MLB power rankings: Yankees rolling, Mariners climbing
Led by rookie slugger Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees outscored the Baltimore Orioles 38-8 and ended the week with a five-game win streak for the No. 2 spot in Paste BN Sports' power rankings.
Meanwhile, the Houston Astros maintained the No. 1 spot for the fifth consecutive week, but lost ace Dallas Keuchel to the disabled list.
The Seattle Mariners had the biggest jump this week, moving up five spots to No. 15 and within two games of the wild-card spot in the American League.
From 1 to 30, how they stack up based on voting from our 10-person panel:
TEAM. MOVEMENT
1. Houston Astros: --
►With Keuchel ailing, will they expedite search for rotation help?
2. New York Yankees: +2
►Rookie Aaron Judge leads the AL in Triple Crown (.344 , 21 homers, 47 RBI).
3. Colorado Rockies: +2
►Winning three of four in Wrigley should convert any non-believers.
MORE MLB:
4. Washington Nationals: -2
►Gio Gonzalez (5-1, 2.91 ERA) has lengthened the rotation nicely.
5. Los Angeles Dodgers: -2
►Adrian Gonzalez, who has never played fewer than 156 games, has herniated disc.
T-6. Boston Red Sox: --
►Craig Kimbrel striking out nearly two batters per inning.
T-6. Arizona Diamondbacks: +1
►Robbie Ray on pace to strike out 267 batters, paired with a 1.07 WHIP.
8. Cleveland Indians: --
►Michael Brantley (.285/.350/.418) quietly having a nice bounce-back year.
9. Minnesota Twins: +1
►Returning home to Target Field - where they're just 12-18.
10. Milwaukee Brewers: +2
►Top prospects Josh Hader, Lewis Brinson earn big league call.
11. Chicago Cubs: --
►Can a team simultaneously be too old and too young?
12. Baltimore Orioles: -3
►In two starts against Yankees, Chris Tillman gave up 14 earned runs in five innings (25.20 ERA).
13. Tampa Bay Rays: +1
►Alex Colome on a 44-save pace.
14. Toronto Blue Jays: +1
►Proved they're truly Canada's Team by rocking the house at Safeco Field.
15. Seattle Mariners: +5
►Within two games of a wild-card spot - but so are eight other teams.
T-16. Los Angeles Angels: +1
►Cameron Maybin playing like Mike Trout since the big fella went down.
T-16. St. Louis Cardinals: -3
►Always wise to "shake things up" hours before the NL-worst Phillies come to town.
18. Texas Rangers: -3
►Will try to improve 1-6 record against Houston.
19. Detroit Tigers: -1
►J.D. Martinez's realtor doesn't know what to think anymore.
20. Cincinnati Reds: -1
►Homer Bailey and Brandon Finnegan have started rehab assignments.
21. New York Mets: +1
►Just a nice run against the Braves, or are they about to crawl out of the hole?
22. Pittsburgh Pirates: +1
►Extensions for manager Clint Hurdle, GM Neal Huntington.
23. Kansas City Royals: +3
►Occasional leadoff man Alcides Escobar batting .180 with .205 on-base percentage.
24. Chicago White Sox: -3
►Todd Frazier starting to get it going.
25. Oakland Athletics: -1
►Have won just one road series all season.
26. Atlanta Braves: -2
►Can The Freeze hit?
T-27. San Francisco Giants: --
►Want to understand Fielding Independent Pitching? Study Jeff Samardzija's stat line.
T-27. Miami Marlins: +1
►.500 by the All-Star break is a realistic goal.
29. San Diego Padres: --
►Options Ryan Schimpf, who had a team-high 14 home runs, but was hitting a majors-low .158.
30. Philadelphia Phillies: --
►Went from dark horse to merely dark really quickly.
Gallery: MLB photo of the day