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2025 MLB Power Rankings, Vol. 17: The Yankees are in freefall
The post 2025 MLB Power Rankings, Vol. 17: The Yankees are in freefall appeared first on ClutchPoints. The 2025 MLB All-Star Break is just around the corner, and the playoff picture is starting to take shape. Another edition of the MLB Power Rankings is here, and the New York Yankees are about to tumble. After losing the division lead and dropping the Subway Series, the Bombers are headed down. But who is headed up as a result? We have the first MLB Power Rankings of July ready to roll. Advertisement #1: Philadelphia Phillies (+1) Eric Hartline-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Phillies are the new top team in the MLB Power Rankings. It is their first appearance in the top spot, which they earned with series wins over the San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds. Zach Wheeler got the ball on Sunday with a chance to take the series. He threw a complete game shutout, facing only 28 batters, and finishing one solo homer short of a perfect game. They are at the top of the NL East with a 53-37 record and head west for tilts against the Giants and Padres this week. #2: Los Angeles Dodgers (-1) The Los Angeles Dodgers fall from the perch of the Power Rankings after a dismal weekend at home. They were swept by the Houston Astros, which was a tough way to chase the sweep of the Chicago White Sox. Clayton Kershaw picked up his 3,000th strikeout on Wednesday, finishing off six innings against the Southsiders with the milestone punch out. But Houston came to town and smoked LA, leading to questions about the pitching once again. The Dodgers head to the break with road sets against the Brewers and Giants. Advertisement #3: Chicago Cubs (+1) The Chicago Cubs swept the Cleveland Guardians and took two of three from the St Louis Cardinals this week. They ended the holiday weekend with an 11-0 win over the Cards on national television to put an exclamation point on it. Pete Crow-Armstrong leads the National League in bWAR after hitting .400 this week. After a disappointing 2024 season, Craig Counsell and the Cubs are blistering hot. They look to coast into the break with road sets against the Twins and Yankees. #4: Detroit Tigers (-1) The Detroit Tigers lost a series to the Washington Nationals but came back to sweep the Cleveland Guardians this weekend. They have the best record in baseball and have the Cy Young favorite once again in Tarik Skubal. He went seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits to Cleveland on Sunday. Skubal's ERA dropped to 2.02 on the day he was named to his second consecutive All-Star team. Detroit looks to hit the break with the best record after series against the Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners. Advertisement #5: New York Mets (-) Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images. The New York Mets are back on track, taking two of three from the Brewers and the Yankees. Juan Soto was a big reason why, with a .333 average, four RBIs, and a homer against his former team. Later in the day, he was snubbed from the All-Star Game despite his .401 on-base percentage and .915 OPS. Pitching is still a concern for the Mets, especially after the Griffin Canning injury, but the Amazins are back on track. The Mets are on the road against the Orioles and Royals to finish the first half. #6: Houston Astros (-) The Astros are one of the hottest teams in the league, with a 5-1 week and a 19-5 record in their last 26 games. That is without Jeremy Peña, who has been out for the last seven games. Christian Walker stepped up to fill the gap in the Dodgers series, with a .400 batting average and two homers at Chavez Ravine. The Astros are back, even without Yordan Alvarez for most of the season. Houston hosts the Cleveland Guardians and Texas Rangers before the All-Star Break. Advertisement #7: San Francisco Giants (+1) The Giants won both of their series this week, taking two of three from the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Athletics. While the division may be a long shot with the Dodgers pulling away, San Francisco has been great of late. Willy Adames has been red hot, hitting .455 in the six games with two homers and nine RBIs. After a dreadful start to the season, their prized free-agent acquisition has finally turned it around. His season OPS is .684, up from .584 on June 7. The Giants host the Phillies and Dodgers in six important games before the break. #8: San Diego Padres (+1) The Padres lost a series to the Phillies but responded by taking two from the Texas Rangers over the weekend. After starting 7-0, they are exactly .500, 41-41. Will an 84 or 86-win season be enough to get the Padres a coveted spot in the National League Wild Card? It is good enough for now, as they are tied with the Giants for the final Wild Card spot. Manny Machado is sitting two hits shy of 2,000 in his career despite a hitless Sunday. San Diego hosts the Diamondbacks and Phillies heading into the All-Star Game. Advertisement #9: Toronto Blue Jays (+3) The Toronto Blue Jays are one of the biggest risers in the MLB Power Rankings. They swept the Yankees in a four-game series for the first time in franchise history. And then, they swept the Los Angeles Angels in a three-game set. The Canada Day celebrations went all the way through the weekend, as the Jays are in first place in the AL East. George Springer hit .429 with five home runs and 13 RBIs in the seven games, leading Toronto's offense. They look to get the division lead over the line with road sets against the White Sox and Athletics. #10: New York Yankees (-3) Brad Penner-Imagn Images The Yankees were swept by the Blue Jays in a four-game set for the first time in franchise history. It sent Toronto rocketing up the standings, while the Bombers waded into the Wild Card