The top of the MLB Power Rankings hasn’t budged, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are still setting the standard. With Dave Roberts steering a roster loaded with elite talent, they keep looking like the team everyone else is chasing. Roberts’ next win would give the franchise its sixth season with 60 or more victories before the All-Star break, and the Dodgers are also on pace for a sixth 100-plus-win season under his leadership.
Milwaukee is right there behind them, and the Brewers are doing something the franchise has never done before. Their .621 winning percentage before the break is a new high-water mark, and they’re closing in on the organization’s first 100-win season. What’s carrying them is a balanced mix of pitching depth and timely offense, the kind of formula that makes a team miserable to face.
Tampa Bay stays at No. 3, and Junior Caminero is the reason the Rays keep climbing. The 23-year-old has been on a blistering run, launching 11 homers in 11 games to become the youngest player ever to do it. That stretch has pushed him into the MVP conversation, while the Rays’ offense has surged around him to keep the club among the league’s elite.
Philadelphia comes in at No. 4, and the Phillies still look like a team with more room to grow. Under Dave Dombrowski, they’re one impact starter away from looking like a real postseason problem. Atlanta rounds out the top five, still hanging around despite the challenge of replacing Spencer Strider’s production.
At the other end of the board, the Los Angeles Angels remain stuck at No. 30, with Mike Trout standing as the lone bright spot. He’s an All-Star starter and trending toward a return from injury, but the offense has been too inconsistent to climb out of the basement.
Kansas City is next at No. 29.
Bobby Witt Jr. is leading the American League in WAR, but the Royals are still battling through offensive droughts. Colorado sits at No. 28, and Hunter Goodman’s breakout has been one of the best stories in the league.
He’s second in the NL in homers and owns the highest OPS among qualified catchers.
The Mets are at No. 27, helped by Juan Soto’s league-leading OBP and OPS even while injuries pile up around him. San Francisco is No. 26, where Luis Arraez continues to stand out as one of baseball’s most dependable second basemen.
The bigger picture is pretty clear right now: the National League owns the top of the rankings, with the Dodgers, Brewers, Rays, Phillies, and Braves all looking postseason-ready. MVP-caliber seasons are starting to pop up in all kinds of places, from Caminero to Soto to Goodman, while injuries - especially on the pitching side - keep hanging over several contenders.
And with the All-Star Game set for July 14 in Philadelphia, the league is bringing 26 first-time selections to the stage, a pretty good sign that baseball’s next wave is already here.
In Other News...
Rays Linked To Proven Bullpen Upgrade As AL East Race Tightens
With the AL East tightening, the Rays are at the point in the season where even a division lead can feel fragile if the bullpen starts to wobble. Tampa Bay has already gotten solid work at the back end from Bryan Baker, but the club is always looking for ways to sharpen the late innings, especially with the trade deadline approaching and the rest of the division pushing hard.
Aroldis Chapman has emerged as one of the more intriguing names in that market, and his numbers with Boston help explain why. The left-hander has a 2.36 ERA with 18 saves in 28 appearances, production that would give the Rays another proven option in high-leverage spots if they decide to make a move. For a team trying to stay ahead in a crowded race, that kind of upgrade is hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Suddenly Have A Troubling New Bullpen Concern
The Rays bullpen has already been operating with little margin for error, and Edwin Ucetas latest injury update only adds to the pressure. Manager Kevin Cash said the right-hander is dealing with a setback in his shoulder rehab, a frustrating turn for a staff that has been trying to piece together innings while Ryan Pepiot, Manuel Rodriguez and Steven Wilson remain out with long-term injuries.
Uceta had been part of the group Tampa Bay hoped could help stabilize the relief mix, so any delay matters beyond just one arm. With the bullpen still stretched thin, the organization now has to wait on a clearer medical picture before it can know whether Uceta can realistically factor into the picture next season. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Fans Have Been Waiting For Ben Rice To Reach This Stage
The Home Run Derby is headed back to Citizens Bank Park on July 13, and the early field already has a familiar Rays connection in Junior Caminero, who is in as one of the eight confirmed participants. The event will also return to a swings-based format, giving hitters more chances to settle in and do damage, which should suit the kind of power display that has made Caminero such a draw in the first place.
One of the more interesting additions is Ben Rice, who is set to take part for the first time as the Yankees keep watching his profile rise in a very different kind of spotlight. Philadelphia could still get a pair of hometown-relevant names in Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper if everything lines up, while Pete Crow-Armstrong has already bowed out, leaving the rest of the field to take shape around a few unresolved decisions. [Read more 🡒]