Here's the week 13 Major League Baseball Power Rankings from Chat Sports:
30. Tampa Bay Rays (Last Week: 30)
The Rays hold down the last place spot again this week, desperately trying to stay in the conversation for the AL East race. Grant Balfour has recently went from being the teams everyday-closer to joining a committee that will close out games for Tampa Bay. Balfour has blown two saves so far this season and is sporting a high 5.93 ERA.
29. San Diego Padres (Last Week: 25)
This has been a sad week for the Padres, who are mourning the loss of a legend after the death of Tony Gwynn. Gwynn was one of the greatest hitters and personalities to be a part of Major League Baseball and will truly missed.
28. Arizona Diamondbacks (Last Week: 28)
The Diamondbacks had to place starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo on the 15-day disabled list due to elbow tendonitis. This will break Arroyo's 369 consecutive start streak, which was second only to Mark Buerhle among active pitchers.
27. Chicago Cubs (Last Week: 29)
Last week, I talked about Jeff Samardzija being a trade target that the Cubs could use to add some offense. Now, it seems as though Chicago will also be hearing offers on veteran starter Jason Hammel as well. The Cubs have shown recent improvement, and the addition of some key bats will be a very nice boost for this team.
26. New York Mets (Last Week: 23)
The Mets have had tough time finding runs lately, as most of the lineup has been in a recent slump. David Wright's .262 batting average with only four home runs isn't helping an offensively-starved New York team, who has plummeted in the NL East standings this past week.
25. Philadelphia Phillies (Last Week: 28)
Jimmy Rollins made history in the Phillies' organization this past week, passing Mike Schmidt for the all-time hits mark for Philadelphia. Rollins hit a single off of Cubs' pitcher Edwin Jackson Friday for hit number 2,235.
24. Minnesota Twins (Last Week: 22)
The Twins' offense has been struggling lately, only scoring four runs in their last three games. Minnesota's slumping lineup has dropped them even farther out of the AL Central race to 5.5 games behind the division leading Kansas City Royals.
23. Houston Astros (Last Week: 26)
The Astros are dealing with uncertainty regarding the injury to one of their best hitters, Jose Altuve. Altuve is hitting .326 so far this season and was hit by a pitch on the right hand against the Tampa Bay Rays. Altuve also currently leads the American League in hits (90) and stolen bases (24).
22. Chicago White Sox (Last Week: 21)
The White Sox have found a lot of success with their young players this season, but Chicago is now starting to face consistency issues with those same players. The White Sox have struggled to win four of their last six games and will need to find some consistency from both their lineup and starting rotation.
21. Boston Red Sox (Last Week: 24)
The Grady Sizemore signing seems to have taken a turn for the worst, as the Red Sox have designated him for assignment. One bright spot for Boston, however, has been utility-man Brock Holt, who has shown the team that he can contribute from just about any position on the field.
20. Pittsburgh Pirates (Last Week: 19)
The Pirates' starting rotation continues to lack consistency, as Pittsburgh will start Vance Worley, who was called up from triple-A Indianapolis, against the Miami Marlins this Sunday. Gregory Polanco wasted no time hitting his first homer for the Pirates, blasting a walk-off shot in the 13th inning against the Marlins.
19. Cincinnati Reds (Last Week: 18)
The Reds return Matt Latos Saturday after a long stint on the disabled list. Latos will complete the starting rotation for the Reds, who are seeking their third straight 90-win season. Latos will be a great addition to a rotation who, minus Johnny Cueto, hasn't preformed as well as it looks on paper.
18. Texas Rangers (Last Week: 16)
The Rangers continue to fall in our rankings each week, despite being one of the best offensive teams in all of Major League Baseball. Texas has got to be thinking about trading some of their offensive pieces for an arm to help Yu Darvish stabilize a struggling rotation.
17. Cleveland Indians (Last Week: 17)
The Indians held star outfielder Michael Brantley out of the lineup Tuesday to undergo some tests on his neck and head from an injury that he sustained playing in Monday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. Losing Brantley would be a huge blow for Cleveland, as he leads the team in almost every offensive statistic.
16. Miami Marlins (Last Week: 15)
The Marlins are going to try to sustain recent success by continuing to rely on young talent. Miami recently called up three young players from triple-A, including top prospect Andrew Heaney. The left-handed Heaney will try to add some stability to the Marlins' rotation after it took a huge blow last month with the loss of Jose Fernandez.
