As the major league baseball season motors along, teams are reaching a major evaluation point in their seasons.
The August 1 trade deadline is creeping up on each and every MLB organization. With that said, the next two weeks provide teams with the opportunity to surge forth or fall back down to earth.
Ultimately, the next 14 days will be a major ‘make or break’ symbol for multiple clubs throughout the league.
Week 15 was shortened, highlighted by a midsummer classic, and gave aging teams a chance to recuperate and younger teams an unneeded halt.
Promptly following the break, the slate featured nine out of 15 divisional match-ups. While some teams were able to make a mark, quite a few continued to stumble.
So, without further adieu, let’s take a look at ESNY’s Week 15 MLB power rankings.
Teams 30-26
The Braves, in their final season at Turner Field, are on pace for an absolutely dreadful 56 wins. Barring an unforeseen upturn, they are essentially a lock in this spot for weeks to come.
A weekend home series loss to the Colorado Rockies dropped them to a miserable 14-36 in front of the Atlanta faithful.
29. Minnesota Twins (33-58)
What makes this 2016 campaign for the Minnesota Twins worse is the fact that they were not expected to be this bad.
Stuck in the cellar of the AL Central, they most recently — as expected — dropped a three-game set to the first place Indians at Target Field. Perhaps the only role they will play in the upcoming weeks is one of a pure spoiler.
28. Cincinnati Reds (34-58)
Constantly beat up by the greater teams in the National League, it is not as if the Reds had any expectations coming into the season.
However, they were able to come away with a series win this past weekend thanks to an opponent which fits their profile. Billy Hamilton crossed the plate on a passed ball to lift the Reds over the Brewers in the rubber game from Great American Ballpark.
27. Tampa Bay Rays (35-56)
A meeting with the first-place Orioles did not help the lowly Rays as they dropped two of three promptly following the break.
Now, they head on a 10-game west coast swing against the Rockies, A’s, and Dodgers which is likely to bury them even further. Look for the Rays to be big-time sellers at the deadline as they seek revitalization of a lifeless franchise.
26. Arizona Diamondbacks (40-53)
Right now you are peering at the largest disappointment of the 2016 MLB season. By far the offseason winners, Arizona is a prime case of how championships are won in October rather than December and January.
It has deteriorated so far for the D-Backs that Shelby Miller was optioned to Triple-A. Yes, that is the guy they traded their number one draft pick, Dansby Swanson, for.
Next: 25-21
25. Milwaukee Brewers (39-51)
After dropping two of three to the last-place Reds, the Brewers have lost six of their last 10 and sit 15.5 games off the pace in the NL Central.
With two three-game sets against Pittsburgh and a weekend set with the Cubs looming between now and August 1, expect Milwaukee to be active sellers with Ryan Braun taking center stage.
24. Los Angeles Angels (40-52)
The Halos kicked off the second half in style, taking it to the Chicago White Sox in a three-game home sweep. However, they are still knotted at the bottom of the AL West with 14.5 games standing between them and the first-place Rangers.
A deteriorated starting staff has pitched to a 4.63 ERA, placing an already mediocre LA team in a subpar state.
23. San Diego Padres (41-51)
The highlight of the season in San Diego has been hosting the 87th MLB All-Star Game. Otherwise, the organization has already displayed their willingness to write this season off.
Dealing their best arm, Drew Pomeranz, to the Red Sox was the start of a potentially massive overhaul.
22. Oakland A’s (40-52)
Oakland is currently in a deadlock tie with the Angels as the two teams try to distinguish themselves from the bottom of the AL West.
They were able to to take two of three from the recently prominent Toronto Blue Jays, which earns them the nod over the Padres for the number 22 slot.
21. Colorado Rockies (42-49)
A pesky team thus far in 2016, it has been much of the same for the team that resides in the definition of a ‘hitter’s friendly park’.
They will continue to rake with the best of them at Coors Field, yet lack true arms to hold any opponent in check. Their current standing in the NL West is as expected.
