No team has been as hot as LAD. Manager Dave Roberts has the Dodgers playing out of their skins.
2. Arizona Diamondbacks 52-31
Last Week: 2
Arizona has kept pace with La-La Land. The D’Backs play the Dodgers in a 3-game series starting on July 4. That could determine who gets the edge in the tough NL West Division.
3. Washington Nationals 45-30
Last Week: 4
The Nationals lost 3 of 4 to end the week. The Nats are a good baseball team. The problem, and I know I’m repeating myself, is the bullpen. There’s no way every pitcher in the rotation can go 7 or 8 every night.
4. Colorado Rockies 48-36
Last Week: 3
The Rockies may have fallen apart. Colorado is 1-10 straight up in their last 11 games. What’s really bad is all 10 losses were to NL West foes.
5. Milwaukee Brewers 44-40
Last Week: 5
The Brewers have gone 3-1 straight up in their last 4. If Chicago thought Milwaukee would go away quietly, they’re mistaken.
6. Chicago Cubs 41-41
Last Week: 6
Although Chicago is only playing .500 ball, skipper Joe Maddon has some reason to get excited. In Sunday’s 6-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds, Jake Arrieta was sharp. He pitched 7 innings, allowed 1 hit, walked only 2, struck out 6, and didn’t give up a run.
7. Atlanta Braves 40-41
Last Week: 7
Suddenly, the Washington Nationals are only 7.5 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves in the NL East division. Braves’ fans have been pleasantly surprised this season.
8. St. Louis Cardinals 39-42
Last Week: 10
The Cardinals are 3.5 games behind the Brewers. They can win the NL Central. Beating Arizona in 2 of 3, and then beating Washington in 2 of 3 last week are excellent signs that St. Louis can get it done.
9. Pittsburgh Pirates 37-45
Last Week: 8
Pitt appeared to be on their way to challenging the Brewers in the NL Central. Finishing the week with 3 straight losses to the San Francisco Giants is what’s blocked their way.
10. New York Mets 38-43
Last Week: 11
What’s cool is that the Mets are 7 and 2 straight up in their last 9. What’s not all that cool is that they’ve played the San Francisco Giants, Miami Marlins, and Philadelphia Phillies in those last 9 games.
11. Miami Marlins 36-44
Last Week: 9
Miami’s sending 2 players to the MLB All-Star Game: Marcell Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton. If Miami can shore up the rotation and bullpen, they could be a contender.
12. Cincinnati Reds 35-46
Last Week: 12
The Reds are now the worst team in the NL Central Division. They’re 7.5 games behind the Brewers.
13. San Diego Padres 34-48
Last Week: 13
The Padres won’t catch the L.A. Dodgers. They’re 20 games behind the best team in the NL West Division. San Diego did beat the Dodgers 5-3 this past Sunday. That’s something, I suppose.
14. San Francisco Giants 33-51
Last Week: 14
Are things looking up for the Giants? Maybe. San Francisco has won 6 in a row. All 6 wins are legit. They swept the Rockies in 3 games last week. Then, to end the week, they swept the Pirates in 3 games.
15. Philadelphia Phillies 27-53
Last Week: 15
There’s not much to write about the Phillies. Philadelphia All-Star pitcher Pat Neshek, who collects autographs, did say he was going to ask for Zack Greinke’s signature during the MLB All-Star Break. That’s about the biggest news regarding Philly.
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