After claiming a 3-1 series victory against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, San Francisco have held onto the No. 1 spot on the SportsTips MLB Power Rankings after 16 weeks of baseball. Look below to find out where your team ranks as we approach Friday’s trade deadline!
Here’s where all 30 MLB teams stand heading into Week 17 of the 2021 MLB season:
1. San Francisco Giants
World Series Championship Odds: +1000
Current Record: 62-37
Previous Rankings: 1
Although they closed out Week 16 with a 1-2 series loss to the Pirates at home, the Giants made a statement earlier in the week, winning three of their four games against the Dodger in Los Angeles to see them hold onto the No. 1 spot on SportsTips’ MLB Power Rankings heading into Week 17 of the season.
Series W. #BeatLA pic.twitter.com/v21dhy3eoX
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) July 23, 2021
The two losses against Pittsburgh, who are on track to be a 100 loss team, were an unfortunate blemish that leaves San Francisco with a 5-5 record since the All-Star break. However, the Giants still have the best record in baseball as they prepare for a mouthwatering homestand that will see them host the Dodgers and Astros.
2. Houston Astros
World Series Championship Odds: +460
Current Record: 61-39
Previous Rankings: 4
As a result of their 5-1 Week 16 record from games against Cleveland and Texas at home, Houston now have a shared lead of the best record in the American League thanks to their 6-3 record since the All-Star break. Prolific scoring has been the theme behind Houston’s 2021 season, as their 5.35 runs per game average is a league high.
The Astros five and a half game lead over the A’s in the AL West is a season high, however they will now embark on a challenging eight game road trip that will see them face the Mariners, Giants and Dodgers.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
World Series Championship Odds: +380
Current Record: 61-40
Previous Rankings: 2
Although they are still just two games behind the division leading Giants in the NL West, we couldn’t rationalise keeping the Dodgers in the No. 2 spot on the SportsTips MLB Power Rankings after they surrendered three of their four home games to San Francisco. However, the Dodgers did close out their homestand with two wins from their three games against the Rockies to salvage a 3-4 record.
Unfortunately for Los Angeles, Mookie Betts joined the likes of Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger, Clayton Kershaw, Trevor Bauer and Dustin May on the IL with hip inflammation. We are confident that the Dodgers will still be around at the pointy end of the season, however there is a lot of talent currently on the IL.
4. Boston Red Sox
World Series Championship Odds: +1200
Current Record: 61-39
Previous Rankings: 5
Following the All-Star break, Boston was not scheduled to play a non-division rival until August 3rd. As it stands, the Red Sox are 6-3 in that stretch, including a 5-1 Week 16 record, and they have maintained a narrow one game lead on top of the AL East, holding off the surging Tampa Bay Rays.
While their damaging offense (5.09 runs per game) has been the storyline on Boston’s year to date, the Red Sox pitching staff is really coming into their own in the second half of the regular season, as they only conceded 5+ runs once from their nine games post-break.
5. Chicago White Sox
World Series Championship Odds: +600
Current Record: 59-40
Previous Rankings: 3
As a result of their 3-4 Week 16 record from games against Minnesota and Milwaukee, Chicago will enter Week 17 of the season with a nine game lead on top of the AL Central. The White Sox split their four home games against the Twins before dropping two of their three games to the Brewers on the road.
Chicago are in a dominant position within their division and they have built that lead without Eloy Jiménez. Jiménez will rejoin the team on Monday to strengthen what already has been one of the best offenses in the AL (4.99 runs per game this season).
6. Tampa Bay Rays
World Series Championship Odds: +1200
Current Record: 60-40
Previous Rankings: 7
Although they lost their first and last games of Week 16, Tampa Bay won the five games in between to finish the week with a 5-2 record and remain within one game of the division leading Boston Red Sox. The Rays won two of three against the Orioles at home before winning three of four against the Indians on the road.
Tampa Bay received an offensive boost last week after signing the ageless Nelson Cruz from Minnesota. The 41 year old has two home runs in three games since the trade. The Rays have won 13 of their past 17 games as they prepare for an upcoming schedule that will see them host the Yankees and Red Sox.
7. Milwaukee Brewers
World Series Championship Odds: +1200
Current Record: 58-42
Previous Rankings: 6
After uncharacteristically dropping a pair of games to the lowly Royals at home, the Brewers took two wins from their three games against the White Sox over the weekend for a 2-3 Week 16 record, which has extended their lead in the NL Central to six and a half games.
