Before diving into the MLB games today, it’s always important to examine the MLB standings and latest MLB power rankings to get a picture for how things are shaking out during the 2022 season.
As more games are played, our MLB power rankings will round into form reflecting talent and the MLB standings. We’re now more than halfway through the 2022 MLB season, providing us with a great look at the best teams in MLB and those with a lot of room to improve heading into the summer.
Let’s dive into our latest MLB power rankings today heading into the All-Star Break.
1. New York Yankees (LW: 1)
The New York Yankees are still the best MLB team right now. However, it’s worth noting the Bronx Bombers ended their series against the Boston Red Sox with a .500 record (17th in MLB) this month. Needless to say, Brian Cashman has some work to do for this team to remain the World Series favorite.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (LW: 2)
Freddie Freeman looks like the MVP player everyone witnessed with the Atlanta Braves. Of course, he is just part of arguably the most talented team in baseball. With the Yankees slowing down a bit, it might not be long before Los Angeles claims the No. 1 spot in our MLB power rankings.
3. Houston Astros (LW: 3)
The break couldn’t come at a better time for the Houston Astros, who will use it to get their star players healthy. Once the team returns to Houston, it should be in cruise control toward an AL West crown. For a World Series to happen, though, the Astros need to solve their problem at catcher and first base.
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4. New York Mets (LW: 5)
The New York Mets are adding one of the best players in baseball to their roster. Jacob deGrom looks healthy and getting him back creates arguably the best MLB rotation in 2022. Combine that with the expected moves via trade, the Mets are a firm World Series contender.
5. Atlanta Braves (LW: 4)
Credit to the Atlanta Braves for turning what seemed like an insurmountable deficit in the NL East into a tight battle with the New York Mets. While Atlanta might not get back as much help off the IL as New York, the emergence of Michael Harris and Austin Riley becoming an MVP candidate is more than enough to challenge the division rival.
Related: MLB MVP race after first half
6. Milwaukee Brewers (LW: 6)
The Milwaukee Brewers will head into the All-Star Break feeling very good about where they stand. Holding a sizable lead over the St. Louis Cardinals and anticipating the return of Freddy Peralta in August, the Brewers’ front office can focus on its lineup at the trade deadline.
7. Tampa Bay Rays (LW: 8)
Credit to the Tampa Bay Rays for recovering from the sweep to the Cincinnati Reds. After taking a four-game series over the Toronto Blue Jays and then winning six-of-seven against the Boston Red Sox, it’s clear the Wander Franco-less Rays aren’t out of the AL Wild Card race.
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8. San Diego Padres (LW: 7)
The uncertainty regarding when Fernando Tatís Jr. will return is becoming a greater concern. It first seemed line June and then early July. Now, it’s evident he might not be swinging a bat after the All-Star Break. As his timeline gets pushed further back, the holes in a pedestrian San Diego Padres lineup become more glaring.
9. Minnesota Twins (LW: 9)
Even if the Minnesota Twins aren’t dominating right now, they don’t need it to stay atop the AL Central. With the Chicago White Sox just fighting for a .500 record and the Cleveland Guardians a mess, Minnesota is a front-line starter away from its postseason odds skyrocketing.
10. Seattle Mariners (LW: 14)
The Seattle Mariners entered Friday with an 11-1 record in July and a 19-4 record since June 19. That’s the very definition of the hottest team in baseball. There’s no telling what Jerry ‘trader’ Dipoto will do by Aug. 2, but Seattle looks like its postseason drought could end this year.
Related: MLB playoff race, schedule
11. Toronto Blue Jays (LW: 11)
Only time will tell how firing Charlie Montoya works out for the Toronto Blue Jays. If the front office hoped it would wake up an underperforming lineup, that is a mistake. Change needs to happen on the roster and paying for an impact bat or starting pitcher is the only acceptable step.
12. St. Louis Cardinals (LW: 13)
We’ve said it for over a month, the St. Louis Cardinals need a front-line starter to be taken seriously. Holding a pedestrian 5-9 record in July, we’ve seen what happens when the Cardinals’ sluggers cool off for even a brief stint.
13. Boston Red Sox (LW: 10)
This is not the feeling the Boston Red Sox needed before the All-Star Break. After turning things around following a rough start to the year, the Red Sox then went from 45-35 to the verge of a .500 record. Chaim Bloom needs to do something, the fan base demands it.
14. Baltimore Orioles (LW: 16)
The biggest surprise of the 2022 MLB season, it’s not remotely close. June provided the Baltimore Orioles with their first winning record in a month in five years. July, that just delivered a double-digit win streak for the fan base. We anticipate Baltimore being light sellers at the deadline, but this is an unprecedented climb up for the Orioles compared to where they started in consensus MLB power rankings.
