We are now three months into the 2021 MLB season and the Houston Astros potent offense has led them to the No. 1 spot on the SportsTips’ MLB Power Rankings heading into Week 12.
Here’s where all 30 MLB teams stand heading into Week 12 of the 2021 MLB season:
1. Houston Astros
World Series Championship Odds: +900
Current Record: 43-28
Previous Rankings: 6
As a result of sweeping both the Rangers in two games and the White Sox in four games, the Houston Astros were our only undefeated team in Week 11, which has moved them to the No. 1 SportsTips’ MLB Power Rankings heading into Week 12. Houston really got the chance to flex their muscles against the AL Central Leading Whites Sox last week, outscoring Chicago 27-8 in the four game series, as only one match was decided by fewer than four runs.
Swept the Sox. 🧹#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/zmZx2DaI9q
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 20, 2021
The Astros are 16-4 in their past 20 matches, their 5.62 runs per game makes them the most prolific scoring offense in baseball, and although they own the best record in the league against above .500 teams, they do not play one for the remainder of June, giving them a great opportunity to extend their lead in the AL West.
2. San Francisco Giants
World Series Championship Odds: +2200
Current Record: 46-26
Previous Rankings: 3
After sweeping the Diamondbacks in their four game series, San Francisco won two of their three games against the Phillies to round out their seven game stint at home with a 6-1 record. San Francisco have not lost back to back games in almost a month, and they are now one and a half games clear of Los Angeles in the NL West.
As good as Kevin Gausman and Anthony DeSclafani have been at the mound this season, the Giants lineup increased their production in Week 11, averaging 8.43 runs from their six games last week. Mike Yastrzemski’s first career grand slam led a seven-run comeback over Arizona last Tuesday, while Buster Posey is slashing .372/.438/.535 with seven runs scored in his past 12 games and Brandon Belt is hitting .429 with eight extra-base hits in his past seven games.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
World Series Championship Odds: +360
Current Record: 44-27
Previous Rankings: 5
Los Angeles finished a stint at home with a 2-1 series victory over the Phillies early in Week 11, before they then kicked off a six game road trip with a three game sweep over the Diamondbacks in Arizona. The Dodgers have capitalized on an easier schedule lately, winning 10 of their last 12 games against the Pirates, Rangers, Phillies and Diamondbacks.
Things will get tougher for Los Angeles over the next few weeks, as they are set to face San Diego, Chicago (Cubs) and San Francisco. However, the Dodgers lineup has begun to fire, scoring 18 runs in their two most recent games to increase NL West leading run differential to +103.
4. Chicago White Sox
World Series Championship Odds: +700
Current Record: 43-29
Previous Rankings: 2
The Chicago White Sox managed a 2-5 record from their two Week 11 sets against quality AL rivals, winning two of their three games against Rays at home before they were swept by the Astros in their four game series in Houston, where they were outscored 27-8 in the four losses.
Even with the five losses last week, the White Sox are still two and a half games clear of the Indians in the AL Central. However, Chicago are now 17-23 against teams .500 or better.
5. Tampa Bay Rays
World Series Championship Odds: +1400
Current Record: 43-30
Previous Rankings: 1
Week 11 was quite the reality check for the Rays, as they lost six consecutive games to the White Sox and Mariners after defeating Chicago in their series opener on Monday. Although they finished the week with a 1-6 record, four of Tampa Bays six losses were walk-offs.
As a result of their season high six game losing streak, the Rays have relinquished top spot in the AL East to the Boston Red Sox, whom they now trail by just half a game. To make matters worse in Tampa, ace Tyler Glasnow has landed himself on the IL with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament.
6. Oakland Athletics
World Series Championship Odds: +1800
Current Record: 44-29
Previous Rankings: 8
The A’s began Week 11 by sweeping the Angels before closing out the week with just one win from their three games against the Yankees. The series loss to New York was Oakland’s first since losing two of three games against Seattle (May 24-26), and it was also their first series defeat on the road this season.
Having averaged 5.5 runs per game in Week 11, the A’s offense has been sneakily solid this season, as Matt Olson is not far from being in the MVP conversation. Olson is hitting .305/.381/.617 with 20 homers and 53 RBIs this year.
7. Boston Red Sox
World Series Championship Odds: +2000
Current Record: 43-29
Previous Rankings: 4
Boston won four of their six games against Toronto, Atlanta and Kansas City last week. After wrapping up their series at home with a win over the Blue Jays, the Red Sox went 3-2 from their five road games against the Braves and Royals, improving their record on the road to a league best 23-12 record.
Having scored the fourth most runs in MLB so far in June, Boston’s potent lineup is performing well enough to subsidise their capitulating pitching staff. They will need to improve on their production at the mound in Week 12, as they prepare for three road games against the Rays and three games at home against the Yankees.
