Hey Sportsfans — it's time for Week 18 of
r/baseball Power Rankings: As July comes to a close and the deadline nears, is your team where you thought they'd be at the start of the year?
Every voter has their own style / system and the only voting instructions are these:
"To an extent determined individually, you must take into account how strong a team is right now and likely to be going forward. You must, to some degree, give weight to the events and games of the previous week."
TRANSPARENCY: This link will show you who voted each team where and has added neat statistics!
If something is a little messed up, feel free to pester me let me know.
Total Votes: 28 of 30.
| # | Team | Δ | Comment | Record | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia Phillies | Phillies | 0 | The Phillies have now lost 4 straight series after not having lost more than 2 in a row previously in the season. It may be a hot take for some Phillies phaithful but I don't think there's any reason to panic. The offense has gone cold, scoring only 3 runs not on home runs this week but the pitching has kept them in games. Tyler Phillips has continued to be a massive surprise, this time throwing a 4 hit CGSO against the Guardians in just his 4th major league appearance. It seems highly unlikely that this performance will continue as he's heavily reliant on ground balls, but it's been a great replacement for Taijuan Walker. The team will likely stay put from this point after acquiring Carlos Estevez and Austin Hays. I'd like to see them get another bullpen arm so Jose Ruiz and Yunior Marte aren't ever pitching in important situations, and maybe another bench bat to upgrade over Wes Wilson. This week, 3 against the Yankees at CBP before the start of a 10 game west coast trip with 3 in Seattle. | 65-40 |
| 2 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Dodgers | +1 | Kershaw is back! Our rookie pitchers have completely stepped up and are killing it! Other than that the positives from the dodgers are a little lacking. Our IL squad could probably beat most other teams, and the bullpen is falling apart, but the trade deadline is only a couple days away so I'll just wait and see what happens before I make any speculation. | 63-44 |
| 3 | Baltimore Orioles | Orioles | -1 | Well, some moves were made, but will we see more? The Orioles welcomed in Seranthony Dominguez, Cristian Pache and Zach Eflin but said goodbye to Austin Hays. They also had an awful week, losing both series to the Marlins and Padres. Gunnar Henderson needs a day off. He is pressing at the plate and in the field. You can tell the team is pressing as a whole, it just looks less fun than a few weeks ago. Maybe it's newer felt pressure compared to last year, maybe the fear of the unknown with the trade deadline and who could get moved. Either way they need to turn it around and fast. | 62-43 |
| 4 | Cleveland Guardians | Guardians | +1 | I don't know what to do other than make the White Sox #30, I really don't. July has been a bad month for all the best teams of the first half (Phillies, Orioles, Dodgers, Yankees, Mariners, and of course my Guardians). And now the stupid trashcans are doing well. So much for the false hope their bad start gave me. Anyway, the Guardians went 4-3 this week. First winning week in maybe a month. Yay. They also won on my birthday. Another yay. And they should make some good trades, but I haven't heard them mentioned in any rumors. No yay. | 63-42 |
| 5 | New York Yankees | Yankees | -1 | My grade-school hatred of jazz is alleviated. | 62-45 |
| 6 | Milwaukee Brewers | Brewers | 0 | Yelich's back issues flared up again, putting the rest of his season into question. With this happening right before the deadline, it highlighted how even with this lineup vastly outperforming expectations, it still has holes that could be filled in addition to the glaring needs in the rotation. My prediction for the deadline? Matt Arnold claiming Milwaukee's big trade deadline acquisition is Devin Williams coming off of the IL and praying that Hoskins' bat finds life again. | 60-45 |
| 7 | Minnesota Twins | Twins | +1 | Another week, and our production continues to be solid with series wins against the Tigers and the Phillies. Lewis is back again, tell a friend. | 58-46 |
| 8 | Houston Astros | Astros | +2 | There's something about an Astros-Dodgers series that just brings out the best in everyone in r/baseball. Related, I am not convinced that Joe Kelly is not a Reddit shitposter. Perhaps he's one of the rankers. Maybe he's Jack? | 55-50 |