Related: Top MLB free agents of 2023 – Aaron Judge, Nolan Arenado surge as MVP candidates
15. San Francisco Giants (LW: 15)
The version of the San Francisco Giants from the 2021 season isn’t coming back. San Francisco entered the weekend with a 5-9 record in July and the odds of reaching the MLB playoffs dwindle each day that goes by without Farhan Zaidi adding a valuable piece to the roster.
16. Philadelphia Phillies (LW: 12)
The Philadelphia Phillies constant fluctuation in our MLB power rankings continues. Immediately after starting to buy into this club, it goes on a four-game losing streak. At this point, we’re going to need to see an impact bat added, the defense overhauled and the bullpen bolstered to buy in again.
17. Chicago White Sox (LW: 20)
Everyone keeps waiting to see signs of life from the Chicago White Sox. All the talent exists to still win the AL Central and the few needs on the roster could be addressed by Aug. 2. However, it’s also evident that manager Tony La Russa’s presence casts a dark cloud over the energy on this team and that makes betting on them to turn things around a lot more difficult.
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18. Cleveland Guardians (LW: 17)
It would be easier to buy into the Cleveland Guardians if we had confidence ownership would allow for them to be aggressive buyers at the deadline. With that unlikely to happen and Jose Ramirez cooling off a bit, Cleveland slips in our MLB power rankings at the break.
19. Miami Marlins (LW: 18)
The Miami Marlins provided fans with some reason to feel good before the All-Star Break, calling up top prospect Max Meyer. It highlights the absurd wealth of young pitching this team has, arms that should also be used to upgrade a bad lineup.
20. Texas Rangers (LW: 19)
There’s still no telling exactly what approach the Texas Rangers will do amid the trade frenzy, with the possibility of a long-term buy and short-term sell approach. One thing Texas can feel good about, the investment in Marcus Semien and Corey Seager paid off.
21. Colorado Rockies (LW: 22)
It appears the Colorado Rockies don’t intend to be sellers at the trade deadline. That’s precisely the kind of thinking you’d expect from an organization that signed an aging and injury-prone Kris Bryant to a contract no other team wanted to come near. A rebuild is needed, but it won’t happen.
22. Pittsburgh Pirates (LW: 28)
The Pittsburgh Pirates still aren’t playing winning baseball, we’re at least two years away from that happening. What we can say is the future looks bright in Pittsburgh and we’re confident the front office finds some quality prospects at the trade deadline.
23. Arizona Diamondbacks (LW: 24)
Following a promising start in June, the Arizona Diamondbacks have plummeted down the MLB power rankings and become one of the worst teams in baseball since June. The only thing that keeps them from sinking lower is they won’t sell off as much MLB talent as the others.
Related: MLB trade rumors – Latest MLB rumors entering July
24. Detroit Tigers (LW: 23)
The Javier Baez contract is a reflection on Al Avila. If the Detroit Tigers want to turn things around, reaching their long-term potential down the line, it needs to start with a change at the top.
25. Los Angeles Angels (LW: 21)
Since firing Joe Maddon and replacing him with Phil Nevin, a polar opposite in terms of demeanor, the Los Angeles Angels are 12-20 and things are only getting worse. As for the Shohei Ohtani trade speculation, no MLB owner is trading the most marketable player baseball has seen in decades.
26. Kansas City Royals (LW: 27)
It’s fitting that the Kansas City Royals approached the trading season with some intriguing players to offer, only for those same people to negate some of their trade value by being unvaccinated. At least the future is bright with Bobby Witt Jr. looking more like a star each day.
27. Cincinnati Reds (LW: 26)
If the Cincinnati Reds are truly committed to a rebuild, Luis Castillo, Tyler Mahle and Brandon Drury should all be traded by Aug. 2. After that, baseball fans in Cincinnati can just track the prospects daily.
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28. Chicago Cubs (LW: 25)
The bottom is falling out for a team that was already near the bottom of our MLB power rankings. Everyone is prepared for the Chicago Cubs to be massive sellers and they could be the worst team in baseball after July.
29. Oakland Athletics (LW: 30)
Frankie Montas is expected back out of the All-Star Break. If he looks healthy following his first start, he’ll net a significant haul via trade and dealing All-Star pitcher Paul Blackburn should also strengthen the farm system.
Related: Frankie Montas trade landing spots
30. Washington Nationals (LW: 29)
Juan Soto is returning to his Hall of Fame-caliber form before participating in the Home Run Derby. Outside of that, there are no positives for the Washington Nationals at the All-Star Break.
This article was originally published on Sportsnaut.com and is republished here with permission.
