MLB Power Rankings - Rockies making a crazy charge

The MLB power rankings return this week and there aren’t major changes to report at the top. However, the Colorado Rockies are turning the offshore sportsbook upside down with their crazy run of late. Just how far can they climb up the power rankings in a week and, more importantly, can they stick near the top for long?

(Last week’s rankings in brackets)

1. (1) Los Angeles Dodgers (46-24): The lords of the MLB power rankings continue to hold strong. The scariest part is that they’ve done so well without Manny and are now just a week or so away from “welcoming” him back.
2. (2) Boston Red Sox (42-27): The BoSox remain the class of the American League. Though Dice-K looks like a writeoff in 2009 MLB betting, help is on the way, as a man named John Smoltz takes the hill for the first time all season this week.
3. (15) Colorado Rockies (37-33): Are you actually going to critique me for jumping a team 12 spots when it wins 17 of 18 games? If the Rockies keep this up, they’ll be No. 1 by next week.
4. (6) Detroit Tigers: With little help from the likes of benched Magglio, the Tigers keep pulling out wins. Here comes the annual homer binge from all-or-nothing swinger Marcus Thames.
5. (9) Tampa Bay Rays (37-34): It was only a matter of time before they shot back up the MLB power rankings, as they simply have too much talent not to.
6. (11) St. Louis Cardinals (39-32): The Pujols show continues to blow online betting fans’ minds. He’s calling his shots now?! Khalil Greene’s power surge is helping carry the load...for now.
7. (4) New York Yankees (38-31): Is A-Rod hurt? Fatigued? Whatever’s going on with him, Joe Girardi hopes to energize him by giving him a day off per week until the All-Star break. Fingers crossed, Yankee fans.
8. (8) San Francisco Giants (37-32): They just won’t go away. Suddenly, they’re tied for the NL Wildcard lead and starting to position themselves as trade deadline buyers. The scariest part is that they still have even more top pitching prospects yet to break into the bigs.
9. (12) Chicago Cubs (34-32): Don’t look now, but the Cubbies are heating up. Aramis Ramirez is back soon and Ryan Dempster is showing flashes of 2008. If only Alfonso Soriano could wake up.
10. (5) Los Angeles Angels (36-32): Had some headway before a three-game skid derailed them. I still the Angels to overtake Texas, but their pitchers aren’t getting healthy like they were supposed to (read: Escobar, Santana).
11. (3) Philadelphia Phillies (36-31): So much for running away with the NL East. Give the defending champs six straight losses through Monday night. They’ll bounce back, but they clearly have to acquire another dependable starting pitcher (and maybe another reliever).
12. (7) Milwaukee Brewers (37-32): Way too dependent on three players: Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun and Yovani Gallardo. Milwaukee needs to duplicate last year’s Sabathia deal to trade, but does it have the prospects to spare in a deal?
13. (14) Toronto Blue Jays (38-33): Sweep the defending champs, then lose two of three to the Nationals? The Jays can make an MLB betting fan pull his hair out.
14. (10) Texas Rangers (37-31): The losing streak hits four. They can only get so much mileage out of that great May. Time to put up or shut up, fellas.
15. (13) Florida Marlins (35-36): Trade winds are blowing and Josh Johnson is drawing huge interest. Is it time to cash him in for a huge return?
16. (26) Seattle Mariners (35-34)
17. (24) Baltimore Orioles (32-37)
18. (18) Atlanta Braves (33-36)
19. (20) Cincinnati Reds (34-34)
20. (19) Minnesota Twins (35-36)
21. (17) New York Mets (35-33)
22. (23) Chicago White Sox (33-36)
23. (22) Houston Astros (32-35)
24. (16) Pittsburgh Pirates (31-38)
25. (28) Oakland Athletics (31-38)
26. (21) Kansas City Royals (29-39)
27. (27) San Diego Padres (30-38)
28. (29) Arizona Diamondbacks (29-41)
29. (30) Washington Nationals (20-47)
30. (25) Cleveland Indians (29-42)

Congrats to the Nats for winning five of 10 and vaulting to 29th place.

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Before his arm flamed out, Dale “Skip” Lalonde was famous for his high-90s heat and power at the plate. He retired young but never turned his back on baseball, earning the nickname “Skip” for his high-school coaching prowess. A true student of the game, he loves crunching the numbers when he handicaps baseball. Email Comments@BetOnline.com.