Ready for an I-75 World Series?
Less than 500 miles of interstate separate Atlanta from Tampa Bay, and in a figurative sense, the Atlanta baseball club has been sneaking up on the fellows from St. Petersburg for the past few weeks.
Now, the Braves have finally run down the Rays atop USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings.
All it took was a record-breaking June in which the Braves slugged 61 home runs and won 21 of 25 games to run down the Rays, who raged to a 40-18 start. Lately, they’ve played, well, not poorly, but more pedestrian and now ace Shane McClanahan is on the injured list.
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That’s all enough for the Braves (56-27) to nose ahead of the Rays (57-30). At least for the moment.
A look at this week’s rankings:
1. Atlanta Braves (+1)
- Eighty-seven first inning runs easily lead the majors.
2. Tampa Bay Rays (-1)
- Not known for big trade deadline deals. Will pitching injuries force their hand?
3. Texas Rangers (-)
- Found out the Astros will, in fact, be a factor.
4. Baltimore Orioles (-)
- Nothing short of winning the World Series unlikelier than “Yennier Cano, All-Star.”
5. Arizona Diamondbacks (-)
- Timing works out well for Zac Gallen All-Star start, if so inclined.
6. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)
- Clayton Kershaw’s bum shoulder the latest annoyance.
7. Miami Marlins (-)
- Solid first half, but not quite ready for Braves buzzsaw.
8. San Francisco Giants (-)
- Obligatory weekly Patrick Bailey reference.
9. New York Yankees (-)
- Big series against Orioles.
10. Houston Astros (+1)
- Jose Altuve’s OPS up to .862.
11. Los Angeles Angels (-1)
- He can’t catch Aaron Judge. Can he?
12. Cincinnati Reds (+2)
- No fluke: Andrew Abbott’s ERA 1.21 after six starts.
13. Toronto Blue Jays (-2)
- With the Padres and Mets simply bad, they hold title of most maddening team.
14. Milwaukee Brewers (+2)
- 7-3 on 10-game road trip.
15. Boston Red Sox (-2)
- If only they could play the Blue Jays every series.
16. Philadelphia Phillies (-1)
- Nick Castellanos is carrying.
17. Minnesota Twins (-)
- Griffin Jax hasn’t allowed earned run in 17 straight appearances.
18. Seattle Mariners (+1)
- Homecoming kings? Will host All-Star Game in fourth place, with one representative.
19. San Diego Padres (-1)
- Manny Machado’s two-year All-Star streak snapped.
20. Cleveland Guardians (+1)
- Emmanuel Clasé named All-Star hours before blowing seventh save.
21. New York Mets (+1)
- Blowing up a $382 million club might be more difficult than building it.
22. Pittsburgh Pirates (+1)
23. Chicago Cubs (-2)
- Justin Steele or Marcus Stroman for All-Star Game starter?
24. Chicago White Sox (-)
- Luis Robert the White Sox’s first All-Star center fielder since Chet Lemon.
25. St. Louis Cardinals (-)
- For at least one weekend, a decisive W in the Jordan Montgomery-Harrison Bader deal.
26. Detroit Tigers (-)
27. Washington Nationals (-)
- Will Paul Skenes be a National one week from now?
28. Colorado Rockies (-)
- Minus-142 run differential nearly the inverse of Braves’ plus-139.
29. Kansas City Royals (-)
- Can tell their grandkids they once won a series against Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.
30. Oakland Athletics (-)
- The record: 23-63. The run differential: Minus-237. Number of ex-A’s earning All-Star nods for teams other than the A’s: Four.
