MLB power rankings: Red-hot Astros look unstoppable as All-Star break nears
After dispatching two of their bedrock players in Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker last winter, they got off to an appropriately middling start that suggested their revamped lineup might have, finally, lost too many pieces from their championships in 2017 and 2022.
Yet look who's nearly atop USA TODAY Sports' power rankings.
Despite losing All-Star shortstop Jeremy Peña to a rib injury this week, and missing slugger Yordan Alvarez for almost all of the first half, the Astros continued their stunning roll toward the break, dealing the Los Angeles Dodgers their worst loss ever at Chavez Ravine as if it were the late 2010s all over again.
And after a road sweep of their old adversaries, the team many love to hate has won 24 of its last 32 games, completing a startling five-week rise from No. 12 to No. 2 inpower rankings the rankings. With All-Star ace Hunter Brown and should-be All-Star Framber Valdez fronting the rotation, the club may put the American League West to bed by the trade deadline.
Soon enough, they may have the No. 1 Tigers in their sights.
A look at our updated rankings:
1. Detroit Tigers (-)
2. Houston Astros (+1)
3. Los Angeles Dodgers (-1)
4. Chicago Cubs (-)
5. Philadelphia Phillies (-)
6. Milwaukee Brewers (+3)
7. Toronto Blue Jays (+5)
8. New York Mets (-)
9. New York Yankees (-3)
10. Tampa Bay Rays (-3)
11. San Diego Padres (-)
12. St. Louis Cardinals (-2)
13. San Francisco Giants (-)
14. Seattle Mariners (+1)
15. Cincinnati Reds (-1)
16. Boston Red Sox (+1)
17. Texas Rangers (+1)
18. Arizona Diamondbacks (-2)
19. Los Angeles Angels (+2)
20. Minnesota Twins (-)
21. Cleveland Guardians (-2)
22. Kansas City Royals (+1)
23. Baltimore Orioles (+2)
24. Atlanta Braves (-2)
25. Miami Marlins (-1)
26. Pittsburgh Pirates (+1)
27. Washington Nationals (-1)
28. Athletics
29. Chicago White Sox (-)
30. Colorado Rockies (-)
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