Hey all – Steve here. Power rankings annoy me. I was thinking about why that might be and I came to the following conclusion: everyone ELSE’S power rankings annoy me. Let’s get to it!
1. San Francisco Giants
The Giants are the surprise team of the first half. Nobody expected that it would be the Giants that would have the best record in baseball and that their vets would be having career years. They open up in St. Louis after the break.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
Before the season started I made the bold prediction that the Dodgers would challenge the all-time win mark of 116 set by the Mariners in 2001. Then they were barely .500 and now they are 21 games over .500. All roads to the World Series in the NL go through Los Angeles. They open up in Colorado after the break.
3. Boston Red Sox
Yes, they stumbled into the break, but they have been as good a team as there has been in the AL so far this year. They have had big contributions from everyone and have an opportunity to really put some more distance between them and the rest of the division. For the next 2-3 weeks, the Red Sox will play only the AL East. They open up against the Yankees in the Bronx.
4. Houston Astros
This is certainly not how I envisioned the 2021 Astros to play. They sit atop the AL West and had a heart-stopping victory against the Yankees on Sunday and will take some momentum into the 2nd half. They open up against the White Sox in Chicago after the break.
5. Chicago White Sox
The White Sox have opened up an 8 game lead in the AL Central over the Indians. They have certainly delivered on expectations through the first half of 2021. They open up the 2nd half at home against the Astros.
6. Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays always figure out a way to be good. I’m not jealous. Stop thinking that. They are on pace to win 95 games – never count them out. They open up in Atlanta after the break.
7. New York Mets
The Mets continue to lead the NL East as they continue to get healthy in their attempt to have a complete team. JD Davis will be the next regular to return from injury. They open up on the road against the Pirates.
8. San Diego Padres
The Padres are a fun team to watch. I’m a fan of the way Tatis Jr. plays the game. The problem for them is it’s now a 3 horse race in the NL West, meaning that 2 of the 3 horses will face each other in a one-game Wild Card game. Tough break. They open up in DC to play the Nationals.
9. Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers, much like the Mets, have relied on pitching through the first half. As long as their pitching holds together, they should be able to keep the offense in most games. They will need to monitor the rear-view mirror to keep an eye on the Reds. They open up against the Reds in Cincy coming out of the break.
10. Oakland Athletics
Here’s another team that always seems to find a way to get a competitive team on the field. Not sure how much longer the Athletics will be in Oakland, but for now they are in the hunt! They open up the 2nd half at home against the Indians.
11. Toronto Blue Jays
For the teams in the AL East that do not win the division, they will face a crowded field for the 2 Wild Card spots. That’s likely where the Blue Jays will find themselves. Any team can make a push, but man is it crowded. They open up at home against the Rangers.
12. Cincinnati Reds
How great has Nick Castellanos been this year? Spectacular. That’s how great he has been. Yes, I have him on my fantasy team and I appreciate all his hard work. They open up the 2nd half with a big series against the Brewers at home.
13. New York Yankees
All of this talk about how awful the Yankees are doing, yet they still are in the top half of baseball on my prestigious power rankings. They open up at home against the buddies, the Red Sox.
14. Cleveland Indians
The Indians are a tough team to gauge. Their issue is health and that is what any wild card hopes that they may have hinges on. They open up in Oakland to begin the 2nd half.
15. Seattle Mariners
The Mariners have a lot of potential with young prospects and a low payroll heading into next year. This year was supposed to be more about rebuilding than anything else, but they are over .500 heading into the 2nd half of the year. Stranger things have happened. They open up in Los Angeles against the Angels for the 2nd half.
16. Los Angeles Angeles
Well, here is a team I didn’t think I’d see here. It’s not the talent (on the offense anyway), but the Angels just aren’t trustworthy. They sit in a very mediocre spot on this list, and they could be so much more. Oh, and Rendon has been awful so far this year. They open up at home against the Mariners for their 2nd half.
17. St. Louis Cardinals
Never count out the Cardinals, but this was not an ideal first half of their season. Let’s see if there is still life left in this team. The second half doesn’t start off easy as they welcome the Giants to town.
18. Atlanta Braves
It’s hard to see a path to the playoffs with Acuna out and the Braves already playing below expectations. They will open up the 2nd half of the season against the Rays in Atlanta.
19. Philadelphia Phillies
Wasn’t this team supposed to dominated the NL East with Harper and Realmuto? They have some work to do in the NL East, but they did win 7 of 10 heading into the break. They will open up the 2nd half at home against the Marlins.
20. Washington Nationals
The Nationals had their run and I do believe they will be sellers at the break. Who stays and who goes? Who knows. Who cares. They will open up in DC against the Padres.
21. Miami Marlins
Wow, four straight from the NL East. The Marlins may be pulling up the rear, but the future does look bright for them. I feel as though we have all heard that before about this team. 2021 won’t be their year and I’m not sure what year will be. They open up the 2nd half in Philadelphia against the Phillies.
22. Chicago Cubs
The Cubs are 22 and falling. This is a team that is going to be selling off at the deadline and it’ll be interesting to see how far they will go. They head to Arizona to start the 2nd half.
23. Minnesota Twins
How did we get here with the Twins? The problem has been the pitching behind Berrios and it doesn’t look to get any better. Actually, Berrios is on the trade block, so more to come on that.
24. Colorado Rockies
Another team in free-fall. This team is really bad and will only get worse when they trade Trevor Story. They open up the 2nd half at home against the Dodgers.
25. Detroit Tigers
There is no sugarcoating any of the teams this low on the list – they ain’t good. The Tigers are a team on the mend and will have some nice pieces coming up from the minors in the next few years.
26. Kansas City Royals
Weren’t they in first place like last week? I know it was early on in April, but geez what a falloff. They were actually 15-8 to start the year and have gone 21-45 since then. Ouch. They open up the 2nd half at home against the Orioles.
27. Texas Rangers
The Rangers just drafted Jack Leiter – son of a former major leaguer, Al Leiter. They will need A LOT of these kinds of draft picks before they are relevant again. They open up on the road against the Blue Jays.
28. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates are in a clear rebuild and they have shown in the past that they have PLENTY of patience when it comes to rebuilding. I know it’s tough, but the great years ahead will be worth it. They open up at home against the Mets.
29. Baltimore Orioles
I am not wasting my time on this one. The Orioles open up against the Royals in KC.
30. Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks are on pace to win 46 games this year. They are in record territory. They open up against another stinker of a team in the 2nd half as they are home against the Cubs.