MLB Power Rankings - Phillies knock Dodgers from top spot
(Last week’s rankings in brackets)
1. (3) Philadelphia Phillies (53-38): a 10-game winning streak and a healthy division lead is what it takes to snatch the top spot from the Dodgers. When their pitching is on, the Phillies are almost unbeatable.
2. (1) Los Angeles Dodgers (60-34): Through no fault of their own, the Dodgers slip a spot. They’re still the National League favorite in your offshore sportsbook, though.
3. (5) New York Yankees (56-37): The Bronx Bombers have won five straight after the break and like the Phillies, the pitching is starting to come around.
4. (4) Los Angeles Angels (54-38): The Angels need Vladdy Guerrero and Torii Hunter to get healthy in a hurry...
5. (10) Texas Rangers (51-41): ...because the Rangers are hot on their heels and are beginning a favorable stretch of games, starting at Kansas City this weekend.
6. (2) Boston Red Sox (55-38): The Red Sox have fallen out of the top spot in the AL East with a four-game skid, but it’s not panic time yet: I’d still consider their sports betting odds in a heartbeat.
7. (7) Detroit Tigers (49-42): Scoring five runs in a three-game sweep at the hands of the Yankees in New York isn’t the best way to start your second half. The lack of offense is becoming appalling.
8. (9) Tampa Bay Rays (52-42): The Rays started a 10-game road trip by winning four of their first five. The pitching just needs to be a little bit better.
9. (12) Colorado Rockies (51-43): Things are starting to level off for the Rockies now, and they begin a tough 10-game road trip next week that will be crucial to their MLB betting chances.
10. (13) Chicago White Sox (48-45): Next week’s seven-game road trip to Detroit and Minnesota will pretty much decide if the White Sox will challenge in the AL Central or not.
11. (6) San Francisco Giants (50-43): The Giants have stumbled after the break, dropping four of their first five games. Without a slugger, the Giants won’t go very far.
12. (22) Atlanta Braves (48-46): The Braves have jumped into the second spot in the NL East, but their bullpen prevents me from making them one of the baseball picks for the playoffs.
13. (11) St. Louis Cardinals (51-45): They started a seven-game road trip by losing their first two in Houston, and in baseball’s tightest division, the Cardinals can’t afford to slip up.
14. (16) Houston Astros (48-46): The Astros earned a tough split in Los Angeles and are going for a sweep of the Cardinals tonight. If anyone can be considered a sports picks sleeper, it’s Houston.
15. (14) Florida Marlins (48-47): The Marlins aren’t technically sound, but they’re a lot of fun to watch. Still, their inconsistency will be their downfall.
16. (15) Minnesota Twins (48-46)
17. (18) Chicago Cubs (47-45)
18. (17) Milwaukee Brewers (48-46)
19. (8) Seattle Mariners (49-44)
20. (19) New York Mets (44-49)
21. (23) Toronto Blue Jays (46-48)
22. (24) Cincinnati Reds (44-49)
23. (20) Baltimore Orioles (41-52)
24. (26) Pittsburgh Pirates (41-52)
25. (29) Cleveland Indians (37-57)
26. (25) Arizona Diamondbacks (40-54)
27. (21) Oakland Athletics (39-53)
28. (27) San Diego Padres (37-57)
29. (30) Washington Nationals (27-66)
30. (28) Kansas City Royals (37-56)
There isn’t only change at the top, as the Royals look like they’re aiming to challenge the National in Tank Wars 2009 with their recent eight-game skid. Still, it’ll take a monumental string of winning to keep Washington from being the online sports betting favorite to have the No.1 pick in next year’s draft.
For more MLB betting analysis, continue to visit the Betting Edge at betonline.com.
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.