15. Colorado Rockies (Last Week: 14)
The Rockies loss against the Dodgers Tuesday put an end to Colorado's five-game winning streak heading into the series against the Dodgers. The Rockies continue to be the best hitting team in baseball, but a weak starting rotation is starting to become a liability.
14. Washington Nationals (Last Week: 12)
The Nationals are half of a game up on the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. Even through a recent skid, Washington has been able to overtake the Braves through some great pitching from Tanner Roark, who has posted a club-best 2.85 ERA this season.
13. Seattle Mariners (Last Week: 11)
The power hasn't quite been the same for Robinson Cano, who has only hit four home runs this season, but one definitely can't argue that he hasn't been a factor in Seattle's offense. Cano is currently hitting .327, and is looking for his sixth-straight season hitting over the .300 mark.
12. Kansas City Royals (Last Week: 20)
The Royals are the hottest team in Major League Baseball this week, racing into the lead of the AL Central race. Greg Holland continues to be dominant out of the bullpen, recording save number 20, which leads the American League.
11. Baltimore Orioles (Last Week: 8)
The Orioles will undergo the rest of the 2014 season without catcher Matt Wieters. Wieters underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery earlier this week. This creates a deficit in the Orioles' lineup, even though Baltimore has seemed to make the best free agency signing of the year through the addition of Nelson Cruz, who leads Major League Baseball in home runs (21) and RBIs (57).
10. St. Louis Cardinals (Last Week: 13)
The Cardinals are one the hottest team in baseball right now, after winning their fifth straight game Tuesday night. Manager Mike Matheny has to be happy with the way his pitching has overcome some difficult bumps in the road this season. Adam Wainwright will miss his next start to ease some tendonitis in his throwing elbow.
9. New York Yankees (Last Week: 10)
Masahiro Tanaka continues to carry the Yankees' pitching staff, picking up his eleventh win this week. Tanaka has got to be a current candidate for the AL Cy Young Award, posting an amazing 1.99 ERA.
8. Detroit Tigers (Last Week: 7)
The Tigers continue to slip in the rankings, after losing their AL Central lead to the Kansas City Royals. The Tigers haven't received the seasons they expected from Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. Scherzer currently leads the team with a very mediocre 3.84 ERA.
7. Los Angeles Dodgers (Last Week: 9)
The Dodgers have begun closing in on the lead set by their inner-division rival San Francisco Giants. Every piece of the Dodgers' rotation has seemed to be quite productive now that Clayton Kershaw is back to full speed after an early back injury.
6. Atlanta Braves (Last Week: 5)
The Braves continue to struggle at producing runs to support pitching. Atlanta ranks in the bottom third of almost every offensive statistical category. The Braves could be a team to watch, as they will probably try to trade an arm or two for some offensive production.
5. Los Angeles Angels (Last Week: 6)
Mike Trout has been on fire at the plate for the Angels as of late, knocking six extra-base hits in his last seven games. Over that stretch Trout has earned 10 hits total and hit for a whopping .417. The young phenom continues to produce for Los Angeles, who is currently chasing the Oakland A's in the AL West.
4. Toronto Blue Jays (Last Week: 3)
The Blue Jays' hot bats have seemed to cool off slightly lately. One bright spot for Toronto this season has been the pitching from starter Mark Buehrle, who has tossed an impressive 10 wins and a 2.28 ERA. That ERA is extremely impressive, considering the bats that Buehrle faces in the AL East.
3. Milwaukee Brewers (Last Week: 4)
The Brewers continue to combine good offense with even better pitching that has allowed them to create a cushion on their lead in the NL Central. Milwaukee is a team that many experts didn't consider to be a threat in the NL Central, but you can guarantee the Brewers are having a great time proving those experts wrong.
2. Oakland Athletics (Last Week: 2)
If you haven't seen the throw from Yoenis Cespedes yet, then do yourself a favor and watch it on YouTube. Cespedes' throw rivals any throw I've seen made from a Major League outfielder. Not to mention that Brandon Moss is quietly making a case for AL MVP, already hitting 17 home runs and driving in 54 runs.
1. San Francisco Giants (Last Week: 1)
No surprise here. The Giants continue to be the best team in Major League Baseball, combining a solid lineup with a great starting rotation. It will be tough for even the Los Angeles Dodgers to catch this team.
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