8. San Diego Padres
World Series Championship Odds: +850
Current Record: 42-32
Previous Rankings: 10
It was a tail of two series for the Padres in Week 11, as San Diego were swept by the Rockies in Colorado early in the week before returning to form with a four game sweep of their own against the Reds at home. Prior to returning home to face Cincinnati, San Diego had a 13-4 record from their past 17 games.
Fernando Tatís Jr. is expected to return after a shoulder injury scare over the weekend, which should give the Padres a boost for their upcoming series against the Dodgers at home.
9. New York Mets
World Series Championship Odds: +850
Current Record: 36-29
Previous Rankings: 11
New York managed a 4-4, .500 week from their eight games against Chicago (Cubs) and Washington. After winning three of their four games against the NL Central leading Cubs, the Mets dropped three of their four games against their division rivals in the National. New York have started their stretch of 33 games in 31 days with a 6-5 record, as their durability is going to be tested over the next three weeks.
On Jacob deGrom’s 33rd birthday, we yet again appreciate what an incredible season he is having. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/NoKkkJKTyH
— MLB (@MLB) June 19, 2021
NL Cy Young favorite Jacob deGrom threw just three innings against the Cubs on Wednesday before leaving the game with a shoulder injury. deGrom had allowed no runs on no hits with eight strikeouts prior to departing the game.
10. Chicago Cubs
World Series Championship Odds: +3200
Current Record: 40-32
Previous Rankings: 7
After winning just one of their four games against the Mets in New York, Chicago dropped two of their three games against the Marlins at home, giving them a 2-5 record from their seven games in Week 11.
Although they still share top spot in the NL Central with the Brewers, the Cubs lineup has fallen off the face of the earth recently. Chicago scored two runs or fewer in six of their seven games last week, as Kris Bryant has just seven hits, one homer and three RBIs in 60 plate appearances this month.
11. New York Yankees
World Series Championship Odds: +1300
Current Record: 38-33
Previous Rankings: 16
New York won five of their six games against Toronto on the road and Oakland at home last week, giving them the best Week 11 record in the AL East after coming up against two of the best teams in the American League. Holding a one run lead with two runners on base and no outs at the top of the ninth inning on Sunday afternoon, New York pulled off a walk off triple play (their third of the season) to beat the A’s.
Led by Gerrit Cole, the Yankees are heavily reliant on their pitching staff this season. Cole has eight wins (third most in the league) from 11 quality starts (second most in the league) this season, and his 117 strikeouts are good for the fifth most in baseball.
12. Cleveland Indians
World Series Championship Odds: +4800
Current Record: 39-30
Previous Rankings: 13
Although injury is ravaging their pitching staff, Cleveland still managed to win five of their seven games against Baltimore and Pittsburgh last week, sweeping the O’s at home before dropping two games in Pittsburgh. Granted, they did face two of the worst teams in the league in Week 11, but the Indians are now just two and a half games behind the White Sox in the AL Central.
Aaron Civale is the only regular starter left in the rotation, as reigning Cy Young winner Shane Bieber will not practice for at least two weeks due to a shoulder injury. Thankfully for Cleveland, two of their next three series are against below .500 teams.
13. Milwaukee Brewers
World Series Championship Odds: +1800
Current Record: 40-32
Previous Rankings: 9
Milwaukee began Week 11 with a five game losing streak after being swept by the Reds at home and dropping the opening two games of their set against the Rockies in Colorado. However, the Brewers salvaged a 2-5 week and held onto the shared top spot in the NL Central after beating the Rockies in the final two games of their series.
Surprisingly for Milwaukee, Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes took the two losses in Colorado, allowing nine earned runs on 13 hits in 10.1 combined innings across the two games.
14. Cincinnati Reds
World Series Championship Odds: +6500
Current Record: 35-35
Previous Rankings: 15
Cincinnati kicked off Week 11 with an impressive three game sweep over the Brewers in Milwaukee. However, the Reds were then swept in their four game set against the Padres in San Diego, giving them a 3-4 Week 11 record. In what was truly two polar opposite halves of the week, Cincinnati outscored Milwaukee 14-4 in their three games, before they were outscored 13-24 against San Diego.
The Reds have a .500 record and are just four games behind the division leading Cubs/Brewers, as they prepare for three consecutive series against below .500 teams before getting their chance at revenge against San Diego at home.
15. Toronto Blue Jays
World Series Championship Odds: +3400
Current Record: 35-35
Previous Rankings: 12
Toronto lost their first five games of Week 11, dropping the final match of their set against the Red Sox in Boston before they were swept by the Yankees at ‘home’. The Blue Jays losing streak extended to five consecutive games after they dropped their series opener against the O’s in Baltimore, however Toronto closed out Week 11 with a pair of wins to secure a 2-1 series victory on the road and a 2-5 record for the week.