Although Milwaukee scored 14 runs in their series against Chicago, the series was won with the ball as they sent Brandon Woodruff, Freddy Peralta and Corbin Burnes to the mound for each of the three starts.
8. San Diego Padres
World Series Championship Odds: +900
Current Record: 58-44
Previous Rankings: 8
A .500 week for the Padres sees the gap between them and the division leading Giants extend to five and a half games heading into Week 17 of the MLB season. San Diego split both their two game series (one postponed) against Atlanta on the road and their four game series against Miami on the road.
However off the field, the Padres made some progressive moves, signing Adam Frazier from Pittsburgh. San Diego are also rumored to be linked to José Berríos as they look to make a run for top spot in the NL West.
9. New York Mets
World Series Championship Odds: +1000
Current Record: 52-44
Previous Rankings: 12
New York extended their lead on top of the NL East thanks to four wins from their six games against the Reds in Cincinnati and the Blue Jays in New York. The Mets now have a three and half game lead over the Phillies in their division.
Jacob deGrom is throwing again 👀 pic.twitter.com/huitA1Fm9T
— MLB (@MLB) July 22, 2021
Ace pitcher Jacob deGrom is nearing a rehab assignment and Carlos Carrasco is close to making his season debut. The pair will join Taijuan Walker and Marcus Stroman in what will be a frighteningly talented pitching staff for the remainder of the season. However, it was the Mets offense that impressed last week, as they scored 36 runs across their six games.
10. Oakland Athletics
World Series Championship Odds: +2500
Current Record: 56-45
Previous Rankings: 9
As a result of their .500 Week 16 record coinciding with the Astros 5-1 week, the A’s are now a season high five and a half games off the pace of Houston in the AL West standings. Oakland won both of their games against the Angels at home, before dropping three of their four games to the Mariners in Seattle.
As it stands, the A’s are still holding onto the second American League wildcard spot, however they will need to find some more wins as they continue their 10 game road trip against the Padres and Angels this week.
11. Seattle Mariners
World Series Championship Odds: +30000
Current Record: 54-46
Previous Rankings: 11
As a result of their 4-2 Week 16 record against the Rockies in Colorado and A’s at home, Seattle are now the first MLB team since 1901 to be eight games above .500 through 100 games of the season with a run differential of -50 or worse. Despite their -52 run differential, the Mariners are only one and a half games off the pace in the race for the second AL wildcard spot.
We’ve been saying all season that this style of play may not be sustainable, however with three more one run victories on the weekend, it is tough to argue that for the time being.
12. New York Yankees
World Series Championship Odds: +3000
Current Record: 51-47
Previous Rankings: 13
After opening up Week 16 with a pair of wins against the Phillies in New York, the Yankees limped to a 3-3 record after dropping three of four against their arch rivals in Boston over the weekend. New York are now nine games behind their division leaders in the AL East and eight games behind the second placed Rays.
Sunday’s loss truly typified New York’s season as the Yankees took a 4-0 lead into the eighth after Domingo Germán threw seven no-hit innings. The Red Sox went on to win the game 5-4, which now leaves New York with just three wins from 13 games against Boston in 2021.
13. Toronto Blue Jays
World Series Championship Odds: +2200
Current Record: 49-46
Previous Rankings: 10
Toronto are now a season high nine and a half games behind Boston in the AL East after winning just one of their five games against the Red Sox and Mets last week. The 1-4 record gives the Blue Jays a lowly 24-34 record against above .500 teams.
Robbie Rays conceded four runs in his last start on Wednesday, which brought an end to a nine-start streak of allowing three runs or fewer. The southpaw still owns a 3.12 ERA in 19 starts this season and he has been a shining light in a pretty lacklustre pitching staff.
14. Cincinnati Reds
World Series Championship Odds: +8000
Current Record: 51-48
Previous Rankings: 14
Cincinnati finished Week 16 with a 3-3, .500 record from their six games against New York (Mets) and St Louis at home. Although the Reds are now just six and a half games behind the division leading Brewers in the NL Central, All-Star Nick Castellanos has landed on the IL with a wrist fracture, which is a big out.
Despite his 4-10 record, Luis Castillo continued his solid form with the ball last week, as he now owns a 1.71 ERA from his last 10 starts. In that time he has held opposition hitters to a .180 batting average.