| 9 | San Diego Padres | Padres | +6 | Dylan Cease. 19 innings, 2 hits against, 0 earned runs. Bogey had a fumble that perfectly landed in Meril’s glove, and a bobble that he recovered from in time. Sometimes things just bounce your way for once. In the long history of this franchise that hasn’t happened much, but now twice since switching back to brown and yellow. The Pads took the DMV by storm this week with 5/6. News this morning is we got a reliever, just what the doctor ordered to shore up the leads we have just a bit more, and give the few guys we do trust in the pen a bit of help. | 57-51 |
| 10 | Atlanta Braves | Braves | -3 | I don't know what makes me feel worse: the insane amount of injuries that keep happening for the Braves or the COVID I have had all weekend. Now Reynaldo goes down. Let's hope it isn't serious. | 56-48 |
| 11 | Kansas City Royals | Royals | -2 | 57-49 | |
| 12 | Boston Red Sox | Red Sox | -1 | Well, that week couldn't have gone much worse. Despite weathering the storm of injuries and AAA replacements through the All Star break, we couldn't keep up any longer. The bullpen short Chris Martin and Justin Slaten is laboring, Houck and Crawford are both regressing as they pass by their highest IP totals, leaving the offense to try (and fail) at dragging them over the finish line. Mercifully, we're only one game back of the wild card, but what looked like a potential buy at the deadline has become what looks like another halfway year, picking up a few minor pieces and maybe dumping Kenley for a mediocre prospect or two. There's always next year… | 55-49 |
| 13 | Arizona Diamondbacks | D-Backs | 0 | The Diamondbacks have not lost a series for a month and would likely have four more wins if not for Paul Sewald meltdowns. With the additon of AJ Puk and likely another righty for the back end of the bullpen at the trade deadline, as well as the impending returns of Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez, the Diamondbacks are looking to make a serious run in the latter part of the season. | 55-51 |
| 14 | Seattle Mariners | Mariners | -2 | Trades! A sweep! Polanco finally showing some life! Is it a turnaround or is it just the White Sox effect? Who knows! One more big trade still feels needed. The schedule toughens up from now, so it's time to put up or limp out of the race. Up next: 3 @ Bahston, 3 vs. Cream Cheeses | 56-51 |
| 15 | New York Mets | Mets | +1 | It's so sad reading my blurb from last week, which includes a mention of how excited I was for Kodai Senga to come back. During his excellent 2024 debut on Friday against the Braves, he injured his calf while leaving the mound in an attempt to field a pop-up, and we now know he'll miss at least the rest of the regular season. In happier news, we swept the Yankees and split with the Braves since my last update, and we've acquired long time beloved Citi Field heel Jesse Winker in a trade with the Nats and former World Series champ Ryne Stanek in a trade with Seattle. In the leadup to the trade deadline, look for the Mets to potentially make a couple of small-to-medium size additions – a SP seems likely in the wake of Senga's injury, and additional bullpen help could still be a possibility (although they may be set on that front). | 55-50 |
| 16 | St. Louis Cardinals | Cardinals | -2 | The Cardinals had a bad week at the wrong time losing series to the Pirates and Nationals. However, per the Athletic's Katie Woo this past week is not swaying the front office's decision making as the Cardinals move forward as buyers with the rest of the National League. As of this blurb, there's just over 24 hours left until the trade deadline. Tommy Edman has allegedly been drawing interest from both the Dodgers and Yankees. Giovanny Gallegos was DFA'd. | 54-51 |
| 17 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Pirates | 0 | What a week that was. On Thursday the Bucs soared to the highest of highs, clinching a series victory over the Cardinals to start the second half by winning the first two series against Philadelphia and St. Louis. On Sunday the Pirates appeared to be on the verge of being swept by Arizona, with two of the team's better bats — Rowdy Tellez and Nick Gonzales — both injured, and the fanbase was on the verge of a meltdown. The Bucs were able to pull out a win on Sunday, but this club could badly use a bat or three. | 53-52 |
| 18 | Tampa Bay Rays | Rays | 0 | my face / my soul | 54-52 |