pool. Jazz Chisholm sat out Sunday's game with shoulder pain that has been bothering him for three weeks. Luke Weaver continues to struggle since returning from injury. And Clarke Schmidt is set to undergo Tommy John surgery. Things are bleak in The Bronx, and they have to turn it around at home against the Mariners and Cubs. Advertisement #11: Seattle Mariners (-1) The Mariners move down in the MLB Power Rankings only as a result of Toronto's rise. It was a solid week for Seattle, splitting four games against the Kansas City Royals and sweeping the Pirates. They shut out Pittsburgh in all three games, a first in franchise history, to move to 48-42. They hold the final Wild Card spot, a game behind the Rays and 2.5 games above the Red Sox. Cal Raleigh leads the majors with 35 homers and leads the AL with 74 RBIs. The Mariners have a tough week ahead, with road sets against the Yankees and Tigers. #12: Milwaukee Brewers (-1) The Brewers also fall thanks to the Blue Jays' rise. Milwaukee lost a series against the Mets and took two of three from the Miami Marlins to maintain a playoff spot. Brandon Woodruff made his first start since September 2023, throwing six shutout innings on Sunday to help secure the series win. Jackson Chourio has turned his season around, hitting .270 with a .806 OPS since June 1, and hit a big homer Sunday that served as the game-winner. Milwaukee finishes the first half against the Dodgers and Nationals at home. Advertisement #13: Texas Rangers (-) The Rangers took two of three from the Baltimore Orioles but dropped two against the Padres over the weekend. Texas got a poor start from Jack Leiter again on Sunday, marking their 11th loss in Leiter's 15th start of the season. He has a 6.17 ERA in his last five starts, all team losses. Backup catcher Kyle Higashioka had five RBIs against the Padres in their lone win against his former team. The Rangers are 44-46 heading into a road trip against the Angels and Astros this week. #14: Tampa Bay Rays (-) The Rays stopped their meteoric rise with a decent week, losing two of three against the Athletics and the Minnesota Twins. Minnesota walked them off in the first two games, including a Harrison Bader extra-inning bomb, but Tampa is still in a Wild Card spot. Brandon Lowe ended his 20-game hitting streak when he left Sunday's game with side soreness. Jonathan Aranda celebrated his first All-Star nod with a three-hit day on Sunday. The Rays finish the first half on the road against the Tigers and Red Sox. Advertisement #15: St Louis Cardinals (-) Geoff Burke-Imagn Images The Cardinals were swept by the Pirates and dropped two of three against the Cubs this week. They got two horrendous starts from Erick Fedde, allowing ten runs in 6.1 innings in two losses. That brought his ERA to 4.79 on the season and 4.39 with the Cardinals since joining them at last year's trade deadline. The Cardinals will have to add at the deadline if they want to contend in the NL playoff picture, but are they willing to do so? They host the Nationals and Braves before hitting the break. #16: Arizona Diamondbacks (-) Why did the Cardinals not fall in the MLB Power Rankings after a 1-5 week? Because the Diamondbacks refuse to heat up, even with time running out. They have 19 games left before the trade deadline, at which point they will be the most interesting team. Eugenio Suarez made the All-Star team amid massive trade rumors that could end his time in Arizona. Corbin Carroll came back from injury this week, which may be the spark they need. Arizona visits the Padres and Angels before the break. Advertisement #17: Cincinnati Reds (+1) The Reds slide in at number 17 in the MLB Power Rankings despite a poor week on the field. They lost a series to the Red Sox and lost another to the Phillies to fall to 46-44. Cincinnati only rises because of the murky group they are in, which is full of teams that also did not win this week. It was a poor week for Elly De La Cruz, with no extra-base hits and a .509 OPS. The Reds need to turn it around this week against the Marlins and Rockies at home. #18: Boston Red Sox (+3) The Red Sox took two of three from the Reds and swept the Nationals to finish the week 5-1. They are back over .500 for the first time since the Rafael Devers trade and 2.5 games out of the last Wild Card spot. Garrett Crochet allowed five earned runs for only the second time this year, and Boston won that game against Cincinnati. He responded with five innings of two-run ball against Washington, putting his Cy Young candidacy back on track. Three games against the Rockies and four against the Rays at Fenway Park finish out the first half in Boston. Advertisement #19: Cleveland Guardians (-) The Guardians lost every game they played this week, losing three to the Cubs and three to the Tigers. They were one strike away from breaking the streak on Sunday until Emmanuel Clase threw a wild pitch that continued the game. Detroit won 7-2 in the tenth inning. Cleveland has lost ten games in a row and is seven games out of the Wild Card. The attention should turn to who they could trade away at the deadline, with Clase as the biggest name. They need wins on the road against the Astros and White Sox this week. #20: Atlanta Braves (-3) Brett Davis-Imago Images The Braves are hosting the All-Star festivities this week, but they just hit their lowest point in the MLB Power Rankings. They lost two of three to the Angels before getting swept by the Orioles this weekend. Even with Jurickson Profar back in the lineup, who hit .286 with a .857 OPS, they could not get on the winning side. Spencer Schwellenbach hit the injured list with a fractured elbow, adding insult to their miserable season so far. They are 39-50 and need wins against the Athletics and Cardinals this week. Advertisement #21: Kansas City Royals (+1) The Royals needed some wins and got them this week. They split four games