15. Atlanta Braves
World Series Championship Odds: +6000
Current Record: 48-50
Previous Rankings: 18
Although many believed that their season was over after Ronald Acuna Jr. tore his ACL, the Braves have shown lots of fight early in the season half of the regular season, winning three of their six games against the Padres and Phillies last week.
A little insurance never hurt 😇@yungjoc650 | #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/r5jAv0dKVq
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 25, 2021
Atlanta will start Week 17 five games behind the Mets in the NL East, and they prepare to face New York in what may be a season defining five game series for the surging Braves.
16. Philadelphia Phillies
World Series Championship Odds: +5000
Current Record: 49-49
Previous Rankings: 15
Although they won just two of their six games against the Yankees and Braves last week, the Phillies are currently well positioned in the NL East as New York and Atlanta are about to embark on a five game head to head series.
Depending on their own form and how that series unfolds, Philadelphia could soon see themselves within a game of top spot in their division. Especially when considering that the Phillies next 11 games come against the Nationals (eight) and Pirates (three). If they are the real deal, we will know in the next two weeks.
17. Los Angeles Angels
World Series Championship Odds: +12000
Current Record: 49-49
Previous Rankings: 17
A 3-3 Week 16 record leaves Los Angeles with a 49-49, .500 overall record so far this season. The Angels lost a pair of games against the A’s in Oakland before defeating the Twins three times from their four game in Minnesota.
Unfortunately for Los Angeles, Mike Trout suffered a setback in his return from a calf injury, which does not bode well for the Angels playoff hopes. LA are currently five and a half games off the pace for the second AL wildcard spot.
18. Cleveland Indians
World Series Championship Odds: +20000
Current Record: 49-48
Previous Rankings: 16
Despite only being five games off the pace for a wildcard spot in the American League, Cleveland did their playoff aspirations no favors over the weekend, winning just two of their seven games against the Astros in Houston and Rays at home. The Indians are now nine games behind the division leading White Sox in the AL Central as a result of their 7-13 record in July.
To make matters worse, there are rumors that Cleveland is prepared to trade Jose Ramirez. Ramirez is in his prime, he doesn’t have a huge contract and they aren’t in a rebuild.
19. St Louis Cardinals
World Series Championship Odds: +1200
Current Record: 50-50
Previous Rankings: 19
St Louis fought their way back to a .500 record for the first time in one month last week after winning four of their seven games against Chicago at home and Cincinnati on the road. The Cardinals are now just a game and a half behind the second placed Reds in the NL Central.
Kwang Hyun Kim gave up just two runs in six innings on Thursday against the Cubs, giving him an impressive 1.83 ERA from his last eight starts.
20. Chicago Cubs
World Series Championship Odds: +12000
Current Record: 49-51
Previous Rankings: 20
The Cubs won just three of their seven games against the Cardinals and Diamondbacks last week, leaving them two games below .500 and nine games off the pace in the NL Central.
As we approach the trade deadline, it is beginning to look like the end of an era for Chicago, as Javier Baez, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo are all candidates to get traded before Friday.
21. Detroit Tigers
World Series Championship Odds: +50000
Current Record: 47-54
Previous Rankings: 21
After sweeping the Rangers at home to start Week 16, the Tigers were on a seven game winning streak and just four games below .500, the closest they’ve been to an even record since April. However, Detroit’s bubble was then burst by the Royals, as they were swept in three games over the weekend.
The Tigers have been more than competitive in this rebuilding season, as they are now 25-22 since the start of the summer.
22. Washington Nationals
World Series Championship Odds: +12000
Current Record: 45-53
Previous Rankings: 22
After getting us excited in June, the Nationals continue to slip further and further below .500 in July after winning just two of their six games against the Marlins and Orioles last week. Washington are 3-10 in their past 13 games and 5-15 since the start of July.
After being swept by the lowly Orioles in Baltimore, the Nationals are eight games back in the NL East and 11 back of a wildcard spot.
23. Miami Marlins
World Series Championship Odds: +30000
Current Record: 43-57
Previous Rankings: 24
Despite having the third best run differential in their division, Miami still finds themselves in last place in the NL East after winning just three of their seven games against the Nationals in Washington and the Padres at home.