| 19 | San Francisco Giants | Giants | +4 | Okay, well, here we are again. 2 games below .500. Basically where the Giants were at the start of the 2nd half, but now playing better and even more healthy. But even more running out of time. Even fewer time. Less time. There is less time left in the season for the Giants to make the playoffs and the trade deadline will most likely come and pass with the Giants probably only making a slightly consequential move or two. Don’t get your hopes up for selling or buying hard. This is the roster, minus one handsome Korean, that the front office said could sneak into the playoffs. And they still could. The time for hoping like hell is now. And I don’t care how doomy you are, the 2024 roster is still the most exciting it’s been in years. Especially right now. When they don’t play like dum dums. Here are some numbers: 21st in MLB in Run Diff, 14th in RS/G, 20th in RA/G, 27th in Bullpen ERA. The Giants have 2 off days this week for whatever reason – yay rotation shenanigans – playing 2 vs Las Sacramento and then 3 @ CIN. The Giants are now beginning the softest stretch of schedule for the entire year. If it’s happening, it’s happening now. Stay tuned. Or yell on the internet about something – I’m a blurb not a cop. | 53-55 |
| 20 | Detroit Tigers | Tigers | -1 | Alrighty, Carson Kelly is off to Texas… who else will join him as departing members this week? While the top headline is whether or not Tarik Skubal will be dealt (my money says no), secondary pieces like Jack Flaherty, Mark Canha, and perhaps some relief arms should have their bags packed and ready to go before the deadline. This week: 2 vs. CLE, 4 vs. KCR. | 52-55 |
| 21 | Texas Rangers | Rangers | 0 | Last week I said I think the Rangers should sell, then they proceeded to sweep a 4 game series against the White Sox bringing them 2.5 games back of first in the division, so maybe selling isn't the best option. Then they proceeded to get swept over the weekend by the selling Blue Jays. so maybe selling is the best option. Either way, we're still stuck at the same confusion as last week. | 51-55 |
| 22 | Chicago Cubs | Cubs | -2 | The Cubs opened the week with a series loss to the Brewers, which signaled that the Cubs would in all likelihood be sellers at the trade deadline. It naturally follows, then, that the two trades the Cubs made over the weekend were both to acquire players to help in future years. Nate Pearson is a purely upside buy for the bullpen, however the other trade was much bigger. In acquiring all-star 3B Isaac Paredes, the Cubs hope to have turned 3B from a weakness into a strength for the next 3 seasons. It remains to be seen whether or not his pulled fly ball approach will translate to Wrigley, which has the deepest LF corner in MLB. Unfortunately, the Cubs had to part with fan-favoritw Christopher Morel and 2 prospects in the deal. While Morel has struggled both at 3B and at the plate this season, his energy and contagious good vibes, as well as impressive power feats will be missed. It would be nowhere near a shock if he absolutely takes off in Tampa. | 51-56 |
| 23 | Cincinnati Reds | Reds | -1 | The Reds kinda suck except when they play really good teams, I don’t really have a fix for this just start playing better or whatever. There, you happy baseball nerds? I talked about baseball. Now that we've covered all the basics of this blurb, it's time for the moment you've been waiting for! Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-daa, Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-daa, Da-da-da-da-da-da-daa Da-da-da-la-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-daa, Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-daa, tssshh Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-daa-da-da-da-da-daa, Ti-ta-ti-ti-ta-ti-ti-ta-ta-ta-la-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-da-la-ba-ba-ba-ba-da-la-ba-ba-baa, Ti-ta-ti-li-ta-ti-li-ti-taa, Ti-ta-ti-li Ti-ta-ti-li-ta-ti-li-ta-ti-li-ta-ti-li-ta-ti-li-ti-ta-ti-ti-ta-ti-ti-taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE EXISTENTIAL CRISIS Ehh I might do it next week I’m kinda busy right now and don't have the time to write out a long 2000 word analysis of the current socio economic situation that led to my current mindset and outlook on life. Maybe next time. | 50-55 |
| 24 | Washington Nationals | Nationals | 0 | Best of luck to Jesse Winker and Jesse Winker alone – Fuck the Mets. | 49-57 |
