Rays Move to Top Team Across American League in Latest Power Rankings

The Tampa Bay Rays are coming off a series win over the weekend against the Miami Marlins, and continue to show their dominance not just at home in Tropicana Field, but as a potential World Series threat coming out of the American League. 

After the series win, the Rays have moved to 30-15 on the young season and hold a strong three-game lead over the New York Yankees for the AL East lead. 

On Monday, Bleacher Report dropped its latest power rankings and, as no surprise, the Rays found themselves as the best team in the American League. They ranked No. 2, only behind the Atlanta Braves. B/R writer Joel Reuter had some great things to say about the surging Rays.

“With an 18-4 record over their last 22 games, the Rays have built a three-game lead in the AL East standings and firmly established themselves as the best team in the American League. Center fielder Cedric Mullins (8-for-22, HR, 3 SB) raised his season OPS by 88 points with a strong week at the plate, potentially shoring up one of the few holes on the roster. “

With looming injuries to Gavin Lux and Jake Fraley, the Rays can’t afford to have another veteran like Mullins struggle at the plate. It’s certainly been a breath of fresh air to have him showing some success over the past few games, especially on Friday, when he picked up his third home run of the season and became the first person this year across all of MLB to record multiple bunt hits in a single game.  

Will Leitch of MLB.com placed the Rays 4th in his power rankings this week, but still atop the American League. “The Rays look downright unstoppable, and it’s not difficult to see why. Check out their starting pitching: No starter has surrendered more than three runs in any of their last 22 games. Not surprisingly, they’ve won 18 of those 22 games.”

The Rays' pitching staff has been incredible this year. Their 3.01 team ERA heading into their series with the Orioles on Monday is the second-best in the major leagues, behind only the Atlanta Braves. Even with the staff not at full strength as they await returns from rotation pieces Steven Matz and Joe Boyle, the Rays continue to show why they are deserving of the top spot in the American League. 

You can still be greedy, however, and look for more talent to try to take advantage of what may be a down year for the league. The Rays have a really good shot at making a deep postseason run this year if they stay healthy and strategically add a few extra arms, potentially a closer at the MLB Trade Deadline this summer.