Next: 20-16
20. Philadelphia Phillies (43-50)
While most common fans expected them to tank once again this year, the Phillies have been a nice surprise. They sit seven games off the pace in the NL Wild Card hunt.
With postseason hopes not even in the equation from the get-go, the fact that they are even posing a relative threat to teams in their division should be considered a major success for the organization.
19. Seattle Mariners (46-46)
Five games off the pace in the wild card chase, the M’s have been an up and down team thus far this year. Led by outstanding seasons from both Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz, they have maintained relevancy in the American League.
However, the potent nature of the Rangers and Astros may hamper with their ability to contend in the second half. Their most recent series loss to Houston is direct proof of that.
18. New York Yankees (44-46)
The Bronx Bombers may be turning to full sell mode in the midst of a challenging stretch which can leave them completely out of contention.
Their weekend set with the Boston Red Sox displayed their mediocrity and inability to hang with the ‘big boys’ in the American League.
17. Chicago White Sox (45-46)
A torrent start got fans hopeful, but the current record symbolizes what the Chicago White Sox truly are. Losing two out of three to the lowly Braves before the break did not help their cause, and getting swept away in Los Angeles only served as a detriment.
Now nine games off the AL Central pace, they may quickly turn into an organization willing to trade their assets for a major return.
16. Kansas City Royals (46-45)
The defending World Champions can be viewed as a sheer disappointment in the AL Central, yet they are one hot stretch away from contending for a playoff spot.
With that being said, they are not helping themselves get back postseason. They have not won a series since the end of June and just lost two out of three to their division rivals, the Detroit Tigers.
Next: 15-11
15. Pittsburgh Pirates (47-45)
A 98-win team one year ago, the Bucs are currently trying to sneak into contention. In a division currently dominated by the Chicago Cubs, it will not be an easy task.
They are, in fact, helping their own cause in the division. Prior to the break, they took three of four from the Cardinals and two of three from the Cubs sequentially.
Despite dropping the first two to the Nationals out of the break, they salvaged the final game to keep pace in all areas.
14. St. Louis Cardinals (47-44)
A perennial powerhouse in the National League, the Cardinals can be considered a dark horse to grab the second wild card spot. They will have to beat the teams standing in their path to execute the order.
A weekend series loss to the Marlins, who they are currently chasing, certainly will not help. However, they will have a chance to redeem themselves later in the month when they get three games at Citi Field against the Mets and four games in Miami.
13. Detroit Tigers (48-44)
The Tigers and their potent offensive attack sit 6.5 games behind the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central and a mere three games off the wild card pace.
They came out victorious in two of three this weekend against the Kansas City Royals, receiving strong performances from both Justin Verlander and the brilliant Michael Fulmer.
12. Miami Marlins (49-42)
In a deadlock with the Mets for second place in the NL East and the second wild card spot, the Marlins have impressed and over-performed to an extent.
After taking a weekend set with the Cards, they will have four in Philadelphia, three back at home against the aforementioned Metropolitans, and three more against the Phils.
The pivotal NL East match-ups is what it will ultimately come down to for Miami.
11. New York Mets (49-42)
Despite the fact that the Mets have been up and down with injury questions in the rotation, they get the edge over the Fish due to their second half performance one year ago.
If their starting rotation becomes circular once again and the call-up of Michael Conforto pays dividends, they will be well on their way to a playoff berth.
While the Nationals have proven to be the outright favorite to take home the division crown, there is still plenty of season to decide who avoids the dreaded one-game wild card playoff.
Next: 10-6
10. Toronto Blue Jays (52-42)
Although they currently sit third in the division, the reigning AL East Champions hold the second wild card spot and have made some serious noise after a slow start.
Their lackluster series loss in Oakland this weekend did not represent what they are made of, but they went into the break having won seven of eight.
Led by an MVP contender — and 2015 AL MVP — Josh Donaldson and baseball’s leader in RBIs (81), Edwin Encarnacion, the Blue Jays are a serious threat to hoist the division crown yet again this year.
