MLB Power Rankings 2015: All-Star Week Edition

Sep 27, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A general view of a sign for the 2015 All Star Game at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

Although it is hard to believe, the All-Star Break is upon us. Some teams need the break to regroup, but others are on such a roll, they probably wish they could just keep playing.

Readers will find most of those hot teams towards the top of our MLB Power Rankings.

We would like readers to know that these power rankings are based on just one opinion, and the difference of opinion between readers and fans is what makes the power rankings so fun to discuss. Please let us know how we did in the comments section below.

For our list, we took into account record, strength of schedule, run differential and other human elements such as injuries.

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That means just because a team is on 8-2 hot streak, they don’t automatically jump to the highest spots. It’s like my high school coach always used to say, “A team is never as good as its best win, and it’s never as bad as it’s worse loss.”

Lastly, readers should know, the rankings are serious, but the comments for each team are generally not. There are so many baseball articles analyzing the most small details on the web, we wanted to start out the week with a little fun.

Here are MCB’s MLB Power Rankings heading into the All-Star Break of the 2015 baseball season.

Jul 11, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford (35) dives back safely into first base in front of Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (6) in the fourth inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports

30. Philadelphia Phillies (29-62)

The over/under for the Phillies offense versus Clayton Kershaw, Zack Grienke and Madison Bumgarner was set at 1.5 runs for the three games combined. Philadelphia was barely over with two.

Jul 10, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon (9) falls striking out on a pitch by Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Mike Leake (not pictured) in the eighth inning at Marlins Park. The Reds won 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

29. Miami Marlins (38-51)

Players might want to stop sliding head first into a base …

Jul 24, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; The Klements Racing Sausages race during the game between the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Milwaukee won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

27. Milwaukee Brewers (38-52)

I’d rather give an All-Star spot to these guys than Ryan Braun.

Jul 11, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) delivers a pitch during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

26. Chicago White Sox (41-45)

The White Sox announced over the weekend that they would rather not have Chris Sale pitch in the All-Star Game. Cardinals, Pirates, Nationals and Dodgers fans all fist pumped together with that news.

Jul 12, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano (22) reacts after striking out to end the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

25. Seattle Mariners (41-48)

When does football season start?

Mar. 20, 2015; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; A Cincinnati Reds fan holds a sign in support of Pete Rose prior to the game against the San Francisco Giants during a spring training game at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

24. Cincinnati Reds (39-47)

Let the Pete Rose talk begin!

Jul 12, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Oakland Athletics catcher Stephen Vogt (21) and starting pitcher Sonny Gray (54) celebrate after the Athletics beat the Cleveland Indians 2-0 at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

23. Oakland Athletics (41-48)

Manager Bob Melvin decided to go with a four-man rotation to begin the second half of the season. With Sonny Gray, why not just go with the one-man rotation?

Jul 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Jason Grilli (center) is attended to by Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez (left) and team trainer Jeff Porter (right), and teammates after being injured during the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The Rockies won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

22. Atlanta Braves (42-47)

Braves closer Jason Grilli ruptured his Achilles on Saturday and is out for the season. He will be Detroit’s setup man in 2016.

Jul 5, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; San Diego Padres interim manager Pat Murphy (24) looks on against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

21. San Diego Padres (41-49)

Padres manager Pat Murphy’s daughter is married to Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez. I wonder who she rooted for in the Padres-Pirates series last week.

Jul 12, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

20. Cleveland Indians (42-46)

There is still a columnist out there that is predicting that the Indians will make the playoffs. Johnny Manziel probably has a better chance of being the Browns starting quarterback.

Jul 11, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli (L), third baseman Pablo Sandoval (second from left), relief pitcher Koji Uehara (C), shortstop Xander Bogaerts (second from right) and second baseman Brock Holt (R) celebrate a victory against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

19. Boston Red Sox (42-47)

The rest of the AL East should be embarrassed this team is only 6.5 games back of first place.

Jul 12, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Welington Castillo (7) avoids being hit by a pitch from New York Mets relief pitcher Jeurys Familia (not pictured) in the ninth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

18. Arizona Diamondbacks (42-45)

What’s more embarrassing: getting swept by the Mets or allowing three home runs to Kirk Nieuwenhuis?