with the Mariners and took two of three from the Diamondbacks. Bobby Witt Jr. is riding a ten-game hitting streak, with a .395 batting average and 1.027 OPS in that stretch. They even got good news on Cole Ragans, who will start throwing this week in hopes of returning soon. The playoffs are slipping away from Kansas City, but a hot summer could send them back to October. They host the Pirates and the Mets this week, needing all six wins to finish the first half above .500. #22: Baltimore Orioles (+1) The Orioles bottomed out in late May at 19-36, 16 games out of first place in the AL East. They are 21-13 since then, bringing their record to 40-49 and 11.5 games out of the division lead. Even with that hot streak, FanGraphs says they have a 4.1% chance of making the playoffs. Gunnar Henderson has turned his season around, with a .298 batting average and an .818 OPS in those 34 games. They lost a series to the Rangers before sweeping the Braves to move up in the MLB Power Rankings. They can end the first half on a heater if they take care of business against the Mets and Marlins at home. Advertisement #23: Los Angeles Angels (-3) The Angels worked their way back to .500 after taking two of three from the Braves this week. Then, they went north to face the blistering hot Blue Jays and were crushed. The sweep sent them back down the Wild Card standings, as they sit 4.5 games behind the Mariners for the final spot. The Halos host the Rangers and the Diamondbacks this week, needing wins to be a part of the season moving forward. If they continue to stumble, it will be another deadline as sellers in Anaheim. #24: Minnesota Twins (-) The Twins dropped two of three against the Marlins and took two of three from the Rays this week. That shows the roller coaster nature of this season in Minnesota. They have some impressive wins, with series wins against the Rays, Mets, and Giants on their resume. They also have confounding losses, losing series to the Braves, Cardinals, and Marlins. Byron Buxton is going to the All-Star Game, and Minnesota is wasting a healthy season from its star CF. The Twins finish the first half against the Cubs and Pirates at home. Advertisement #25: Miami Marlins (+1) Jim Rassol-Imagn Images The final tier of the MLB Power Rankings is topped by the Marlins, who recently won eight consecutive games. They started the week by taking a set against the Twins, but dropped two of three against the Brewers to end the week. Kyle Stowers continued his excellent season with a .286 batting average and 1.000 OPS in the six games this week. He is their lone All-Star representative, as he was named as a reserve on the NL team, marking his first Mid-Summer Classic appearance. Miami finishes the first half on the road against the Reds and the Orioles. #26: Pittsburgh Pirates (-1) Even though the Pirates swept the Cardinals this week, they drop one spot in the MLB Power Rankings. They did not score a single run in a three-game sweep at the hands of the Mariners this weekend. They picked up only 12 hits in the three games against a great Seattle pitching staff. But still, Pittsburgh should be embarrassed by the results of this weekend. That includes a blown Paul Skenes start, which featured five shutout innings. They continue their road trip against the Royals and Twins this week. Advertisement #27: Athletics (-) The Athletics took a series from the Rays and lost a series to the Giants this week to stay in the bottom tier of the rankings. Brent Rooker was named to his second All-Star team amid a 24-game stretch with a .284 average and .928 OPS. But their pitching is still a massive problem, as Luis Severino logged his third consecutive start allowing five or more earned runs. He now has an AL-leading ten losses and a 5.30 ERA. They host the Braves and the Blue Jays to finish out the first half. #28: Washington Nationals (-) The Nationals became the fourth team to fire their manager this year when they canned Dave Martinez. General manager Mike Rizzo was also fired, ending his two-decade run with the organization. The duo that led the Nats to their lone World Series title is gone, and a new era is starting in the Nation's Capital. That includes All-Star and Home Run Derby participant James Wood, who hit .364 with a .962 OPS this week. Washington took two from the Tigers but were swept by the Red Sox, ending Martinez's run with the team. They visit the Cardinals and Brewers before the break. Advertisement #29: Chicago White Sox (-) The White Sox were swept by the Dodgers, but took two of three against the Rockies to finish the week. They are 30-60 on the season, good enough for last place in the American League, and don't appear to be heading up. The MLB Trade Deadline should heavily feature the White Sox again, even if Luis Robert Jr. is hurt when it comes around. They host the Blue Jays and Guardians, looking to end the first half on a high note. #30: Colorado Rockies (-) Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images The Rockies continue to be the worst team in the history of organized baseball. Before the season, the 2024 White Sox held that distinction with 41 wins. Colorado is 21-69, which is a 162-game pace of 37.9, on pace to beat that record. That includes two losses to those White Sox this weekend, smashing another chance to even gain momentum. Hunter Goodman is their lone All-Star representative, with an .843 OPS. Colorado finishes the first half on the road against the Red Sox and Reds. Related: MLB rumors: Yankees, Tigers, Cubs among trade suitors for $70 million Pirates star Related: MLB rumors: Phillies eyeing 2 Pirates relievers in trade talks
Fox Sports
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Power Rankings: Christian Lundgaard, Scott Dixon on the Rise