It’s a FOUR-hit game for Reese 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OkfYyc90BZ
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 20, 2021
Although their pitching staff is conceding the third most home runs per nine innings in baseball, Toronto have the fourth highest run differential in the American League. However, the Blue Jays currently sit fourth in the AL East with a .500 record due to their 5-9 record in one run games.
16. Philadelphia Phillies
World Series Championship Odds: +6000
Current Record: 34-35
Previous Rankings: 14
The Phillies managed just a pair of 1-2 series losses in Week 11, however a 2-4 record is nothing to be ashamed of when coming up against the Dodgers in Los Angeles and the Giants in San Francisco.
Zack Wheeler handed the Dodgers their first shutout loss since September of 2019, giving him an impressive 2.15 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 118 strikeouts in 96.1 innings this year. Offensively, Bryce Harper isn’t looking healthy at the moment, owning just a .677 OPS over his last 27 games.
17. Seattle Mariners
World Series Championship Odds: +14000
Current Record: 38-36
Previous Rankings: 21
After winning two of their three games against the Twins in Seattle, the Mariners closed out Week 11 with a four game sweep over the Rays at home, giving them a 6-1 record last week. Although three of their four wins against Tampa Bay were walk-off victories, Seattle have now won seven of their past eight games.
The Mariners averaged 5.57 runs per game last week, as J.P Crawford continued his hot start to the summer. Crawford has batted .364/.414/.584 in 19 games this month, and his 11 extra base hits are as many as he has had in his previous 54 games this season.
18. Los Angeles Angels
World Series Championship Odds: +6500
Current Record: 36-36
Previous Rankings: 17
Although they were swept by the A’s in their first three games last week, the Angels salvaged a 3-4 record after winning three of their four games against the Tigers at home. Los Angeles clubbed 42 runs in Week 11, bringing their total for June to 118, the most of any MLB team.
Shohei Ohtani did his MVP campaign no harm in Week 11, as he has now clubbed six homers in his last six games, giving him eight home runs and an .830 slugging percentage this month. Ohtani is also 2-0 with 23 strikeouts and a 2.65 ERA in 17 innings on the mound.
19. Atlanta Braves
World Series Championship Odds: +3000
Current Record: 33-36
Previous Rankings: 18
Atlanta finished a road trip with a pair of losses to the Red Sox in Boston early in Week 11 before they kicked off a four game stint at home with three wins from their four games against the Cardinals.
Although they still haven’t been above .500 at any point this season, the Braves will take confidence out of Max Fried returning to his 2020 ace level form after coming back from a hamstring injury. Fried has a 2.53 ERA in eight starts with 41 strikeouts in 46.2 innings.
20. St Louis Cardinals
World Series Championship Odds: +4000
Current Record: 36-36
Previous Rankings: 19
Although they won four of their seven games in Week 11, St Louis have a 6-15 record from their last 21 games as they are now a .500 team. The Cardinals swept the Marlins in their three game series early in Week 11 before winning just one of their three four games against the Braves in Atlanta.
With Jack Flaherty on the IL, John Gant and Carlos Martinez have failed to perform at the mound with a greater responsibility. Gant has allowed 15 runs over 11 innings in his last three starts, while Martinez has a 6.62 ERA in 13 starts this year.
21. Washington Nationals
World Series Championship Odds: +8000
Current Record: 33-36
Previous Rankings: 22
Washington made up some ground to return to contention in the NL East last week, winning six of their seven games against Pittsburgh and the division leading New York Mets. The Nationals now have eight wins from their past 10 games and they are just one game behind the second placed Phillies and five games behind the Mets.
Kyle Schwarber has continued to dominate form since being moved to the leadoff spot. Schwarber is now the only player in franchise history to have hit nine home runs in a 10 game span, as a result of his three homer game on Sunday against the Mets.
22. Miami Marlins
World Series Championship Odds: +14000
Current Record: 31-40
Previous Rankings: 20
After being swept by the Cardinals in St Louis early in Week 11, the Marlins salvaged a 2-4 record last week after winning two of their three games against the Cubs in Chicago. Miami’s lineup scored 21 runs in their two victories, however they managed just three runs in their four losses.
Miami improved on their run differential last week after outscoring their opponents 24-11, however a 2-4 record reflects how streaky they have been. The Marlins 3.40 team ERA is good for the seventh best in baseball, even though Miami have used a league high 13 different starting pitchers this season.
23. Minnesota Twins
World Series Championship Odds: +10000
Current Record: 30-41
Previous Rankings: 24
Minnesota dropped their first two games of Week 11 to Seattle, as they were outscored 3-14. However, the Twins turned things around in the back half of the week, winning their final four games and outscoring the Mariners and Rangers 21-11 in that time.
