Aside from the top spot being in constant movement the last few weeks there is an ongoing shift throughout the rest of the Top 15 teams. With the added Wild Card and teams having hot and col stretches teams are flying up and down the rankings. The bottom half is actually much more stable than the top half.
The biggest reason is the glut of teams in the 8 through 15 spots. All 8 teams are in playoff contention and have almost identical records. From week to week they make pushes forward while some cool off a drop back.
The Angels are a prime example having fallen out of the Top 10 going from 7 to 13 this week. The Cardinals on the other hand make their first appearance in the Top 10 this season having swapped spots with the Angels, moving from 13 into the 7th spot. The Braves moved one spot up and make their first appearance in the Top 5 this season.
Let's get on with the rest of the rankings.
1. Washington Nationals (70-43) Last week: 2 - Stephen Strasburg is now at 133.1 IP for the season. Can the Nationals really afford to shut him down at 160 or 180 (whatever the number is now)?
2. Cincinnati Reds (67-46) Last week: 1 - Had lost 4 in a row before beating the Cubs on Friday. Fortunately their next 10 games are against the Cubs and Mets.
3. New York Yankees (66-46) Last week: 3 - The lead in the East is down to 5.5 games (over the Orioles). On July 18th that lead was almost double (10 games).
4. Texas Rangers (65-46) Last week: 4 - Are 6-3 since the trade deadline and have extended their lead in the West back up to a healthy 5.5 games.
5. Atlanta Braves (65-47) Last week: 6 - How amazing has closer Craig Kimbrel been this season? He's sporting a 1.26 ERA with 31 saves. He's struck out 75 batters and only walked 11 in 43 IP.
6. Pittsburgh Pirates (63-49) Last week: 5 - A.J. Burnett's ERA is almost two runs lower this season than it was last year with the Yankees (3.19-5.15).
7. St. Louis Cardinals (61-52) Last week: 13 - The defending Champs are starting to make a push. They're first in Runs Scored in the NL and own the best Run Differential in all of MLB.
8. San Francisco Giants (61-52) Last week: 10 - The offense is starting to get a little bit better. They're now up to 9th in the NL in RS (470).
9. Chicago White Sox (61-50) Last week: 11 - In 2 starts with the White Sox Fransisco Liriano has a 2.45 ERA, compared to his 5.31 ERA with the Twins.
10. Los Angeles Dodgers (61-52) Last week: 9 - So far (15 games) Hanley Ramirez has not been very impressive. His OPS is slightly lower with LA than it was with Miami (.728-.749).
11. Detroit Tigers (61-52) Last week: 12 - They won the first game of a three game set with the Rangers. On Saturday Ace Justin Verlander gives them a chance to win a big road series.
12. Oakland A's (60-52) Last week: 8 - Have cooled off in recent weeks and are 4-6 in their last 10. They are still in a great position to make a run at the playoffs though, 0.5 out of the WC.
13. Los Angeles Angels (60-53) Last week: 7 - Since Vernon Wells returned to the lineup the Angels are 5-8. Does it mean anything? Probably too small a sample size to tell for sure.
14. Baltimore Orioles (61-52) Last week: 14 - The Orioles called up Top Prospect Manny Machado. Two games into his career he became the youngest player to ever have a multi-homer game in one of his first two games.
15. Tampa Bay Rays (60-52) Last week: 16 - The Rays survived without Evan Longoria. But now he's back and the Rays are within striking distance of a WC finding themselves a half game back.
16. Arizona Diamondbacks (57-56) Last week: 15 - Jason Kubel is 3 HR and 26 RBI shy of tying his career best (28/103) set back in 2009. He has just under 60 games to do it.
17. Boston Red Sox (56-58) Last week: 17 - Bobby V thinks the Sox are a playoff team. Then again he also thinks he's not going to be fired any time soon. Wouldn't hold your breath on either.
18. Toronto Blue Jays (53-59) Last week: 18 - The season of injuries continues. The Jays now have 3/5 of the rotation on the DL and 4/9 of their starting lineup sidelined.
19. New York Mets (54-59) Last week: 20 - R.A. Dickey has continued his strong season in the second half and has now pushed his record to an impressive 15-3.
20. Cleveland Indians (52-61) Last week: 19 - Nine straight losses recently effectively ended any hopes they had of making a playoff run.
21. Milwaukee Brewers (51-60) Last week: 22 - The Brewers became the first National League team to sweep the Reds this season (a three game set at home).
22. Philadelphia Phillies (51-61) Last week: 24 - The Fightin's haven't finished last in the NL East since 2000. Right now they have a 0.5 cushion over the last place Marlins.
23. Miami Marlins (51-62) Last week: 23 - Despite the criticism the Marlins dumped Hanley Ramirez might end up being a brilliant, money saving, move.
24. Seattle Mariners (51-63) Last week: 21 - King Felix should once again find himself in the discussion for a Cy Young Award.
25. Minnesota Twins (49-63) Last week: 25 - The last time the Twins had back to back last place seasons (1999, 2000) they ripped off 6 playoff trips in 9 years. They're one game up on the Royals for 4th.
26. San Diego Padres (50-64) Last week: 27 - Are 16-11 since the All-Star Break.
27. Kansas City Royals (48-64) Last week: 28 - At least they were able to trade Closer Johnathon Broxton for something.
28. Chicago Cubs (44-67) Last week: 26 - Rizzo has 9 HR in 38 Games. Adrian Gonzalez has 12 in 112.
29. Colorado Rockies (41-69) Last week: 29 - Christian Friedrich leads the team in GS and has a 6.17 ERA. Enough said.
30. Houston Astros (37-77) Last week: 2-6 so far in August.
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