MLB power rankings: Orioles in rare air, knocking Rays out of AL East lead for first time
The Baltimore Orioles are running out of places to stash their talented young players. And running out of peaks to ascend in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings.
The Orioles' startling rebuild hit another gear this week as they won three of four games at Tampa Bay to wrest first place in baseball's toughest division – the AL East – away from the Rays. It was just their second four-game series conquest at Tropicana Field and their first since 2006, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
At 61-38, Baltimore has the top record in the AL and is second only to Atlanta. And the Orioles are in first place after the All-Star break for the first time since August 2016.
So, what now?
Baltimore leaves the Gulf Coast with a two-game lead in the East and faces an interesting week: Three games at Philadelphia in a rematch of its last World Series appearance, in 1983, followed by three at home against the enigmatic New York Yankees.
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By week's end, all three of those clubs may have a different perspective on how aggressive – or not – to be at the Aug. 1 trade deadline. For now, the Orioles look primed to adopt a buyer's stance – what with a playoff berth more than likely awaiting.
It's just more rarefied air, the sort the Orioles have not been slowed by this season.
A look at this week's rankings:
1. Atlanta Braves (-)
- And now they have this Daysbel Hernández fellow coming out of the bullpen.
2. Baltimore Orioles (+1)
- Only thing that could spoil this party is a bevy of pitchers' odometers roaring past career highs in innings.
3. Tampa Bay Rays (-1)
- Hopefully, squandering Joe Ryan a few Julys back won't make them gun-shy at deadline.
4. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)
- Freddie Freeman: .331 average, .997 OPS. Ronald Acuña Jr.: .332, .986. Just a thought.
5. Texas Rangers (-)
- Not a lot of starters on the market, but they'll be aggressive in finding one.
6. Houston Astros (+1)
- Kyle Tucker making a strong case for NOMVP: Non-Ohtani Most Valuable Player.
7. Toronto Blue Jays (+3)
- Alek Manoah still walking a lot of guys - but now gives his team a chance to win.
8. Milwaukee Brewers (+3)
- Julio Teheran is practically a quality start machine. Like it's 2014.
9. Cincinnati Reds (+3)
- Joey Votto calls Hall of Famer Scott Rolen "the best mentor a young player could have.
10. Arizona Diamondbacks (-4)
- Lost three of last five series.
11. San Francisco Giants (-3)
- Getting swept at DC won't cut it in deep NL wild-card race.
12. New York Yankees (+1)
- When it's a Padres-Yankees World Series, we'll look back on all this and laugh.
13. Philadelphia Phillies (+1)
- Bryce Harper at long last ready to play first base - and a left field vacancy can be filled at the trade deadline.
14. Miami Marlins (-5)
- Finally win first game after break on Sunday, breaking a hex of our making, perhaps.
15. Boston Red Sox (-)
- Trouble ahead: First six batters in lineup have .800 or better OPS.
16. Los Angeles Angels (+1)
- After recent hot streak, it's more like Shohei No-tani for everyone else, right?
17. Minnesota Twins (-1)
- Still cooking: Edouard Julien's hot start now well beyond petit désjeuner stage.
18. Seattle Mariners (-)
- Mike Ford has 11 home runs in 110 at-bats.
19. San Diego Padres (+1)
- Count them out at your own risk.
20. Cleveland Guardians (-1)
- Jose Ramirez heading for eighth consecutive season with at least an .825 OPS.
21. Chicago Cubs (-)
- Cody Bellinger might land a nine-figure contract after a partial season at Wrigley. But it's supposed to be more than a rehab center, right?
22. New York Mets (-1)
- Can see them "selling" at the deadline yet somehow being a better team the final two months.
23. Detroit Tigers (+1)
- Alex Faedo shuts down Padres in just his seventh appearance this season.
24. St. Louis Cardinals (+1)
- They're like the kid who finally started cleaning their room after you burned the amusement park tickets.
25. Pittsburgh Pirates (-2)
- 23-48 since April 29.
26. Washington Nationals (+1)
- Lane Thomas: Key part of future or too good of a trade chip to hold onto?
27. Chicago White Sox (-1)
- How much of their pitching staff will remain after trade deadline?
28. Colorado Rockies (-)
- Randal Grichuk's .302 average, .842 OPS make him rare right-handed commodity on trade market.
29. Kansas City Royals (-)
- Three of Michael Massey's 11 career home runs came this weekend at Yankee Stadium.
30. Oakland Athletics (-)
- The record: 28-74. The run differential: Minus-258. Number of "SELL" shirts president Dave Kaval passed on flight to Vegas: One.