| 25 | Toronto Blue Jays | Blue Jays | 0 | We just swept the defending World Series champs. That means we're good, right? Right…? In reality, all we're focused on now in Jaysland are the returns we get from dealing our expiring contracts (luv u forever, Jano) and the white-hot play of one Vladimir Brian Elizabeth Guerrero, Jr. Over the last 2 weeks, Vladdy's slashing a lovely .472/.524/1.056, with 6 HR and 10 RBI. He's now .301/.372/.869 on the year with a 145 wRC+, and currently on pace for 30 HR. Not QUITE his MVP-level pace from 2021, but he's showing consistent flashes of that guy again, and he's still only 25. There's a lot to hate about this Jays season, but he's our shining star, and he needs to be locked up for the next decade ASAP. | 49-56 |
| 26 | Oakland Athletics | Athletics | +1 | Pretty convincingly won the season series 8-5 against the Angels (and have a better season run differential to boot), so frustrating to have the worse record even sans Trout. Curious what the trade deadline holds, everyone on the A's has a ton of control left so would need a haul, think only Moll was shipped off last year | 44-64 |
| 27 | Los Angeles Angels | Angels | -1 | 46-60 | |
| 28 | Miami Marlins | Marlins | +1 | So long Jazz, its been real. The return for jazz was interesting for sure. Weve been in dire need of more offense and Agustin Ramirez could potentially provide it and sooner than later. Puk was also dealt and we also got more future offense, with some players we received possibly getting called up in september. With the Marlins playing well coming out of the ASB, the Fish need to strike while the metal is hot. Trade some of these players to continue to stock up on offense and hope our IL starters come back strong next season. | 39-67 |
| 29 | Colorado Rockies | Rockies | -1 | I don't ever want to play in Oracle Park again. It's fake baseball. I can't believe they even let them put a park there. Jokes aside, Oracle is a disaster for us. Giants fans (and their otherwise great announcers) incessantly bitch about Coors and how they can't win there. The pesky reality is that, since 2020, the Giants are 23-15 at Coors. How have the Rockies done at Oracle in that same period? They've gone a whopping 7-29. Triples Alley and the marine layer are an affront to real baseball and I petition that the Giants have to remove their humidor and install a Dyson™ Baseball Dryer. | 38-69 |
| 30 | Chicago White Sox | White Sox | 0 | The White Sox set an organization record by losing 14 games earlier in the year. They're currently tied with that record and things are not looking to improve as they're expected to trade away the few good players they have at the deadline this week. (Fedde, our second best pitcher was just traded as I typed this. EDIT: Oh wait, the trade also includes our closer Kopech and Tommy Pham who has (sadly) been our best hitter.) Per Jon Greenberg at the Athletic, if you remove both 14 game losing streaks, the White Sox still only have a .338 winning percentage which would be worst in the league. It's bad, y'all. | 27-81 |
12 comments
There’s a display error usually caused by an unformatted / naked URL in a blurb but I can’t find it if anyone can help.
**Mobile Friendly Rankings + ‘True Rank’**
1. Phillies 1.571
2. Dodgers 2.5
3. Orioles 3.464
4. Guardians 3.607 — *CLOSE!*
5. Yankees 5.107
6. Brewers 6.286
7. Twins 7.357
8. Astros 9.393
9. Padres 9.607
10. Braves 9.643 — *CLOSE!*
11. Royals 9.857
12. Red Sox 12.643
13. D-Backs 12.714 — *CLOSE!*
14. Mariners 13.821
15. Mets 14.107
16. Cardinals 17.286
17. Pirates 18.107
18. Rays 18.429
19. Giants 19.071
20. Tigers 20.071
21. Rangers 20.143 — *CLOSE!*
22. Cubs 21.071
23. Reds 21.357
24. Nationals 23.964
25. Blue Jays 24.25
26. Athletics 26.071
27. Angels 26.607
28. Marlins 28.107
29. Rockies 28.786
30. White Sox 30
I do wanna know *why* DJ Kitty is the thumbnail but also I know better than to question good things.
Yeah but our IL is ranked 7th, so we got that going for us
phillies have lost 4 straight series and are still #1, shows how everyone at the top has been struggling to an extent
Amazing how the Phillies have basically been a 500 team for over a month and a half and still have the most wins. Won’t last for long considering the competition coming up….
Twins voter has Royals at 7 and Guardians at 12. If the Guardians don’t make any deadline moves for SS or starting pitching, I want some of whatever they’re having
Reds about to have a top 7 pick for the third year in a row! Let’s go!!!!
The fucking MLB draft is our world series!
No one believes in the pirates
.. That’s fair
Pretty solid list tbh
We should most certainly *not* be #3
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErE5viY2lFw&t=182s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErE5viY2lFw&t=182s)
Go Slam Diego!