MLB Power Rankings ? June 24
from BetOnline.com
Sportsbook MLB odds mean more each day, as the playoff picture slowly comes into focus. The Dodgers and Red Sox remain the class of the power rankings, but the Earth is shifting beneath them. Who are the biggest movers this week?
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (47-24): Manny inches closer to returning and the young Dodger hitters proved they could win without him, so L.A. looks that much scarier when ManRam reclaims his spot in the heart of the order.
2. Boston Red Sox (43-27): Think Boston regrets the Manny deal at all? Jason Bay looks like the AL MVP frontrunner and John Smoltz makes his Beantown debut this week. Their lead on the pack in the East keeps widening.
3. Colorado Rockies (37-34): The loss last week halted a 17-1 run, which was unheard of since?well, the 2007 Rockies. A big reason for their success; young Troy Tulowitzki has found his stroke and leads MLB shortstops with 12 homers. He?s clobbering the ball like it?s a Brock Lesnar victim on a UFC fight card.
4. Detroit Tigers (39-31): The Tigers are back, with Ryan Raburn?s walkoff homer the latest notch in their belts. As long as their young ?big three? of Verlander, Porcello and Jackson keep hurling gems, the AL Central is theirs.
5. Tampa Bay Rays (37-35): They?re getting healthier ? here comes Scott Kazmir ? and they?re back in the Wild Card hunt. David Price looks nothing like a Major-League pitcher, though. Who saw that flop coming in their preseason baseball predictions?
6. St. Louis Cardinals (40-32): I still think they need to be active at the trade deadline to seriously contend, but they sure look like world beaters these days. Albert Pujols is God.
7. New York Yankees (38-32): A day off between games for ?fatigued? A-Rod yield another ofer at the dish. Maybe his ?rest? shouldn?t involve Kate Hudson?
8. San Francisco Giants (38-32): Slowly creeping their way into the contender discussion. The pitching is great; how good can they be if they acquire a bat or two?
9. Toronto Blue Jays (39-33): You think they?re finished, ignore them for a few weeks, then check the standings only to find them tied with the Yankees for the Wild Card. They just won?t go away.
10. Chicago Cubs (34-33): They?ve survived subpar efforts from many of their best players, especially Alfonso Soriano, so you have to think better times are ahead. Most betting software predicts as much.
11. Los Angeles Angels (37-32): It seems the pitching staff will never get fully healthy, but the Angels are deep and the Rangers are rolling over. Forget the Big Papi talk now ? what?s wrong with Vladdy (one homer)?
12. Philadelphia Phillies (37-31): They should shoot back up the rankings soon, but that six-game losing streak hurt. They need pitching help if they want to hold off the Mets and pesky Marlins in the NL East.
13. Milwaukee Brewers (37-33): Anyone want Mat Gamel or Alcides Escobar? The Brewers need to repeat last year?s LaPorta-for-Sabathia trade, pronto.
14. Florida Marlins (3-36): With the Phillies? skid, the Marlins are just three games out, so they ain?t sellers?yet. Sorry, Josh Johnson suitors.
15. Texas Rangers (37-32): Sing it, Tom Petty! ?Yeah I?m FREEEEEEEE?.FREE FALLIN!?
16. Seattle Mariners (35-35)
17. Baltimore Orioles (32-38)
18. Atlanta Braves (34-36)
19. Cincinnati Reds (34-35)
20. Minnesota Twins (36-36)
21. New York Mets (35-34)
22. Chicago White Sox (33-37)
23. Houston Astros (32-36)
24. Pittsburgh Pirates (31-39)
25. Oakland Athletics (31-39)
26. Kansas City Royals (30-39)
27. San Diego Padres (31-38)
28. Arizona Diamondbacks (30-41)
29. Washington Nationals (20-48)
30. Cleveland Indians (30-42)
The biggest surprise among this week: the Nationals climbing out of last in the rankings! Hey, give them credit ? they played .500 ball for a 10-game stretch.
from BetOnline.com
Sportsbook MLB odds mean more each day, as the playoff picture slowly comes into focus. The Dodgers and Red Sox remain the class of the power rankings, but the Earth is shifting beneath them. Who are the biggest movers this week?