INDYCAR Scott Dixon became the first driver not named Alex Palou or Kyle Kirkwood to reach victory lane in an NTT INDYCAR SERIES race this season. Palou and Kirkwood combined to win the opening nine races. Dixon topped Palou on July 6 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and jumped to second in the Power Rankings, the highest he's been since his last victory, the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear in June 2024. Here's who joins Dixon in this week's Power Rankings following The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport: ↔10. Kyffin Simpson (No. 8 Ridgeline Lubricants Chip Ganassi Racing Honda; Last Rank: 10) Simpson qualified a career-best third at Mid-Ohio, but a late-race drive-through penalty for a pit road infraction dropped him to 10th. Still, the sophomore driver has three top-10 finishes in the last four races. ↔9. Rinus VeeKay (No. 18 askROI Honda; Last Rank: 9) VeeKay overcame three penalties to finish 10th at Road America on June 22, then rebounded from a 26th-place qualifying effort at Mid-Ohio to finish ninth. The result marked his third consecutive top-10 finish and sixth overall this season. That matches the most top 10s in a single season for Dale Coyne Racing since David Malukas earned six in 17 starts during 2023. The team failed to record a single top 10 last year, making VeeKay's current run a welcome resurgence for the DCR camp. ↓8. Santino Ferrucci (No. 14 AJ FOYT RACING/SEXTON PROPERTIES; Last Rank: 3) Ferrucci hit a bump in the road at Mid-Ohio by finishing 16th and snapping his streak of four consecutive top-five finishes, the longest active run in the series. Despite the drop, he holds on to a Power Rankings spot thanks to that recent hot streak. One off week on a tricky rural Ohio road course isn't enough to erase what has been a quietly strong season. ↑7. Christian Lundgaard (No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet; Last Rank: NR) After falling out of Power Rankings with a tough 24th-place finish June 22 at Road America, Lundgaard stormed back with a third-place result at Mid-Ohio, marking his seventh top-eight finish of the season. Mid-Ohio's result was also the first top-five finish for Lundgaard since a runner-up May 4 at Barber Motorsports Park. He had three finishes of 14th or worse in a five-race stretch entering last Sunday's 90-lap race. The Danish driver has four podiums in 10 starts with Arrow McLaren, already surpassing the three he earned in 52 races with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. For context: the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet had just four podium finishes in 81 starts from 2020-24. Lundgaard's arrival is clearly making an impact. ↔6. Marcus Armstrong (No. 66 SiriusXM/Root Insurance Honda; Last Rank: 6) Armstrong continues to quietly rack up consistent results, finishing seventh at Mid-Ohio for his fourth straight top 10. Since the Sonsio Grand Prix on May 10, where he also placed seventh, Armstrong has posted five top 10s in his last six starts. ↑5. Felix Rosenqvist (No. 60 SiriusXM Honda; Last Rank: 8) Rosenqvist finished sixth at Mid-Ohio for his third top-six finish in the last five races, highlighted by a runner-up June 22 at Road America. He gets the edge over his Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian teammate Armstrong after finishing ahead of him in all three of those top-six outings. This marks Rosenqvist's fourth appearance in the Power Rankings' top five this season and his first since ranking fourth following the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on May 25. ↑4. Pato O'Ward (No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet; Last Rank: 5) O'Ward rebounded at Mid-Ohio with a fifth-place finish after a rare off weekend at Road America, where he placed a season-worst 17th. He has six top-seven finishes in his last seven starts, including three runner-up results in 2025. O'Ward remains one of the most consistent drivers in the field as he's one of only four drivers, along Kirkwood, Dixon and Palou, to be ranked every week this season. ↓3. Kyle Kirkwood (No. 27 Andretti Global Honda; Last Rank: 2) Kirkwood slips behind Dixon this week after an eighth-place finish at Mid-Ohio. While he's been solid with five top-eight finishes in the last six races, Kirkwood has led 56 laps in the last four events, but 48 came in his Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear win on June 1. He led eight laps in his World Wide Technology Raceway win on June 15. ↑2. Scott Dixon (No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda; Last Rank: 4) Dixon reminded everyone why he's a six-time series champion with a masterclass at Mid-Ohio, earning his 59th career victory and jumping two spots in the rankings. After leading just seven laps in the first six races, he's led 83 in the last four, with real chances to win each one. He came up just short at Road America by pitting from the lead with two laps left. He ran low on fuel while stretching strategy at both Detroit and WWTR. The results show 11th, fourth, and ninth, respectively, but don't fully show how close Dixon has been to a multiple-win stretch. ↔1. Alex Palou (No. 10 Open AI Chip Ganassi Racing Honda; Last Rank: 1) Palou nearly scored his seventh win of the season, but a rare mistake with five laps to go dropped him to second. Still, eight top-two finishes in 10 races leave Palou atop the rankings for the 25th consecutive race weekend. He has topped the Power Rankings after every race in the series since The Thermal Club in March 2024. recommended Item 1 of 2
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
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2025 MLB Power Rankings, Vol. 16: A mid-season checkpoint
