For the second week in a row the top 4 teams remain the same with the Texas Rangers leading the way atop the rankings. The biggest movers of the week were the Pittsburgh Pirates who jumped from the 14 spot to the 6th spot. Powered by an 8-2 stretch the Pirates entered the All-Star Break in first place in the NL Central and look to make the playoffs for the first time in 20 years. The biggest drop came from the Baltimore Orioles. They continue to hold onto second place in the AL East but look destined to fall back. They are the only team in the division that holds a negative run differential. Let's get on with the rest of the rankings.
1. Texas Rangers (52-34) Last week: 1 - The Rangers are one powerful team. They have 7 players on their roster who have clubbed at least 9 HRs this season including MLB leader Josh Hamilton (27).
2. New York Yankees (52-33) Last week: 2 - The Yankees entered the All-Star break with the best record in baseball, percentage points ahead of the Rangers.
3. Washington Nationals (49-34) Last week: 3 - The Nats will likely need to find some offense if they wish to continue as NL East leaders. They rank 1st in team ERA but only 20th in runs scored in MLB.
4. Los Angeles Angels (48-38) Last week: 4 - Rookie Mike Trout has been a beast this season. Already a favorite for Rookie of the Year some are predicting he'll also win MVP. He leads the AL in RC27 at 9.12.
5. Chicago White Sox (47-38) Last week: 8 - Quietly the White Sox have opened up a three game lead in the Central and going into last weekend swept the Rangers in a 3 game set.
6. Pittsburgh Pirates (48-37) Last week: 14 - Have enjoyed a strong start to July going 6-2 and have surged into first place in the NL Central. They haven't been to the playoff since 1992 and with an extra Wild Card this season their hopes look promising.
7. Cincinnati Reds (47-38) Last week: 6 - They've managed to keep their entire rotation healthy this season using only 5 starting pitchers. The problem is Johnny Cueto is the only one with a sub-3.70 ERA.
8. San Francisco Giants (46-40) Last week: 5 - It almost seems like a miracle that the Giants have a winning record when Tim Lincecum owns a 3-10 record with a 6.42 ERA. They need him to be better in the second half.
9. New York Mets (46-40) Last week: 10 - The way R.A. Dickeys is pitching it comes as a surprise that La Russa didn't tab him as the ASG Starter. Dickey will need to continue pitching well in the second half if the Mets want to make the post-season.
10. Los Angeles Dodgers (47-40) Last week: 12 - The Dodgers are leading the NL West on the strength of their pitching staff which owns the second best ERA in the NL. The problem is their offense which ranks 14th in the NL in runs scored.
11. Atlanta Braves (46-39) Last week: 13 - The Braves are a solid team that doesn't do anything particularly well but also doesn't do anything particularly bad. In MLB their offense ranks 9th, the pitching 14th and their defense 9th.
12. St. Louis Cardinals (46-40) Last week: 15 - Player A: .296/20/65/.924 (AVG, HR, RBI and OPS). Player B: .268/14/51/.795. Player B is former Card Albert Pujols. Player A is the man who was signed to replace him, Carlos Beltran.
13. Baltimore Orioles (45-40) Last week: 7 - How weird does Jim Thome look in an Orioles uniform. They'll need more offense than a 41 year old DH though. They rank 19th in baseball in runs scored.
14. Tampa Bay Rays (45-41) Last week: 9 - Evan Longoria can't get back soon enough for the Rays. As a team they sport a miserable .314 OBP.
15. Boston Red Sox (43-43) Last week: 11- After losing 3 of 4 to the Yankees on the weekend the Sox limped into the All-Star break and find themselves 9.5 games off the pace in the East.
16. Detroit Tigers (44-42) Last week: 17 - At the trade deadline in 2011 the Tigers traded for SP Doug Fister who helped them into the playoffs. It looks like a similar trade might be needed this season to do the same.
17. Toronto Blue Jays (43-43) Last week: 16 - CF Colby Rasmus is beginning to heat up. In April and May, hitting mostly at the bottom of the order, he hit 6 HR. Now hitting out of the 2 spot he's hit 11 in June and July.
18. Cleveland Indians (44-41) Last week: 19 - Having a tough time hitting the long ball this season. They're 21st in the Majors in that category and their leader, Jason Kipnis, only has 11.
19. Oakland A's (43-43) Last week: 21 - GM Billy Beane is at it again. Before the season most people probably wrote off the A's but here they are 2.5 games back of that second WC.
20. Miami Marlins (41-44) Last week: 22 - Losing OF Giancarlo Stanton to a knee injury is a major blow to an already struggling offense. The addition of Carlos Lee won't be enough to cover for his absence.
21. Arizona Diamondbacks (42-43) Last week: 18 - According to reports the DBacks are continuing their search for a trade partner - someone with a wealth of young talent - who is interested in acquiring Justin Upton. Does that mean they've given up on 2012?
22. Milwaukee Brewers (40-45) Last week: 20 - Imagine LF Ryan Braun would have been suspended 50 games for testing positive for PEDs. How bad would the Brew Crew be then?
23. Kansas City Royals (37-47) Last week: 23 - The fans at Kauffman Stadium were unimpressed, to say the least, that Robinson Cano did not select DH Billy Butler for the HR Derby. It could lead to changes in that event in the future.
24. Philadelphia Phillies (37-50) Last week: 24 - It is almost a certainty that Cole Hamels will be traded. But what about Roy Halladay? He's about to begin a rehab assignment and could be available if healthy.
25. Minnesota Twins (36-49) Last week: 26 - SP Scott Diamond has been a bright spot for this club for most of the season. With a few more innings pitched he will qualify for league leaders. Right now he'd led all MLB Rookies in ERA (2.62).
26. Seattle Mariners (36-51) Last week: 25 - 38 year old Ichiro is starting to look his age. He's hitting a career worst .261.
27. Chicago Cubs (33-52) Last week: 30 - Since Anthony Rizzo arrived on June 26 the Cubs are 8-4.
28. San Diego Padres (34-53) Last week: 29 - Have been playing better as of late but are too far back.
29. Houston Astros (33-53) Last week: 27 - Carlos Lee has been traded. Who's next in the firesale?
30. Colorado Rockies (33-52) Last week: 28 - They own MLB's worst ERA by almost half a run (5.28).
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