MLB Power Rankings

The Power Rankings serve as a tool to measure how likely it is each MLB team will succeed throughout the remainder of the 2012 season. The higher the ranking the more likely it is that a particular team will make the playoffs and ultimately compete for a World Series Title. Let's get to it.

1. Texas Rangers (50-31) - When you own the best run differential in baseball it is easy to see why a third straight World Series birth is a reasonable expectation for this club.

2. New York Yankees (48-32) - Since losing Mariano Rivera to season ending knee surgery the Yanks have posted a 35-20 record.

3. Washington Nationals (46-32) - Their young stars continue to get headlines but how about the starting rotation? The top 4 starters all have an ERA below 3.60.

4. Los Angeles Angels (45-36) - When Albert Pujols started hitting the Angels started winning. Coincidence? Probably not. Since May 1st they've gone 37-21.

5. San Francisco Giants (45-36) - On May 27th they were a season high 7.5 games back of the Dodgers in the NL West. They now hold a half game lead.

6. Cincinnati Reds (44-36) - Joey Votto had a great 2010 campaign and won the NL MVP. He's having a better season in 2012 (.472/.630/1.101) leading all of MLB in OPS.

7. Baltimore Orioles (43-37) - Adam Jones continues his career year leading the Orioles in virtually every offensive category. The O's have lost 7 of 10 though and once promising season might be slipping away.

8. Chicago White Sox (43-37) - Since acquiring Kevin Youkilis on June 24th the White Sox are 5-3. More impressively they've had games where they've scored 12, 14 and 19 runs.

9. Tampa Bay Rays (43-38) - Their play against weaker opponents continues to plague them. They have a 4-12 record against the AL Central including a 1-6 stretch last week. They have 4 games coming up against the Indians before the All-Star Break.

10. New York Mets (44-37) - 37 year old R.A. Dickey continues to be one of the more remarkable stories of 2012. Having a career season he's leading the NL in wins, ERA, WHIP, opponents batting average, complete games and shutouts. He's second in K's to only Stephen Strasburg.

11. Boston Red Sox (42-39) - Injuries continue to be a problem. One player will return from the DL only to be replaced by another. The latest is Dice-K who only made 5 starts since being activated from the DL.

12. Los Angeles Dodgers (45-37) - Matt Kemp can't return soon enough as the Dodgers are in desperate need of offense. They scored 3 or less runs in 18 of 28 games in June including 7 shutouts.

13. Atlanta Braves (42-38) - Marred by inconsistent play. Long win streaks are followed up by long losing streaks. As such they find themselves 5 out in the NL East.

14. Pittsburgh Pirates (44-36) - It's July 4th and the Pirates are tied for 1st in the NL Central. Reclamation project A.J. Burnett has won 8 straight starts and sports a 3.74 ERA, his lowest since 2005.

15. St. Louis Cardinals (42-39) - When they win, they win big. Are struggling to win close games though posting a 8-13 record in one run affairs. Are also 5-6 in extra innings despite owning a +63 run differential.

16. Toronto Blue Jays (41-40) - Have had an awful stretch with starting pitching losing 3 in a week to the DL. Jose Bautista's bat has come alive since a slow start to the season. He clubbed 14 dingers in June and now has a MLB best 27.

17. Detroit Tigers (39-42) - After acquiring SP Doug Fister at the trade deadline last season the Tigers looked like geniuses. In 10 starts for the Tigers in 2011 he posted an 8-1 record with a 1.79 ERA. In 10 starts in 2012 he's 1-6 with a 4.61 ERA.

18. Arizona Diamondbacks (39-41) - 2B Aaron Hill has been on some kind of streak lately. He hit two cycles in the month of June becoming only the 4th player in MLB History to hit 2 in one season, the last was in 1931.

19. Cleveland Indians (41-39) - Ace Justin Masterson had an ERA average over 5 to start June. He's allowed 3 or less runs in 5 of 6 starts and has dropped his ERA to 3.92.

20. Milwaukee Brewers (38-42) - If they decide to trade Zack Greinke at the deadline they should receive quite the haul. He's 9-2 with a 3.08 ERA has struck out 106 batters in 108 innings while only walking 24.

21. Oakland A's (40-42) - OF Josh Reddick is looking like a steal for the A's. He's clubbed 19 homers this season so far after hitting 10 in parts of 3 season with the Red Sox. Andrew Bailey (the man he was traded for along with Ryan Sweeney) has yet to pitch for Boston.

22. Miami Marlins (38-42) - Their offense just hasn't been all they expected after going out and signing SS Jose Reyes. Only the Padres have scored less runs than the Marlins in the NL.

23. Kansas City Royals (36-43) - The Royals will be hosting the All-Star festivities next week but only have one All-Star themselves (Billy Butler) ... unless closer Johnathan Broxton wins the final vote.

24. Philadelphia Phillies (36-46) - The Phillies have already begun to dismantle their aging roster. The next piece that could be traded? Free agent to be Cole Hamels.

25. Seattle Mariners (35-48) - Felix Hernandez has struck out a whopping 31 batters in his last 21.1 innings pitched. Shame no one else on the roster is helping him out.

26. Minnesota Twins (35-45) - They own MLB's worst run differential at -83.

27. Houston Astros (32-49) - Have lost 6 in a row included losses to the Padres and Cubs.

28. Colorado Rockies (31-49) - The Rockies are 11-20 since SS Troy Tulowitzki went on the DL on May 30th.

29. San Diego Padres (32-50) - They've used 13 different starting pitchers this season already.

30. Chicago Cubs (30-50) - 1B Anthony Rizzo has hit safely in 6 of 7 games since being called up.