𝓢𝓸 𝓼𝓶𝓸𝓸𝓽𝓱
Starling Marte makes the incredible play to concentrate on the ball UNDERNEATH Lewis Brinson 🤯@Marlins | #JuntosMiami pic.twitter.com/Ad0QIqqEMz
— Bally Sports Florida: Marlins (@BallyMarlins) July 25, 2021
Outfielder Starling Marte is rumored to be linked to the San Francisco Giants as a potential suitor prior to the trade deadline. Marte went 6-13 in four games against the Padres over the weekend and he’s 17-37 since the break.
24. Kansas City Royals
World Series Championship Odds: +50000
Current Record: 42-55
Previous Rankings: 27
I’m not quite sure if I believe it, but the Royals were our only undefeated team in Week 16 after sweeping both the Brewers and Tigers last week. Although Kansas City had a -101 run differential in 2021 prior to Week 16, they outscored their opponents by 14 runs over the weekend.
Danny Duffy has been linked to the Giants, Dodgers and Padres in trade rumors, however the Royals ace will be out for the foreseeable future after suffering a left flexor strain for the second time this season
25. Colorado Rockies
World Series Championship Odds: +50000
Current Record: 43-56
Previous Rankings: 23
With two games at home and three games on the road, it is no surprise that Colorado finished with a 2-3 record. However, the Rockies won just one of their home games against the Mariners last week before winning one of their three games against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
Jon Gray held the Dodgers to just two runs and four hits in five innings on Sunday, marking the fifth time that he has gone 5+ innings while allowing three or fewer runs in his last six starts. It was likely Gray’s last start as a member of the Rockies pitching staff, as both Gray and Trevor Story will likely be traded.
26. Minnesota Twins
World Series Championship Odds: +50000
Current Record: 42-58
Previous Rankings: 25
As a result of the Royals going 5-0 last week, the Twins are now a game and a half behind Kansas City at the bottom of the AL Central standings, as they won just three of their eight games in Week 16. Minnesota split their four game series against the White Sox in Chicago before dropping three of their four games against the Angels at home.
The Twins have already traded Nelson Cruz to the Rays, however there are also rumors that José Berríos will be traded prior to Friday’s deadline.
27. Pittsburgh Pirates
World Series Championship Odds: +50000
Current Record: 38-61
Previous Rankings: 26
After they were swept by the Diamondbacks in Arizona early last week, the Pirates pulled off an upset over the weekend as they defeated the Giants twice in Pittsburgh. Although their series victory against San Francisco was impressive, the Pirates were still swept by the worst team in baseball last week and they are now 19 and a half games behind the division leading Brewers in the NL Central.
Off the field, Pittsburgh finally made the long-expected trade of Adam Frazier, as the All-Star second baseman was shipped to the Padres.
28. Baltimore Orioles
World Series Championship Odds: +50000
Current Record: 34-64
Previous Rankings: 29
The Orioles won four of their six games last week, including a 1-2 series loss to the Rays in Tampa Bay and a three game series sweep over the Nationals in Baltimore. Although they are 30 games below .500, Baltimore has a 6-2 record from their last eight games, and one of those losses came with a walk-off.
The O’s got another solid performance out of Matt Harvey on Saturday, as the right hander threw six scoreless innings for just one hit.
29. Texas Rangers
World Series Championship Odds: +50000
Current Record: 35-65
Previous Rankings: 28
As a result of being swept by both the Tigers in Detroit and the Astros in Houston, Texas were our only winless team in Week 16 due to their 0-7 record. The Rangers are now losers of 12 consecutive games and they own a lowly 4-16 record so far in July.
Texas’ Kyle Gibson was shaping up to be one of the most sought after pitchers on the market as we approached the trade deadline. However, the ace has allowed 15 earned runs in 17.1 across his last three starts.
30. Arizona Diamondbacks
World Series Championship Odds: +50000
Current Record: 31-70
Previous Rankings: 30
After winning four of their six games last week, Arizona had almost done enough to surpass Texas and drop the tag of the worst team in baseball, however they are still a league low 39 games below .500. The Diamondbacks swept the Pirates at home early in Week 16 before dropping two of their three games to the Cubs in Chicago. They have now won nine games in July which is more than they combined for in May and Junes (eight).
Merrill Kelly continued his solid form with the ball over the weekend, allowing two runs in six innings against the Cubs. The right-hander has a 2.62 ERA through his last seven outings, and Arizona could get a big return for him prior to the deadline if they decide to trade.
*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel
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