The post 2025 MLB Power Rankings, Vol. 16: A mid-season checkpoint appeared first on ClutchPoints. The 2025 MLB Power Rankings are back as the 81-game mark comes and goes for every team. For the Detroit Tigers, they are soaring to a 100-win pace and a massive division lead. But the New York Mets continue to struggle and tumble down the MLB leaderboard. How does ClutchPoints' list shake out as we close out June? Advertisement #1: Los Angeles Dodgers (-) Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Dodgers expectedly nab the top spot in the MLB Power Rankings once again. They swept the Colorado Rockies and took two of three from the Kansas City Royals to reach 53 wins. Shohei Ohtani threw two shutout innings in his most recent outing, reaching 101.7 MPH with the fastest pitch of his career. Andy Pages continued his stellar season with a .304 batting average and three RBIs this week. The Dodgers are rolling again, and they have a home stand coming up. They host the Chicago White Sox and the Houston Astros this week. #2: Philadelphia Phillies (-) The Philadelphia Phillies were swept by the Astros but toppled the Atlanta Braves to barely hang onto the second spot. They scored just one run in the three games against Houston, losing 2-1, 1-0, and 2-0. Zach Wheeler and Ranger Suarez continued excellent seasons with starts against Houston, but picked up losses. The offense did show up against the Braves, scoring 13 runs in Friday's shutout win. They still hold onto first place in the NL East heading into July. The Phillies host the San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds this week. Advertisement #3: Detroit Tigers (+2) The Tigers jumped up two spots after winning both of their series this week. Even though they were against the Athletics and the Minnesota Twins, it was a sensational first half for Detroit. They are 53-32, which is tied with the Dodgers for the best record in baseball. Tarik Skubal got the first 13 batters out on Sunday night on his way to seven shutout innings in a 3-0 Detroit win. Things are going well in the Motor City with half of the baseball season gone. The Tigers hit the road for three-game sets against the Washington Nationals and the Cleveland Guardians. #4: Chicago Cubs (-) The Chicago Cubs split four games against the St Louis Cardinals and lost a set to the Astros. They are now just 2.5 games ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central after a 4-8 stretch. But Chicago kept its head above water, working for a split after losing the first two games to St Louis. Matthew Boyd stopped that slide with six shutout innings, dropping his ERA to 2.65. The Cubs need to win in a six-game home stand against the Guardians and Cardinals. Advertisement #5: New York Mets (-2) The Mets hit their lowest point in the MLB Power Rankings here at number five. It is their third consecutive week moving down, and for good reason. After splitting four games with the Braves, they were swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates over the weekend. They were outscored 30-4 in three games in which Paul Skenes did not pitch. On top of it all, Griffin Canning suffered an Achilles injury that could end his season. When it rains, it pours in Queens. They hope to get back on track against the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees at home. #6: Houston Astros (+1) Once again, the Astros are soaring after a slow start to the season. They are 19-7 in June, opening up a 6.5-game lead in the American League West. They won a series against the Chicago Cubs without Jeremy Peña for two games with rib soreness. But they need their shortstop back, as he has been their best all-around player this season. Hunter Brown went seven shutout innings against the Phillies, lowering his MLB-best ERA to 1.74. After a 5-1 week, the Astros are moving up in the MLB Power Rankings. Advertisement #7: New York Yankees (+1) The Yankees are only moving up because of the team behind them. They went 3-3 this week, losing a series to the Reds before snagging a set against the Athletics. Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr combined to lift the Bombers to a Sunday win, hopefully breaking a team-wide slump. If it does not break now, it could get ugly in The Bronx. They head to Toronto for four games before visiting the Mets in Queens. With a narrow 1.5-game lead on the Rays, they have to pick up some wins. #8: San Francisco Giants (-2) The San Francisco Giants were swept by the Miami Marlins and lost a series to the Chicago White Sox this week. A 1-5 record deserves a fall, but against two of the worst teams in the league is inexcusable. Rafael Devers has only two homers and five RBIs since joining the Giants, highlighting their offensive issues. They made the big trade already, but that does not mean they don't need help before the deadline. After a dreadful week, they just need wins on the road against the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Athletics. Advertisement #9: San Diego Padres (-) The San Diego Padres had an opportunity to move up in the MLB Power Rankings, but could not beat the Reds on Sunday. They took a series from the Nationals and split the first two games in Cincy. Going into the bottom of the ninth holding a one-run lead, Robert Suarez took the mound, and they were walked off. They are down seven games in the NL West and out of the final Wild Card spot. They hope to change that with three games in Philadelphia and three more at home against the Texas Rangers. #10: Seattle Mariners (-) Jesse Johnson The Mariners have bounced back slightly, splitting a series with the Twins before taking two of three from the Rangers. Cal Raleigh still leads all of baseball with 32 homers and 69 RBIs, but not much else has been going right. All three of their games against Texas went to extras, so coming out with two wins was huge. They are still way behind the Astros, but have a two-game advantage over the Angels for the last Wild Card spot. Seattle hosts Kansas City for four and Pittsburgh for three this week, needing wins. Advertisement #11: Milwaukee Brewers (-) The Milwaukee Brewers took two of three from the