MLB Week 15 Power Rankings: An overview of the teams – Part 2
4. The Atlanta Braves have been climbing this season and have given a tough fight to even the top teams in the Majors. Their hard work has paid off as they are now just in touching distance of National League East Division leaders and top-ranked side Philadelphia
Phillies.
The Braves are 54-38 for the season with much of their improvement coming in their previous ten outings during which they have managed to win seven games.
Their pitching’ staff has been considerable. Jair Jurrjens, Craig Kimbrel and Jonny Venters have now formed a partnership which is hard to tackle.
One loss to the Braves, however, is substantial and they need a quick replacement. With Chipper Jones on the disabled list now, the management has to fill in with talent which will not take time to get going. Dan Uggla can be one option they will be looking
forward to.
5. The biggest jump in week 15 came from the Texas Rangers who are now placed strongly at the fifth position all the way from the tenth position.
Struggling at 44-41 at one point, the Rangers have now proudly marched to a win-loss record of 52-41 riding on a tremendous eight-game winning streak. They are leading the American League West Division with a decent margin and if this good form continues,
they might be challenging the top three teams in the Majors pretty soon.
Michael Young and Ian Kinsler now need more contributions from their batters for their success to be sustained.
C.J. Wilson needs a smart-head for rotation at the mound which the Rangers had lacked till now. Derek Holland, however, has answered the call and is now ready for the challenge after an exceptional performance against Seattle Mariners on July 14. Texas can
build on their chance against the Mariners to kick-start the second-half in style.
6. The San Francisco Giants are dictating terms in the National League West Division. With a win-loss record of 52-40, the Giants have a robust lead over second-placed Arizona Diamondbacks who are 49-43 for the season.
The Giants have had a decent run in the previous ten games with a 6-4 record and now a two-game winning streak. They are now playing the last-placed San Diego Padres and a clean-sweep here would give them a bright opportunity to kick-start the second-half
and re-enter the top five teams in MLB.
For the second-half, however, the Giants need to score more runs if they want to contend for the play-off spot. The competition is going to get intense and pitching alone cannot win games anymore. Brandon Belt is one prospect to be able to help the Giants
in this area and they will be hoping for Belt to comeback quickly from his rehab assignment.
7. The Tampa Bay Rays have slipped two places to be ranked at the seventh position in week 15 of the MLB. Their fall has been mostly because of their lacklustre performance in their last ten games where they were able to gather just four wins.
The Rays have not been so good playing at home either and need a quick resurgence to improve their 21-21 home record.
James Shields has been their prominent firepower at the mound but with others not firing, his accuracy may become wayward.
John Jaso has been placed on the 15-day disabled list and with Boston Red Sox next up, the Rays need to devise an intellectual strategy.
Continued in Part 3
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