9. Houston Astros (50-42)
After a dreadful 7-17 month of April, the Astros were destined to be a disappointment following a playoff appearance last year.
However, the pieces have come together in Houston and the Astros are turning back into that AL pennant threat they were viewed as at the start of the season.
Fresh off a series win over the Mariners, they have their sights set on the first-place Rangers as they only sit 4.5 games back.
8. Los Angeles Dodgers (52-42)
While they have not brought the thunder in the NL West, the Dodgers have remained steady and are becoming a sure bet to take home the first National League Wild Card.
Despite an underwhelming series loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks over the weekend, they will have immediate chance to show themselves.
The Dodgers will head to Washington and St. Louis in a six-game, two city road swing in hopes to prove their legitimacy.
7. Texas Rangers (55-38)
Near the tail end of the first half, the Rangers were on an upturn towards becoming baseball’s best. In an unexpected change of tides, their final two games at Yankee Stadium on June 28 and 29 turned their season for the worse.
They proceeded to lose two of three in consecutive weekends to the Minnesota Twins with a series loss to the Red Sox sandwiched in between. Over the weekend they dropped a three-game set at Wrigley Field as the Astros continue to close the gap.
Perhaps a torrent first three months were just the best-case scenario on all fronts.
6. Boston Red Sox (51-39)
Destined to make the playoffs in David Ortiz’s last season, the Red Sox are currently making moves up the American League. The acquisition of left-hander Drew Pomeranz from the Padres goes to show that they are not satisfied just yet.
Winners of eight of their last 10, they just took two of three from the Yankees in the Bronx.
Sitting only two games back in the AL East, Boston will start a nine-game home stand which will feature series against the Giants, Twins, and Tigers.
Next: 10-6
5. Baltimore Orioles (53-37)
Sitting atop the AL East, the Orioles are an extremely powerful team. With that said, the question surrounding them has been the same for the past five years.
Can they acquire effective starting pitching to put them over the top?
The question has not yet been answered and few truly know if it will. Until then, it does not hurt that they have won three out of their four July series and continue to stave off divisional opposition.
4. Chicago Cubs (55-36)
After looking down at baseball for the majority of the first half, a recent skid has brought about questions as to just how formidable the Cubs are.
Before anyone hits the panic button, realize that the Cubbies still have an eight game cushion in the NL Central, have a relatively young team, and are simply going to run into road blocks here and there.
Certain to go all-in at the deadline, the front office will be in search of the franchise’s first world series title since 1908 (108 years).
3. Cleveland Indians (54-37)
Easily the nicest story in baseball this year, the Indians rode a late first half 14-game winning streak to sole possession of first place in the AL Central.
The pieces are in place, the cohesiveness in there, and the storyline should provide for an interesting finish.
Putting things into perspective, no other team in their division has proven to be any better than mediocre at this point. If the Tribe stays anywhere close to this clip, they will runaway with the central.
2. Washington Nationals (56-37)
This is a much different Nationals team than the one which completely fell apart last year. With Dusty Baker at the helm, the Nats have a six-game advantage in the NL East thanks to a ridiculous MVP-caliber year from Daniel Murphy and the undefeated Stephen Strasburg.
Do the Mets and Marlins have the talent to content? Yes. Will they? No.
Washington is that good. Not to mention that their outstanding 30-14 record against divisional opponents helps a great deal.
1. San Francisco Giants (57-36)
Possessing the best record in baseball, a brief hiccup over the weekend against the San Diego Padres will not keep the Giants out of the number one spot. Their team is purely too dynamic as a whole.
Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto, and Jeff Samardzija are anchoring a potent starting staff which couples with as balanced of an offensive attack as you will see.
The sky is the limit for this San Francisco team which looks to capture the franchise’s fourth title in the last seven years. Yes, that is dynasty material. Those in the bay area know that an even year generally brings some considerable fortune.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding ESNY’s Week 15 MLB Power Rankings, feel free to get your thoughts heard in the comments section.