For those fans who were ready to stick a fork in the Boston Red Sox this season after the team’s slow start to the season, this week’s MLB power rankings are a reminder that the Red Sox are very much alive and well in a very competitive American League East.
In this week’s MLB power rankings, the Boston Red Sox make a jump and the New York Yankees and New York Mets keep their hold on the top two spots
The Boston Red Sox jumped seven spots in our MLB power rankings after going an MLB-best 8-2 over the last 10 games, including a road sweep of the Cleveland Guardians, who were leading the AL Central when the series began. That sweep dropped the Guardians out of the lead in the division and in our MLB power rankings as well.
Also dropping a bit in this week’s list are the Toronto Blue Jays, who have gone 3-7 over their last 10 games and are now looking up at the Red Sox in the AL East standings.
Below is this week’s MLB power rankings. As has become our tradition, we will add one note about one team in each of the thirds of our list.
1. New York Yankees (last week: 1)
The Yankees certainly have a flair for the dramatic when they win a game at home in June. Sunday’s walk-off win over the Houston Astros in 10 innings was their fifth walk-off win of the month and 10th of the season. Each of their last three wins inside Yankee Stadium have come via walk-off. It was one of the few bright spots for the Yankees this weekend, who dropped two of three at home to Houston and suffered a no-hitter on Saturday.
2. New York Mets (last week: 2)
3. Los Angeles Dodgers (last week: 3)
4. Houston Astros (last week: 4)
5. Atlanta Braves (last week: 6)
6. San Diego Padres (last week: 8)
7. Boston Red Sox (last week: 14)
8. Toronto Blue Jays (last week: 5)
9. Minnesota Twins (last week: 9)
10. Milwaukee Brewers (last week: 13)
11. Tampa Bay Rays (last week: 11)
12. San Francisco Giants (last week: 7)
13. St. Louis Cardinals (last week: 10)
National League MVP candidate Paul Goldschmidt collected his 18th home run of the season on Sunday with a third-inning solo shot against the Chicago Cubs that traveled 412 feet. Through 71 games, those 18 homers represent the second-highest home run total of his career, trailing only the 20 he hit at this point of the season in 2015 when he was with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The homer was also the 298th of his career.
14. Cleveland Guardians (last week: 12)
15. Philadelphia Phillies (last week: 15)
16. Chicago White Sox (last week: 16)
17. Texas Rangers (last week: 19)
18. Los Angeles Angels (last week: 18)
19. Miami Marlins (last week: 17)
20. Baltimore Orioles (last week: 21)
21. Arizona Diamondbacks (last week: 20)
22. Seattle Mariners (last week: 22)
23. Colorado Rockies (last week: 23)
24. Pittsburgh Pirates (last week: 24)
25. Detroit Tigers (last week: 25)
26. Chicago Cubs (last week: 26)
27. Kansas City Royals (last week: 27)
On Sunday, the Royals dropped a 5-3 decision to the Oakland A’s, making the fourth consecutive time they have lost a “rubber match” game to the A’s to determine which team would win the series. Sunday’s win ensured the two teams would split the season series and that Kansas City would once again not win a season series against Oakland, a stretch dating back to 2015.