Pittsburgh Pirates and two of three from the Colorado Rockies this week. They took care of business and are within two games of the Cubs for first in the NL Central. They also have a half-game lead over the Cardinals, who hold the final Wild Card spot. Rookie pitcher Jacob Misiorowski outdueled Paul Skenes and has a 1.13 ERA in his first three starts. Things are starting to come together for the Crew. They hope to keep it rolling against the Mets and Marlins on the road. #12: Toronto Blue Jays (+1) The Blue Jays are moving up once again in the MLB Power Rankings as their summer surge continues. They took three of four from the Guardians before taking two from the Red Sox at Fenway. That even includes a game they lost 15-1 to Boston. Alejandro Kirk has been a massive part of Toronto's offense, with a .349 average and .984 OPS since June 9. They are in striking distance with the Yankees coming to town for four games this week. Then, they host the red-hot Angels for three. Advertisement #13: Texas Rangers (-2) The Rangers took two games from the Orioles and then dropped a series to the Mariners. Even though all three games against Seattle went to extras, Texas is sliding again. They have fallen nine games behind the Astros in the AL West and 2.5 games behind the Mariners in the Wild Card. Things have not gone well in Arlington since they won the World Series, and that continues as the second half begins. They host the Orioles and visit the Padres this week. #14: Tampa Bay Rays (+2) The Tampa Bay Rays swept the Royals to start the week, but lost a series to the Orioles to end the week. Even with that, they are nipping at the Yankees' heels in the AL East and controlling the Wild Card. They are 26-9 since May 20, emerging from a large group competing for the final spot. Chandler Simpson is back in the majors and hit .318 with a .784 OPS and two steals over the last six games. The Rays are blistering hot and have a favorable schedule coming up. They host the Athletics and visit the Twins this week. Advertisement #15: St Louis Cardinals (+3) Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images The Cardinals were supposed to be bad this year, with low expectations for the first time in decades. What has happened since has been anything but, with a 47-38 record after going 5-2 this week. They took two games against the Cubs, but could not pull off the series win in the final two games. Then, they hit the road and swept the Guardians. They are 2.5 games back in the NL Central and hold the final Wild Card spot. This week, they continue their road trip against the Pirates and Cubs. #16: Arizona Diamondbacks (-2) The Arizona Diamondbacks came into the week at 39-38 with sets coming up against the White Sox and Marlins. They took the first two games against Chicago but could not secure the sweep. Then, they were swept by the Marlins to fall below .500 again. The Diamondbacks have not been able to get hot, and it could cost them a playoff spot. Advertisement Ketel Marte had a great week on the field, with three homers and seven RBIs across the six games. Marte was heckled by a fan about his late mother earlier in the week and responded with great performances. The Diamondbacks host the Royals and Giants this week. #17: Atlanta Braves (-2) The Braves are another team that just can't get hot. And as teams ahead of them pull away and their playoff chances shrink, they have to fall in the MLB Power Rankings. They split four games with the Mets and lost a series to the Phillies this week to fall to 38-45. Matt Olson got a hit in all seven games this week, posting a .367 with an .891 OPS. Still, things are not turning around in Atlanta, and it may be too late. They host the Angels and Orioles this week, needing six wins to revive this season. #18: Cincinnati Reds (+1) The Reds won both of their series this week, taking two from the Yankees and two from the Padres. Cincinnati is 44-40 and 2.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot. After a disappointing 2024 campaign, their young players have stepped up this year to keep them in playoff contention. Elly De La Cruz hit .458 with a 1.167 OPS this week with five RBIs and a steal. Cincy needs to keep it rolling against Boston and Philadelphia this week. Advertisement #19: Cleveland Guardians (-2) The Guardians lost a series to the Blue Jays and got swept by the Cardinals this week to fall below .500. They are still in second place in the AL Central, which says more about the other teams than it does about them. Cleveland is 11 games behind the Tigers and 2.5 games out of the Wild Card. Jose Ramirez only played five of the games and hit .105 with a .296 OPS this week. They need to pick up wins this week against the Cubs and Tigers. #20: Los Angeles Angels (+2) Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images The Angels swept the Red Sox to start the week, but ended with a series loss to the Nationals. They still move up in the MLB Power Rankings as they jump into AL Wild Card contention. CF Jo Adell is riding an 11-game hitting streak, with a .357 average and a 1.176 OPS in that stretch. As Mike Trout heats up and their young pieces turn it around, the Angels could make some noise this summer. They head east for sets against the Braves and Blue Jays this week. Advertisement #21: Boston Red Sox (-1) The Red Sox have been miserable since trading Devers, losing a series to the Blue Jays, and getting swept by the Angels this week. They are 3-8 since the trade, falling below .500 and three games back in the Wild Card race. Despite the promise of their young players, there has not been any energy or spectacular play since the trade. Kristian Campbell is in the minors, Marcelo Mayer is hitting .208, and Roman Anthony is hitting .193. All of that needs to turn around this week against the Reds and Nationals. #22: Kansas City Royals (-1) Things are getting scary for the