MLB · 1 year ago

SportsGrid’s MLB Power Rankings: Can the Phillies Lose?

Ben DiGiacomo

Host · Writer

1. Philadelphia Phillies
Last Week’s Ranking: 1

Upcoming Series: 3 @ COL, 3 @ SF

The Philadelphia Phillies are the best team in baseball right now by far, as they’ve won 28 of their last 34 games, and anyone who says otherwise due to a strength of schedule argument is clueless. It’s not the Phillies' fault that they are sending .500 teams to below .500 like they’re currently doing with the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers. Their offense is elite, they boast the best starting pitching rotation in baseball, and they have some bullpen arms pitching at an elite level. What is there not to like?

Pennant Odds: +390

World Series Odds: +750
10. Chicago Cubs
Last Week’s Ranking: 8 (-2)

Upcoming Series: 3 @ STL, 4 @ MIL

Since the Chicago Cubs' dominant 17-9 start to the season, they’ve gone below .500 en route to their 27-23 record, yet they remain in striking distance in the NL Central. Their starting pitching has regressed a bit, except Shota Imanaga is still piecing together magical performances, while their offense could use some reinforcements at the trade deadline. Luckily, the NL is very weak, so the Cubs don’t need to hover above .500 if they want to make it to the postseason.

Pennant Odds: +1600

World Series Odds: +3500
9. Seattle Mariners
Last Week’s Ranking: 10 (+1)

Upcoming Series: 3 @ WAS, 4 vs. HOU

The Seattle Mariners are wrapping up a tough three-series stretch today in the Bronx, where they consecutively faced the Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles, and New York Yankees. They did better than expected as they’ve gone 5-4 leading into today, namely showcasing their dominant pitching staff capable of stealing a series or two come playoff time. It will be interesting to see how the Mariners approach the trade deadline, but this team continues to fly under the radar and cannot be taken lightly.

Pennant Odds: +700

World Series Odds: +1800
8. Milwaukee Brewers
Last Week’s Ranking: 7 (-1)

Upcoming Series: 3 @ BOS, 4 vs. CHC

The Milwaukee Brewers continue to exceed expectations, but they’ve lost four of their last six games to the Houston Astros and Miami Marlins. Still, they lead the NL Central and are only one of five teams in the NL to have a record north of .500, so we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt that they can string together some wins in the coming days against a tough Boston Red Sox squad in Fenway and their divisional foe in the Chicago Cubs as Craig Counsell is set to make his return to Milwaukee.

Pennant Odds: +1800

World Series Odds: +4200
7. Baltimore Orioles
Last Week’s Ranking: 4 (-3)

Upcoming Series: 4 @ CHW, 3 vs. BOS

On paper, it’s still reasonable to assume that the Baltimore Orioles are the second-best team in the American League, but they haven’t looked as dominant since they took three of four from the New York Yankees a few weeks back. They were just swept by the St. Louis Cardinals, making their upcoming four-game stretch against the Chicago White Sox that much more important to stack up some wins.

Pennant Odds: +500

World Series Odds: +1200
6. Atlanta Braves
Last Week’s Ranking: 5 (-1)

Upcoming Series: 3 @ PIT, 4 vs. WAS

The Atlanta Braves have lost five of their last seven games in rather ugly fashion at times, and they now sit six games back from the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East. We’re still waiting for the offense to hit its stride as Ronald Acuna Jr., Austin Riley, and Matt Olson haven’t put it all together yet, but if they do and another starting pitcher enters the fold, the Braves will be just fine. In their current form, however, they are comfortably behind the Dodgers and Phillies in the NL hierarchy.

Pennant Odds: +260

World Series Odds: +480
5. Kansas City Royals
Last Week’s Ranking: 9 (+4)

Upcoming Series: 3 @ TBR, 4 vs. MIN

The Kansas City Royals continue to defy expectations, and they’re finally beginning to get deserved traction nationally as a legit AL contender. They are currently riding a six-game winning streak but will have two series over the next week in Tampa Bay and Minnesota, which will be critical for the AL Wild Card standings down the road.

Pennant Odds: +2300

World Series Odds: +6000
4. Cleveland Guardians
Last Week’s Ranking: 6 (+2)

Upcoming Series: 3 @ LAA, 3 @ COL

Like the Kansas City Royals, their fellow AL Central foe in the Cleveland Guardians is starting to get the respect they deserve nationally. The Guardians own the third-best record in the MLB and are riding a six-game winning streak fueled by dominant all-around efforts. With the upcoming series on the road against the Los Angeles Angels and Colorado Rockies, anything less than a 4-2 record would be disappointing.

Pennant Odds: +1100

World Series Odds: +3000
3. New York Yankees
Last Week’s Ranking: 3

Upcoming Series: 3 @ SDP, 3 @ LAA

The New York Yankees' pitching staff continues to impress, both in the starting rotation and on the backend. They also continue to dominate at the plate, making the Yankees definitively the AL’s most bonafide contender thus far.

Pennant Odds: +240

World Series Odds: +550
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
Last Week’s Ranking: 2

Upcoming Series: 3 @ CIN, 3 @ NYM

The Los Angeles Dodgers have gone just 4-4 over their last eight games, but no one is worried about them long-term. They’ll continue to battle with the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves for the remainder of the series for the NL’s top seed. Still, until then, it’s encouraging to see that the Dodgers’ starting pitching staff is coming around, especially as Walker Buehler gains experience in his return from Tommy John.

Pennant Odds: +135

World Series Odds: +280
1. Philadelphia Phillies
Last Week’s Ranking: 1

Upcoming Series: 3 @ COL, 3 @ SF

The Philadelphia Phillies are the best team in baseball right now by far, as they’ve won 28 of their last 34 games, and anyone who says otherwise due to a strength of schedule argument is clueless. It’s not the Phillies' fault that they are sending .500 teams to below .500 like they’re currently doing with the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers. Their offense is elite, they boast the best starting pitching rotation in baseball, and they have some bullpen arms pitching at an elite level. What is there not to like?

Pennant Odds: +390

World Series Odds: +750
10. Chicago Cubs
Last Week’s Ranking: 8 (-2)

Upcoming Series: 3 @ STL, 4 @ MIL

Since the Chicago Cubs' dominant 17-9 start to the season, they’ve gone below .500 en route to their 27-23 record, yet they remain in striking distance in the NL Central. Their starting pitching has regressed a bit, except Shota Imanaga is still piecing together magical performances, while their offense could use some reinforcements at the trade deadline. Luckily, the NL is very weak, so the Cubs don’t need to hover above .500 if they want to make it to the postseason.

Pennant Odds: +1600

World Series Odds: +3500

SportsGrid’s MLB Power Rankings: Can the Phillies Lose?

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