Rays Continue Climbing MLB Power Rankings Despite Recent Losses

The Tampa Bay Rays are coming off a short series split with the New York Yankees over the weekend, with one game rescheduled due to inclement weather. As they finish their AL East road trip to begin the week in Baltimore, the team with the best record in the American League continues to get the respect it deserves in the latest polls. 

After an upsetting walk-off walk in extra innings to the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, the Tampa Bay Rays currently sit at 34-17 and 3.5 games ahead of the New York Yankees for the lead in the division. 

On Monday, Bleacher Report dropped its latest power rankings, and the Rays continue to find themselves as the best team in the American League. They ranked No. 2, only behind the Atlanta Braves. B/R writer Joel Reuter focused on the team's impressive pitching staff.

"The Rays starting rotation has a 2.88 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a .218 opponents' batting average on the season, while the relief corps leads the majors with 23 saves in 31 chances behind breakout closer Bryan Baker (23 G, 14/17 SV, 2.53 ERA). The bigger surprise has been an offense that ranks in the top 10 in OPS (.723, 8th) and runs scored (236, 10th). "

Thankfully, one game shouldn't hurt Tampa Bay in the power rankings. Still, Monday's extra-inning loss to the Orioles raised some concerns around the pitching staff's ability to close out games, as well as the multiple fielding errors in the game from the defense. The Rays continue to show they belong at the top in all of baseball, but like most teams in the middle of the season, they still have a few things they could clean up. 

Will Leitch of MLB.com moved the Rays up to two, where they belong as well, after being in fourth last week. "They were this close to winning two straight over the Yankees and taking a whopping 6 1/2 game lead in the division, but all told, 4 1/2 will work. The five-game win streak that ended with Sunday's Aaron Judge walk-off homer is, in fact, the Rays' fourth different five-game win streak this season. "

Even with the back-to-back losses over the holiday weekend, the Rays are still 6-4 in their last ten games. As long as they get ahead of the injury bug that is starting to take shape among their depth pieces in the batting order, the Rays hold a really strong chance at finishing the year as the American League's best team entering the postseason.