Kansas City Royals as this season rolls along. They were swept by the Rays and lost two of three to the Dodgers this week to drop to 39-45. They are 8-17 in June after entering the month with a 31-28 record. The Royals scored just one run in the series against the Rays, which came in the ninth inning of a 5-1 loss in Game 1. They are 4.5 games back of the Wild Card, which is third-worst in the AL. This week, they visit the Mariners and Diamondbacks, needing some wins. Advertisement #23: Baltimore Orioles (-) The Orioles continue scuffling along near the basement of the American League with a 3-3 week. They lost a series to the Rangers but snagged a series against the Rays. Still, they are 12 games back of the Yankees and seven games back of the final Wild Card spot. Gary Sanchez has been thrust into action with multiple catcher injuries and has been spectacular. He hit .364 with a 1.122 OPS and eight RBIs this week. The Orioles look to keep momentum going against the Rangers and Braves. #24: Minnesota Twins (-) The Twins split a series with the Mariners and dropped a series against the Tigers to stay at 24 in the MLB Power Rankings. While the playoffs feel like a far cry from now, Minnesota has the talent to go on a run. Their offense could not solve Tarik Skubal on Sunday, mustering just two hits in the loss. Willi Castro's incredible season has come to a screeching halt, with a .118 batting average this week. Coming into the week, he was hitting .280 with an .818 OPS. The Twins play the Marlins and Rays this week, in desperate need of wins. Advertisement #25: Pittsburgh Pirates (+2) Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The Pirates started the week by losing a series to the Brewers, and then invited the Mets into the Steel City. They swept the Amazins, outscoring them 30-4 in the three games. And that did not include a start from Paul Skenes. They actually lost the Skenes start this week, Game 3 against the Brewers, for the first time since June 3. Oneil Cruz continued his interesting season. He hit just .190, a troubling trend, but posted a .703 OPS with two homers and a steal. He has the most steals in the NL with 27. The Pirates host the Cardinals and visit the Mariners this week. #26: Miami Marlins (+2) The Marlins are hot, winning seven games in a row with sweeps against the Giants and Diamondbacks. Kyle Stowers was a big reason why, hitting .381 with two homers and a 1.357 OPS. Before his homer last Sunday against Atlanta, which started the win streak, Stowers had gone 31 games without a homer. Now, he has three in seven games. The Marlins could be sellers again at the MLB trade deadline. But at least there is some optimism around the Fish. They host the Twins and Brewers this week, looking to stay hot. Advertisement #27: Athletics (-2) The Athletics lost both of their series this week, dropping two to the Tigers and another two to the Yankees. While those are two of the top teams in the AL, it was a dreadful week for the A's. The offense had its ups and downs, the pitching continues to be a question mark, and they are in second-to-last in the AL. Luis Severino has a 5.18 ERA this season and a 7.99 ERA in June. They need a big July, but their pitching will likely prevent that from happening. They visit the Rays before hosting the Giants this week. #28: Washington Nationals (-2) The Nationals hit their lowest point in the MLB Power Rankings even after taking a series from the Angels. They are 35-49 after a 3-3 week, which is 11.5 games out of the Wild Card. Outside of James Wood's excellence and CJ Abrams' solid numbers, there is not much to write home about. MacKenzie Gore is one of those things, though, after a dominant start against the Padres, who traded him for Juan Soto many years ago. The Nats host the Tigers and Red Sox this week. Advertisement #29: Chicago White Sox (-) The White Sox lost a series to the Diamondbacks and then took a series from the Giants to finish the week 3-3. They are still on a better pace than last year, but are nowhere close to playoff contention. CF Luis Robert Jr is on the injured list once again, continuing a rough season and confounding career. The biggest drama of the season will be if they can find a place for him at the MLB trade deadline. Otherwise, it'll be another long summer on the Southside. The Sox visit the Dodgers and Rockies this week. #30: Colorado Rockies (-) Brad Mills-Imagn Images A big comeback win over the Brewers on Sunday ended a five-game losing streak for the Rockies and prevented a winless week. Things are still rough in Colorado, with a 19-65 record, which is a 36.6 win pace. To compare, the Yankees won their 20th game on May 4 and their 37th game on June 3. The MLB trade deadline is the thing to watch for Colorado, with German Marquez potentially on the move after a solid start on Sunday. The Rockies host the Astros and White Sox this week. Related: MLB rumors: Astros linked to Orioles star trade in 'aggressive' search Related: MLB rumors: Cubs, Pirates engaged in 'serious' trade talks for $77 million pitcher
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Falcons Ranked 21st In Recent Power Rankings