When healthy, Byron Buxton has been putting up MVP numbers. He’s having an absolutely insane year when on the field
— Ben Verlander (@Verly32) June 20, 2021
After missing 39 games with a hip injury, Byron Buxton made his return for Minnesota last week, hitting at .333 with one home run against Texas. On the mound, Kenta Maeda looks to have bounced back after a rough start to the year with the ball, owning a 2-0 record, 3.77 ERA and 30 strikeouts from his last six starts.
24. Detroit Tigers
World Series Championship Odds: +50000
Current Record: 30-42
Previous Rankings: 25
After sweeping the Royals in Kansas City early in Week 11, the Tigers then lost the first three games of their series against the Angels. However, Detroit managed to win the fourth and final game of their set in Los Angeles to salvage an above .500 week.
Although the Tigers own a bottom 10 team ERA, former No. 1 pick Casey Mize has allowed no more than three runs in each of his last 10 starts, posting a 3.06 ERA in the process.
25. Colorado Rockies
World Series Championship Odds: +50000
Current Record: 30-43
Previous Rankings: 26
Colorado continued their dominant form at Coors Field this season, winning their first five games of the week against San Diego and Milwaukee. The Rockies missed out on the opportunity to record back to back sweeps at home against a pair of above .500 opponents, as they dropped the final two games of their series against the Brewers.
The Rockies 5-2 record at home gives them an impressive 25-16 record in Colorado this year, and subsequently leaves them with a lowly 5-27 record on the road. As Colorado prepares for a daunting five game stint on the road against two above .500 teams, Austin Gomber has landed himself on the IL after injuring his forearm. In his last seven starts, Gomber had a 1.28 ERA with 41 strikeouts and just three walks in 42.1 innings.
26. Kansas City Royals
World Series Championship Odds: +11000
Current Record: 32-38
Previous Rankings: 23
Although they were swept by the Tigers at home early in Week 11, the Royals then closed out their six game stint at home with a 2-1 series victory over the Red Sox. As they own just a 3-12 record from their past 15 games, last weekend’s victory over Boston was Kansas City’s first series win of the summer.
The Royals win-loss record is not reflecting the good work that is happening at the top of their lineup, as Whit Merrifield has increased his output with the bat. Merrifield is hitting at .338 in 18 games in June.
27. Texas Rangers
World Series Championship Odds: +50000
Current Record: 25-46
Previous Rankings: 27
The Rangers had another winless week after losing both of their games against the Astros in Houston and each of their three games against the Twins in Texas. An 0-5 record gives the Rangers a lowly 3-19 record from their last 22 games.
Texas should try and maximise Kyle Gibson’s value prior to the trade deadline. The 33 year old has a 2.09 ERA in 2021 and even though he is having a solid individual season, the Rangers still own a 4.62 team ERA, the 22nd best in the league.
28. Pittsburgh Pirates
World Series Championship Odds: +50000
Current Record: 25-45
Previous Rankings: 28
Pittsburgh were swept for the third consecutive series in their opening set of Week 11, as they were outscored 4-14 against the Nationals in Washington. The Pirates then brought an end to their 10 game losing streak with a pair of wins at home against the Indians, giving them a 2-4 record for the week.
Even though Bryan Reynolds has a .394 OBP and 12 homers this year, Pittsburgh have clubbed an MLB low 51 home runs in 2021, 15 fewer than the second last placed Arizona Diamondbacks.
29. Baltimore Orioles
World Series Championship Odds: +50000
Current Record: 23-48
Previous Rankings: 29
The Baltimore Orioles lost six of their seven games last week as they were swept by the Indians in Cleveland and defeated in two of their three games by the Blue Jays in Baltimore. The sweep by the Indians has extended the Orioles losing streak on the road to 19 consecutive games, and Baltimore’s 23-48 record is the worst in the American League.
Despite the Orioles poor form as a team, Cedric Mullins is having a solid season, hitting at a .319/.389/.552 slash line with 13 homers. The center fielder leads the AL in hits (86) and ranks fourth in steals (12) and OPS (.941).
30. Arizona Diamondbacks
World Series Championship Odds: +50000
Current Record: 20-53
Previous Rankings: 30
Week 11 was yet another winless week for Arizona, as the Diamondbacks were swept by both the Giants in San Francisco and the Dodgers in Arizona. The 0-7 record extended their active losing streak to 17 consecutive games and the four losses to San Francisco extended their active losing streak of road losses to 23 games.
The Diamondbacks are now 5-40 since April as they prepare for upcoming series against the Brewers at home, Padres in San Diego, Cardinals in St Louis and Giants in Arizona.
*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel
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