MLB Power Rankings post-July 4: It’s the Atlanta Braves and then everyone else

If there has been one consistency in the last week in MLB, the Atlanta Braves continue to prove that they are the best all-around team in the majors. There are no questions about that and there is some distance between them and the next closest team, including in this week’s MLB power rankings.

MLB power rankings: Atlanta Braves and then the rest of the field

The next three teams are from the American League — the Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, and Baltimore Orioles, and some movement follows that. The Cincinnati Reds came back to earth a little bit, but they are still more than in the mix in strange NL Central and remain in the top 10.

It was a weird week for the Boston Red Sox, who were swept at home by the Miami Marlins then went to Canada and swept the inconsistent Toronto Blue Jays. One year after losing 16 of 19 games to Toronto, Boston is 7-0 against them this season, but buried in last place in the AL East. If the Blue Jays miss the playoffs, they won’t need to look very far to see why.

The bottom third is led by the San Diego Padres, who are coming close to running out of time in the NL West and Wild Card race, while below them is another equally disappointing team in the New York Mets, who just happen to close out the unofficial first half with a three-game series at Petco Park against the Padres Friday-through-Sunday this upcoming weekend. Both managers, Bob Melvin and Buck Showalter could both be managing for their jobs, regardless of the support they get from their front offices.

Let’s fire up the latest Power Rankings for the final week leading into the All-Star Break.

1. Atlanta Braves (last week: 1)
2. Tampa Bay Rays (last week: 2)
3. Texas Rangers (last week: 3)
4. Baltimore Orioles (last week: 5)
5. Arizona Diamondbacks (last week: 7)
6. Miami Marlins (last week: 8)
7. San Francisco Giants (last week: 6)
8. Cincinnati Reds (last week: 4)
9. Los Angeles Dodgers (last week: 12)
10. Houston Astros (last week: 14)
11. New York Yankees (last week: 17)
12. Los Angeles Angels (last week: 9)
13. Milwaukee Brewers (last week: 10)
14. Philadelphia Phillies (last week: 11)
15. Boston Red Sox (last week: 13)
16. Minnesota Twins (last week: 16)
17. Toronto Blue Jays (last week: 15)
18. Cleveland Indians (last week: 21)
19. Seattle Mariners (last week: 18)
20. San Diego Padres (last week: 19)
21. Pittsburgh Pirates (last week: 20)
22. Chicago Cubs (last week: 23)
23. New York Mets (last week: 22)
24. Chicago White Sox (last week: 24)
25. St. Louis Cardinals (last week: 25)
26. Washington Nationals (last week: 27)
27. Detroit Tigers (last week: 26)
28. Colorado Rockies (last week: 28)
29. Kansas City Royals (last week: 30)
30. Oakland Athletics (last week: 29)

As always, there will be some change over the next week before the mid-summer break, but just how much? Check back next week to find out.