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MLB Power Rankings: Week 5

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With five weeks now in the books, creating power rankings has become more of an objective process. Less than 20 percent of the season is in the books, but team strengths and weaknesses have become crystallized. While some teams have just been plain bad, others have offered mixed results. Some have scored enough runs to win games, but still allow too many runs. Others have minimized runs against per game, but cannot provide the run support to win on a consistent basis. Power rankings are not meant to be a reflection of team records, but rather a combination of record, talent, rest of season outlook, team form, runs for, runs against, and run differential.

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Team Previous Record Last 10 Notes
1. New York Yankees 2 17-11 9-1 The New York Yankees have been in stellar form this season despite a litany of injuries.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers 1 19-11 7-3 The Dodgers have been giving up too many runs per game this season (4.3), but have been scoring even more (5.4). They remain the favorites to win the NL pennant.
3. Houston Astros 4 17-11 5-5 The Astros have been one of the best teams in baseball. They’re still one of the favorites to win the World Series.
4. St. Louis Cardinals 7 17-10 8-2 The Cardinals sit atop the NL Central and should win the division. They are top five in runs scored per game at 5.45.
5. Philadelphia Phillies 3 16-12 5-5 The best has yet to come for a talented Phillies team.
6. Tampa Bay Rays 14 18-9 5-5 The Rays have been a revelation this season. They seem to be on a mission to prove their 2018 success was no fluke.
7. Washington Nationals 6 12-14 4-6 The Nationals have given up 4.96 runs per game, and have one of the worst bullpens in baseball.
8. Boston Red Sox 5 11-17 5-5 The Red Sox seem to have found their footing and should be pushing for the AL East crown when all is said and done. The playoffs are still a lock.
9. Chicago Cubs 9 14-12 7-3 The Cubs are top 10 in runs scored and team ERA against. They have the talent to see the postseason and make some noise.
10. Minnesota Twins 16 16-9 7-3 The Twins have been in top form this season. They have won seven of their last 10.
11. Milwaukee Brewers 8 15-14 3-7 Barring a major trade, the Brewers will have to rely on outscoring their opponents. They are one of only seven teams in the league giving up more than five runs per game.
12. Cleveland Indians 11 15-12 5-5 The Indians seem destined to power their way up these rankings when their hitting starts clicking. Jose Ramirez has been struggling, and Francisco Lindor just returned from injury. They sit at 3.88 runs per game after posting a 4.99 mark in 2018.
13. New York Mets 12 14-13 4-6 The Mets have been a disaster on the pitching front with even Jacob deGrom struggling. Their offense has showed up, and it should only be a matter of time before they find their form in the pitching arena.
14. Atlanta Braves 10 13-14 4-6 The Braves have been solid this season, but have been getting torched in the runs against department. Better times should be ahead.
15. San Diego Padres 17 16-12 5-5 The Padres have an exciting core, but have not been scoring enough runs to take advantage of their top-10 pitching.
16. Oakland Athletics 19 14-16 4-6 The Athletics can score runs, but have been giving up almost as much.
17. Seattle Mariners

13

 18-13 5-5 The Mariners started out scorching, but have lost 11 of their last 16.
18. Arizona Diamondbacks 23 16-13 6-4 The Diamondbacks have been impressive for a team that lost two of its biggest stars. If their middle of the pack pitching can improve, they could make a playoff push.
19. Colorado Rockies 18 13-15 7-3 The Rockies have picked it up as of late, winning 10 of their last 13.
20. Cincinnati Reds 23 11-16 6-4 If the Reds can find a way to score more runs, they will shoot up these rankings. Their pitching has been elite, as they have allowed just 3.19 runs per game.
21. Pittsburgh Pirates 20 12-14 2-8 The Pirates’ pitching has been good enough to keep them in games. They will be stuck in this territory until they start scoring more runs.
22. Toronto Blue Jays 28 14-14 7-3 The Blue Jays have been surprisingly competent, due to winning seven of their last 10. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. provides more excitement, but this is a team that will be focused on selling assets as opposed to winning.
23. Texas Rangers 24 14-13 4-6 The Rangers are second in the league in runs scored per game. Unfortunately, they are also second worst in the league in runs per game allowed.
24. Los Angeles Angels 15 12-17 4-6 The Angels can score enough runs to win games, but, like many others on this list, do not have the pitching to compete on a consistent basis.
25. Detroit Tigers 25 12-14 4-6 The Tigers’ pitching has been surprisingly effective. They project as a sub .500 team unless they can find a way to knock in more runs.
26. San Francisco Giants 27 11-17 3-7 The Giants have relied on their pitching to stay in games. Run support, or the lack thereof, is going to be a theme all season.
27. Chicago White Sox 26 11-14 5-5 The White Sox have an exciting young core, but will likely not be a factor until 2020.
28. Baltimore Orioles 29 10-19 3-7 They are scoring enough runs to win games. Unfortunately, their pitching allows more runs than they score.
29. Kansas City Royals 21 9-19 3-7 A middle of the pack offense with poor pitching will likely keep the Royals in the cellar all year long.
30. Miami Marlins 30 8-20 4-6 The Marlins have been just as bad as expected this season. They are the only team in the majors averaging less than 2.85 runs per game.

Raju Byfield is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Raju, check out his archive, and follow him @FantasyContext.