Jul 11, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers designated hitter Prince Fielder (84) singles in a run in the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

17. Texas Rangers (42-46)

Prince Fielder will try to become the second player to win the Home Run Derby three times, and first player to do it with three different teams.

Jul 12, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; As Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista (19) argues his ejection with home plate umpire Jerry Meals (41), manager John Gibbons (5) comes to the plate in the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won 11-10. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

16. Toronto Blue Jays (45-46)

Hard to believe that even the Blue Jays can’t win a game with 10 runs.

Jul 12, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos (9) fields the ball during the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Twins won 7-1 over the Tigers. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports

15. Detroit Tigers (44-44)

The definition of average.

Jul 12, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones (10) celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the ninth inning off Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) (not pictured) at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Washington Nationals defeated Baltimore Orioles 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

14. Baltimore Orioles (44-44)

A 104-year-old Baltimore Orioles fan threw out the first pitch on Saturday. She was even old when the team became the Baltimore Orioles in 1954!

Jul 12, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets left fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis (9) watches the ball go into the stands in right field for a home run in the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

13. New York Mets (47-42)

Who the heck is Kirk Nieuwenhuis?

Jul 12, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Brad Boxberger (26) and catcher Curt Casali (19) high five after they beat the Houston Astros at Tropicana Field. The Rays won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

12. Tampa Bay Rays (46-45)

Apparently even security guards are excited for the All-Star Break vacation in Tampa.

Jul 12, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Pat Neshek (37) throws a pitch FC Dallas midfielder Victor Ulloa (8) against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. The Rays won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

11. Houston Astros (49-42)

13 weeks in first … oh wait ..

Jul 7, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) and first baseman Albert Pujols (5) celebrate after the game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The Angels won 10-2. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

10. Los Angeles Angels (48-40)

With Mike Trout and Albert Pujols having a combined 52 home runs, shouldn’t the Angels have two home run Derby participants instead of the Chicago Cubs?

Jul 11, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) greets relief pitcher Santiago Casilla (46) after their 8-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports

9. San Francisco Giants (46-43)

The Giants swept the Phillies to snap a skid where San Francisco lost eight of nine, but does beating Philadelphia really count?

Jul 9, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins designated hitter Miguel Sano (22) at bat in the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

8. Minnesota Twins (49-40)

Looks like I’m going to have to stop calling Miguel Sano by the football player’s name: Mohamed Sanu. Sano looks pretty legit.

Jul 8, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) and first baseman Anthony Rizzo (44) against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

7. Chicago Cubs (47-40)

The Chicago Cubs have a 25 percent chance of becoming the first franchise with four Home Run Derby Championships. That makes up for over 100 years without a World Series right?

Mar 31, 2015; Fort Myers, FL, USA; New York Yankees infielder Rob Refsnyder (98) prepares to throw to first base in the first inning of the spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at CenturyLink Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

6. New York Yankees (48-40)

Wait, the Yankees brought up a player from its own minor league system?? That can’t be right.

Jul 12, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches during the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Washington Nationals defeated Baltimore Orioles 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

5. Washington Nationals (48-39)

Only Dennis Martinez and Pedro Martinez had a lower ERA before the break in franchise history than Max Scherzer’s 2.11 ERA this year. Way to just rub it in Montreal’s face that they don’t have a team anymore.

July 12, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke (21) watches game action during the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

4. Los Angeles Dodgers (51-39)

Hands down, Zack Grienke should start the All-Star Game for the NL. His 1.39 ERA is smaller than a high school dropout’s grade point average.

Jul 11, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) hits a game winning two run home run to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourteenth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 6-5 in fourteen innings. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

3. Pittsburgh Pirates (53-35)

Not only is Andrew McCutchen really good at baseball, but he could be the next Frank Caliendo. Check out his Tim Kurkjian impression.

Jul 12, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; The Kansas City Royals mascot “Sluggerrr” waves a Royals flag after the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won 11-10. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

2. Kansas City Royals (52-34)

This team even wins when it allows 10 runs!

Jul 9, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal (44) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the ninth inning at PNC Park. The Cardinals won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

1. St. Louis Cardinals (56-33)

Boy, is Trevor Rosenthal happy to get out of the Steel City.

Next: Detroit Tigers: Five Possible Trades