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The Houston Astros Are Higher Than You Think in Our Power Rankings
Apr 17, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Miami Marlins right fielder
Giancarlo Stanton(27) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the New York Mets during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
30. team. 76. After finishing last season 4-8 in their last twelve games, the Brewers have started right where they left off in 2015. Their team ERA of 4.69 ranks 28th, and the 30 runs they’ve scored is the fewest in baseball. <strong><a href=. (2-10). Previous: --th. Milwaukee Brewers
Miami Marlins. 29. team. 82. The Marlins were the sexy pick to make the playoffs before the season began, and some were even thinking World Series. Their weak start may have those same people pumping the breaks. <strong><a href=. (3-10). Previous: --th
Previous: --th. San Francisco Giants. 28. team. 40. <strong><a href=. (4-10)
Philadelphia Phillies. 27. team. 6. The Phillies pitching staff is holding their own through the first two weeks of the season, with a 4.03 ERA, but their offense is next-to-last in runs scored. <strong><a href=. (4-9). Previous: --th
team. 128. The White Sox rank in the lower third in runs scored which isn’t what many were expecting. The rotation has <strong><a href=. (4-7). Previous: --th. Chicago White Sox. 26
Next: So Many AL West Teams!
Apr 16, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins designated hitter
Joe Mauer(7) hits a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Target Field. The Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 8-5. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
126. They’ve allowed more than ten runs three times already this season. The bright spot in the rotation has been <strong><a href=. (5-8). Previous: --th. Texas Rangers. 24. team
2. You can look at the numbers and say that the Twins aren’t very good this season. They’re 27th in runs scored and last in ERA, but they beat the previously unbeaten Royals (twice), and took two of three from Cleveland over the weekend. Numbers schmubers.. (5-7). Previous: --th. Minnesota Twins. 23. team
102. Other than <strong><a href=. (5-7). Previous: --th. LA Angels. 22. team
21. team. 62. <strong><a href=. (5-7). Previous: --th. Seattle Mariners
Apr 17, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oakland Athletics pitcher
Sonny Gray(54) delivers a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
61. The Reds came out with a chip on the shoulder in the first week, going 4-2 against the Pirates and Cardinals. This past week Cincinnati came back down to earth and are currently riding a four-game losing streak as they head to Milwaukee. <strong><a href=. (5-7). Previous: --th. Cincinnati Reds. 20. team
(6-7). Previous: --th. Tampa Bay Rays. 19. team. 21. The team that shouldn’t be able to score is in the middle of the pack in runs, while the team that is built around pitching is ranked 25th in ERA. Baseball is funny sometimes, especially in small samples.
96. It has been tough to get a read on the A’s, and their start to the season sure isn’t helping matters. They’re second in team ERA and second in runs scored, but the team has committed ten errors and the bullpen has three of the team’s losses. With closer <strong><a href=. (6-7). Previous: --th. Oakland Athletics. 18. team
39. Toronto is the highest-scoring team in baseball (70), but the player that’s leading the team in batting average, home runs, rbi, OBP and hits isn’t your first guess. Or your second. Heck, you probably haven’t heard of him. Rookie <strong><a href=. (6-7). Previous: --th. Toronto Blue Jays. 17. team
<strong><a href=. (6-7). Previous: --th. Washington Nationals. 16. team. 90
Next: Not the Usual Suspects
Apr 19, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros catcher
Jason Castro(15) gets a single during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
New York Yankees. 15. team. 43. We all had A-Rod coming back and leading the team in home runs, right? He has four thus far, along with <strong><a href=. (6-6). Previous: --th
4. The Pirates faced the best and worst teams in baseball this week and went 4-2. That’s a win, right? The Pirates’ top four starters have ERAs of 1.93, 2.08, 2.25 and 3.27. When this team starts clicking, watch out.. (6-6). Previous: --th. Pittsburgh Pirates. 14. team
135. The Houston Astros are off to a good start of achieving their goal of being a .500 team this season. While they have the same record as many other teams, they’re up this high because their offense, which is supposed to carry this team, isn’t clicking at all. <strong><a href=. (6-6). Previous: --th. Houston Astros. 13. team
The Diamondbacks are an early surprise team this season, holding records of 4-3 against the defending World Series champs, and a 2-1 record against the reigning division champs. <strong><a href=. (7-6). Previous: --th. Arizona Diamondbacks. 12. team. 8
Who says <strong><a href=. (6-5). Previous: --th. Chicago Cubs. 11. team. 9
Next: Fluke or For Real?
Apr 15, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher
Tyler Matzekthrows to the San Francisco Giants in the first inning of their MLB baseball game at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports
The three-game sweep of the Brewers may be weighing their record a bit heavily, but lets give them a shot here. Is this the year that CarGo and Tulo stay healthy? If the staff continues to hold a 3.21 ERA, we should sure hope so.. (7-5). Previous: --th. Colorado Rockies. 10. team. 108
<strong><a href=. (7-5). Previous: --th. Baltimore Orioles. 9. team. 11
team. 14. The good news: Boston’s bullpen is 3-0 with a 2.96, and their offense is formidable with <strong><a href=. (7-5). Previous: --th. Boston Red Sox. 8
(8-5). Previous: --th. San Diego Padres. 7. team. 127. The Padres added offense this past winter, and those new bats are putting up some runs. San Diego has had the pitching to compete. Now it appears they have the offense to complement their staff. Watch out, NL West.
team. 17. The big question has been are the Braves rebuilding or competing? By the looks of the early returns, they are doing both, with <strong><a href=. (8-4). Previous: --th. Atlanta Braves. 6
Next: The Best of the Best...So Far
Apr 13, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher
Jacob deGrom(48) against the Philadelphia Phillies during opening day at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The Cardinals are in a weakened division with the Reds and Brewers, so wins should come fairly easily to one of the best institutions around. The <strong><a href=. (8-3). Previous: --th. St. Louis Cardinals. 5. team. 33
(9-3). Previous: --th. Kansas City Royals. 4. team. 7. The Royals didn’t hit enough home runs for people’s liking last season, only sending 95 deep in 2014. The bats have come out swinging in 2015, with 11 bombs already hit, lead by Salvadore Perez’s three. The lights-out bullpen will get a bit of a test in the coming days with closer <strong><a href=
(9-3). Previous: --th. Los Angeles Dodgers. 3. team. 71. The Dodgers went a perfect 6-0 this past week, outscoring the Rockies and Mariners 37-18. <strong><a href=
3. Harvey Day is becoming must-see television, but NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom leads the rotation in ERA with a 0.93. Throw in <strong><a href=. (10-3). Previous: --th. New York Mets. 2. team
63. Residing in the AL Central must be nice if you’re Detroit. You get a perch atop the division with a view every single year. While the division appears to have improved this season, it doesn’t look as though the Tigers care. <strong><a href=. (10-2). Previous: --th. Detroit Tigers. 1. team