Falcons Ranked 21st In Recent Power Rankings originally appeared on Athlon Sports. NFL Rankings currently have the Falcons at 21st for the 2025 season, and it is currently feeling too low for a franchise on the rise with some young talent. They have some questions to answer before the season starts, but as of right now seem to be in a spot they are comfortable in. Advertisement It all starts with the draft and how they filled the much-needed holes in the defense and were able to strengthen their defensive line. The rookie class is looking to be one of the main reasons this ranking goes up near the start of the season. Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. (27) runs during a football game between Tennessee and Chattanooga. Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK This power ranking comes after a long offseason for the Falcons, who have been in and out of trade rumors since the beginning of free agency. Players like Kirk Cousins and Kyle Pitts have been linked to numerous teams, but talks have died down since the draft. Training camp will start on July 24, and there is a lot to look for when it comes to how the Falcons prepare to become a playoff team again. They will look to completely rewrite their franchise and utilize their young weapons to get back to the playoffs and make a deep run. Advertisement Michael Penix Jr. continues to improve and get comfortable in the offense, as he prepares for a full-time starter gig. He also looks to work more with Drake London and Bijan Robinson, as they prepare to have all-pro level seasons. The Falcons will look to use this as motivation and prove doubters wrong, as they prepare for a hopeful season. Related: Where Do The Falcons Stand Now That We Are In July? Related: New Team Could Emerge As Kyle Pitts Suitor After Former Falcons Tight End Gets Traded This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
June NASCAR Power Rankings: Big shakeup from May rankings
Here is a look at the top drivers over the five Cup races in June. This month's top five is completely different from May's top five. June Power Rankings 1. Denny Hamlin (Last month: Not ranked) Hamlin ranked third in points scored in June at 161, but he ran only four of the five races, missing Mexico for the birth of his son. Hamlin averaged 40.3 points a race, the most in the series for June. He won Michigan. He also won two stages and scored the bonus point for the fastest lap in two races. Hamlin ranked second in the series in stage points scored in June with 46, including two bonus points for having the fastest lap in two races. Hamlin had three top-three finishes in his four starts in June. 2. Chase Elliott (NR) Snapped 44-race winless streak at Atlanta's EchoPark Speedway. He finished second in points scored in June with 179. His Atlanta victory gives him three consecutive top-five finishes. He's moved up to second in the points. 3. Chris Buescher (NR) Scored the most points in June with 183. Had one stage win in the month. He had two top-five finishes, including a runner-up result at Michigan. Buescher finished the month with four consecutive top-10 runs. 4. Ryan Blaney (NR) He won at Nashville and had a third-place finish at Pocono. Blaney ranked third in the series in stage points scored in June with 38. He scored 141 points for the month, tied for fifth. 5. Erik Jones (NR) Ranked fourth in points scored for June with 156. Jones finished fifth at Atlanta, seventh at Nashville and placed in the top 15 in four of five races in June. With those results, he went from 27th in the points at the beginning of the month to 16th after Atlanta. He's 49 points out of a playoff spot with eight races left in the regular season. Those outside the top five Chase Briscoe — He ranked seventh in points scored for the month with 138 points. He won at Pocono and scored a stage win there. Advertisement Tyler Reddick — Tied for fifth in points scored in June. Finished fourth at Pocono. Ranked fifth in stage points scored in June. TOTAL POINTS SCORED IN JUNE 183 — Chris Buescher (1 stage win) 179 — Chase Elliott (1 race win) 161 — Denny Hamlin (1 race win, 2 stage wins, 2 fastest laps) 156 — Erik Jones 141 — Ryan Blaney (1 race win, 1 stage win) 141 — Tyler Reddick (1 stage win) 138 — Chase Briscoe (1 race win, 1 stage win) 132 — William Byron (1 stage win and 1 fastest lap) 126 — Brad Keselowski 126 — Christopher Bell 125 — Ryan Preece 123 — Ty Gibbs 119 — Kyle Larson (1 fastest lap) 118 — Carson Hocevar 116 — Bubba Wallace Advertisement 111 — Alex Bowman 109 — Zane Smith 108 — Ross Chastain 107 — Joey Logano 107 — Shane van Gisbergen (1 race win) 102 — AJ Allmendinger 100 — Austin Cindric (1 stage win) 94 — Josh Berry 92 —Michael McDowell 90 — Kyle Busch 89 — John Hunter Nemechek 89 — Daniel Suarez 82 — Cole Custer 71 — Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 70 — Austin Dillon 68 — Ty Dillon 66 — Justin Haley 59 — Todd Gilliland 53 — Cody Ware 46 — Riley Herbst 44 — Noah Gragson STAGE POINTS IN JUNE (Includes bonus points for fastest lap) 52 — William Byron (1 stage win and 1 fastest lap) 46 — Denny Hamlin (2 stage wins and 2 fastest laps) 38 — Ryan Blaney (1 stage win) Advertisement 37 — Chris Buescher (1 stage win) 34 — Tyler Reddick (1 stage win) 32 — Chase Briscoe (1 stage win) 29 — Chase Elliott 26 — Carson Hocevar 24 — Erik Jones 21 — Austin Cindric (1 stage win) 21 — Josh Berry 21 — Joey Logano 17 — Shane van Gisbergen (1 stage win) 16 — Christopher Bell 16 — Alex Bowman 16 — Michael McDowell 15 — Ross Chastain 15 — Ryan Preece (1 stage win) 11 — Bubba Wallace 11 — Zane Smith 10 — Brad Keselowski 7 — Ty Dillon 6 — Kyle Larson 6 — Todd Gilliland 5 — Austin Dillon 5 — Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 3 — Riley Herbst 3 — John Hunter Nemechek (1 fastest lap) 2 — Kyle Busch 2 — Daniel Suarez 0 — Noah Gragson 0 — Justin Haley Advertisement 0 — AJ Allmendinger 0 — Cole Custer 0 — Cody Ware 0 — Ty Gibbs LAPS LED IN JUNE 149 — Ryan Blaney 134 — Chase Briscoe 116 — Denny Hamlin 100 — William Byron 76 — Brad Keselowski 66 — Joey Logano 60 — Chase Elliott 60 — Shane van Gisbergen 59 — Ty Gibbs 47 — Alex Bowman 34 — Carson Hocevar 31 — Chris Buescher 25 — Austin Cindric 25 — Tyler Reddick 8 — Austin Dillon 7 — Zane Smith 7 — Ryan Preece 6 — Christopher Bell 3 — Justin Haley 3 — Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 2 —Michael McDowell 1 — Riley Herbst 1 — Cody Ware 0 — Ross Chastain 0 — Noah Gragson 0 — Kyle Larson 0 — Kyle Busch 0 — Ty Dillon 0 — AJ Allmendinger 0 — Josh Berry 0 — Bubba Wallace 0 — Todd Gilliland 0 — Cole Custer 0 — John Hunter Nemechek 0 — Erik Jones 0 — Daniel Suarez
