MLB Power Rankings: Shake Up in the Top 10

Aug 9, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Ian Krol (46) pitches in the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

People that have done power rankings for sports at any level (high school, college, professionals, it doesn’t matter) know through experience that occasionally there are those weeks that a groups of three or four teams should all drop in the rankings, but they can’t because they are right next to each other. Sometimes, there’s also a group of teams that should all rise, but since they are all bunched together, it’s hard for each one to move up the proper amount of spaces.

In major league baseball, both those things are happening this week.

The New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants all have been ranked No. 4 at one time or another this season, but they were each swept by playoff contenders over the weekend. Furthermore, the Washington Nationals, who have also been fourth in our MLB Power Rankings quite a bit, have lost seven of their last 10.

Meanwhile, teams like the Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays are all hot but stayed outside the top 10 on last week’s list. Do their recent hot streaks jump these three teams into the top 10?

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.

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As always 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 for Week 19 of the 2015 baseball season.

Aug 9, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Miami Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon (9) hits a RBI single against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

30. Miami Marlins (44-68)

You know it’s bad when your record is even worse than the Phillies.

Aug 8, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; The Philadelphia Phillies players celebrate after defeating the San Diego Padres 5-3 to sweep the series at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

29. Philadelphia Phillies (45-67)

It’s sad to think the Phillies are playing so well, and their win percentage is still hovering around .400.

Aug 9, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Elian Herrera (3) hits a solo home run in the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

27. Milwaukee Brewers (48-65)

The Brewers made the Pirates and Cubs fans very happy on Sunday.

Aug 9, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price (38) challenges that Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Chris Owings (not pictured) did not step on first base after his walk off single at Chase Field. The play was upheld. The Diamondbacks won 4-3 in ten innings. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

26. Cincinnati Reds (49-60)

Isn’t it amazing that the bottom five teams consistently on our list are all NL clubs?

Aug 9, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (25) hits a three RBI triple in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

25. Boston Red Sox (50-62)

The new addition to the Tigers fan hate list?? Jackie Bradley Jr.

Aug 9, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (right) celebrates an 8-1 win over the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

24. Cleveland Indians (51-59)

I’m still waiting for SI’s preseason AL Central pick to turn it on. When is it going to happen???

Aug 9, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Chicago White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez (10) drives in two runs with a single against the Kansas City Royals during the third inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

23. Chicago White Sox (51-58)

See! They aren’t real contenders.

Aug 9, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano (22) and right fielder Nelson Cruz (23) celebrate following the final out of a 4-2 victory against the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

22. Seattle Mariners (52-60)

Well if the Indians don’t win the AL Central, maybe the Mariners can still come back and capture the AL West for the sake of the SI predictions??

Aug 7, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

21. Oakland Athletics (51-62)

Does Billy Beane miss Josh Donaldson yet?

Aug 9, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Shelby Miller (17) throws a pitch against the Miami Marlins in the third inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

20. Atlanta Braves (51-61)

Shelby Miller has a 3.16 ERA in his last 15 starts, and he is 0-8. How does that happen??

19. Detroit Tigers (54-57)

Well, at least they are showing some “fight”.

Aug 8, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres right fielder Matt Kemp (27) reacts to striking out during the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

18. San Diego Padres (52-60)

Six straight losses to the Milwaukee Brewers and the Philadelphia Phillies?? Yikes.

Aug 8, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Randy Johnson salutes the crowd during his number 51 retirement ceremony prior to the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

17. Arizona Diamondbacks (54-56)

It’s nice to see that there are still franchises that reserve retiring numbers for real stars as opposed to using it as a way to sell tickets.

Aug 8, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Texas Rangers first baseman Mike Napoli (25) watches a pitch in the third inning against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

16. Texas Rangers (55-55)

Is Mike Napoli the missing piece for a 2015 postseason run? Unlikely.

Aug 9, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Minnesota Twins manager Paul Molitor (4) stands on the top step of the dugout in the seventh inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

15. Minnesota Twins (55-56)

I knew this team wasn’t for real!

Aug 8, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher David Price (14) pitches in the second inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

14. Tampa Bay Rays (56-56)

Former Rays pitcher David Price described the Rogers Centre as by far “the best atmosphere he’s ever pitched in.” That doesn’t say much for the crowd at Game 7 for the 2008 ALCS at Tropicana Field.

Aug 7, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter watches the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels from the dugout at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

13. Baltimore Orioles (56-54)

Buck Showalter wanted to make someone other than Mike Trout and Albert Pujols beat him … oh well.

Aug 9, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels left fielder David Murphy (19) celebrates with second baseman Johnny Giavotella (12) after hitting a walk off single in the eleventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The Angels won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

12. Los Angeles Angels (59-51)

Daniel Murphy! Wait, no sorry, David Murphy.

Aug 9, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) prepares to pitch against the Colorado Rockies during the 1st inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports

11. Washington Nationals (57-53)

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

Aug 7, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Mets center fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) works out prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

10. New York Mets (59-52)

The Mets are 7-2 since the Yoenis Cespedes trade.

Aug 1, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (2) hits a ball during the ninth inning in a game against the Kansas City Royals at Rogers Centre. The Kansas City Royals won 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

9. Toronto Blue Jays (61-52)

And the Blue Jays are a ridiculous 10-1 since the Troy Tulowitzki trade.

Aug 9, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Nori Aoki (center) leaves the game after being hit by pitch with the trainer (left) and manager Bruce Bochy (right) against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

8. San Francisco Giants (59-52)

We’ve said before this team is streaky. The Giants were swept in Wrigley over the weekend.

Aug 9, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Astros right fielder Colby Rasmus (28) celebrates with center fielder Carlos Gomez (30) after hitting a three run home run against the Oakland Athletics during the ninth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Athletics won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

7. Houston Astros (61-52)

The Astros have lost six of seven and they moved up in our MLB Power Rankings. It’s been that kind of crazy week.

Aug 9, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly (L) talks with home plate umpire Mark Wegner (R) against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the sixth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

6. Los Angeles Dodgers (62-49)

After allowing nine runs in the seventh inning, that must have been a long flight home from Pittsburgh Sunday night.

Aug 9, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; The Cubs celebrate their victory at Wrigley Field. The Cubs defeated the San Francisco Giants 2-0. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

5. Chicago Cubs (62-48)

The Cubs would lead the NL East, NL West, AL East and AL West, yet they are in third in the NL Central.

Aug 9, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius (18) is hit by a pitch from Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Marco Estrada (not pictured) during the fifth inning of the game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

4. New York Yankees (61-49)

The New York Yankees were shut out in consecutive games for the first time since 1999. The good news, though, Yankees fans all remember what happened in October of that year ..

Aug 9, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli (C) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the eighth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 13-6. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

3. Pittsburgh Pirates (65-44)

Francisco Cervelli for President! He would be what, the 20th candidate if he ran on the Republican ticket? (disclaimer: we have no idea what Cervelli’s political affiliation is)

Aug 9, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Ryan Madson (46) celebrates with catcher Salvador Perez (13) after beating the Chicago White Sox 5-4 at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

2. Kansas City Royals (66-44)

The Royals have their largest division lead since Jimmy Carter was President. We definitely know that Carter was not a Republican.

Aug 9, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter (13) is greeted by St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny after hitting a three run home run in the seventh inning during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

1. St. Louis Cardinals (71-40)

Has a team 31 games above .500 ever been concerned they could still finish in third?

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