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (47-24): Manny inches closer to returning and the young Dodger hitters proved they could win without him, so L.A. looks that much scarier when ManRam reclaims his spot in the heart of the order.
2. Boston Red Sox (43-27): Think Boston regrets the Manny deal at all? Jason Bay looks like the AL MVP frontrunner and John Smoltz makes his Beantown debut this week. Their lead on the pack in the East keeps widening.
3. Colorado Rockies (37-34): The loss last week halted a 17-1 run, which was unheard of since?well, the 2007 Rockies. A big reason for their success; young Troy Tulowitzki has found his stroke and leads MLB shortstops with 12 homers. He?s clobbering the ball like it?s a Brock Lesnar victim on a UFC fight card.
4. Detroit Tigers (39-31): The Tigers are back, with Ryan Raburn?s walkoff homer the latest notch in their belts. As long as their young ?big three? of Verlander, Porcello and Jackson keep hurling gems, the AL Central is theirs.
5. Tampa Bay Rays (37-35): They?re getting healthier ? here comes Scott Kazmir ? and they?re back in the Wild Card hunt. David Price looks nothing like a Major-League pitcher, though. Who saw that flop coming in their preseason baseball predictions?
6. St. Louis Cardinals (40-32): I still think they need to be active at the trade deadline to seriously contend, but they sure look like world beaters these days. Albert Pujols is God.
7. New York Yankees (38-32): A day off between games for ?fatigued? A-Rod yield another ofer at the dish. Maybe his ?rest? shouldn?t involve Kate Hudson?
8. San Francisco Giants (38-32): Slowly creeping their way into the contender discussion. The pitching is great; how good can they be if they acquire a bat or two?
9. Toronto Blue Jays (39-33): You think they?re finished, ignore them for a few weeks, then check the standings only to find them tied with the Yankees for the Wild Card. They just won?t go away.
10. Chicago Cubs (34-33): They?ve survived subpar efforts from many of their best players, especially Alfonso Soriano, so you have to think better times are ahead. Most betting software predicts as much.
11. Los Angeles Angels (37-32): It seems the pitching staff will never get fully healthy, but the Angels are deep and the Rangers are rolling over. Forget the Big Papi talk now ? what?s wrong with Vladdy (one homer)?
12. Philadelphia Phillies (37-31): They should shoot back up the rankings soon, but that six-game losing streak hurt. They need pitching help if they want to hold off the Mets and pesky Marlins in the NL East.
13. Milwaukee Brewers (37-33): Anyone want Mat Gamel or Alcides Escobar? The Brewers need to repeat last year?s LaPorta-for-Sabathia trade, pronto.
14. Florida Marlins (3-36): With the Phillies? skid, the Marlins are just three games out, so they ain?t sellers?yet. Sorry, Josh Johnson suitors.
15. Texas Rangers (37-32): Sing it, Tom Petty! ?Yeah I?m FREEEEEEEE?.FREE FALLIN!?
16. Seattle Mariners (35-35)
17. Baltimore Orioles (32-38)
18. Atlanta Braves (34-36)
19. Cincinnati Reds (34-35)
20. Minnesota Twins (36-36)
21. New York Mets (35-34)
22. Chicago White Sox (33-37)
23. Houston Astros (32-36)
24. Pittsburgh Pirates (31-39)
25. Oakland Athletics (31-39)
26. Kansas City Royals (30-39)
27. San Diego Padres (31-38)
28. Arizona Diamondbacks (30-41)
29. Washington Nationals (20-48)
30. Cleveland Indians (30-42)
The biggest surprise among this week: the Nationals climbing out of last in the rankings! Hey, give them credit ? they played .500 ball for a 10-game stretch.
