Houston Astros on top of first June MLB Power Rankings
By Matt Veasey
The Houston Astros sit atop the first MLB Power Rankings as June begins to unfold on the weekend following Memorial Day.
The Houston Astros are the best team in Major League Baseball. At least that is the club’s earned status on the MLB Power Rankings after the first two months of the 2017 season.
Back at the start of February, I released a pre-spring training power ranking. That list had Houston in the #5 position. Their play on the field has elevated the Astros to the top.
HOUSTON POINTING TOWARD OCTOBER
That’s what it’s really all about – October. Leading a June Power Ranking is nice. But playing in the Fall, under the increased pressure and glare of playoff lights. That is what the Astros are really shooting for now.
Houston has visited the postseason just once in the last dozen years. The franchise is still searching for its first World Series victory. They were swept in four straight games in their only appearance in the Fall Classic back in 2005.
The Astros need to just stay healthy and keep doing what they’ve been doing. As baseball moves through the summer, the 12.5 game lead that they have built up in the AL West Division should remain stable. They will need to take that good health and solid play into Fall ball in order to reach their ultimate goal of a championship.
With Houston at the top of the list, let’s take a look at how the rest of Major League Baseball stacks up in my June 2017 Power Ranking: