Chuckle at theNew York Mets, if that's your thing. Gawk at the five-car pileup that is theBoston Red Soxorganization, which decided to kneecap its paragon of stability.
Yet if you're looking for the messiest big-market failure as April draws to a close, thePhiladelphia Philliesmight fill the bill.
They didn't lose a dozen games in a row, like the Mets, just 10. Yet a one-night reprieve gave way to perhaps their most discouraging setback yet - a 6-2 loss to the front-running Atlanta Braves in which starter Aaron Nola was very bad and the lineup utterly powerless to counteract lefty Chris Sale.
Advertisement
Nola has a $172 million guaranteed deal and they can't simply make his 6.03 ERA go awaylike they did Taijuan Walker. And in a season of league-wide parity, they now own the biggest deficit in the major leagues - 10 ½ games behind the Braves - and dropped another 10 spots in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings.
A look at our updated rankings:
1.Los Angeles Dodgers(-)
-
Took two of three from the Cubs. Must have been all that Hollywood flash, right, PCA?.
2.New York Yankees(+1)
-
Luis Gil was sent to the minors, but Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón are on the comeback trail.
3. Atlanta Braves (+1)
-
Only the 1997 team can top their 20-9 record at this stage.
4.San Diego Padres(-2)
-
Lucas Giolito finally finds a home in diminished Padres rotation.
5.Chicago Cubs(+6)
-
Ten-game win streak halted by Dodgers, who did not need any special rules to do so.
6.Cincinnati Reds(-)
-
Losing Eugenio Suárez to the IL hurts less when Sal Stewart remains unstoppable.
7.Pittsburgh Pirates(-)
-
Konnor Griffin hits first homer on night Paul Skenes threatens to throw perfect game. Exciting times!
8. Detroit Tigers (+1)
-
Spencer Torkelson homers in five straight games, first Tiger to do so since legendary Marcus Thames in 2008.
9. Tampa Bay Rays (+6)
-
Junior Caminero's two-homer night included drives of 435, 450 feet.
10.Arizona Diamondbacks(-)
-
Very quietly, Mike Soroka off to 4-0, 2.60 ERA start.
11.Milwaukee Brewers(-6)
-
In a three-way tie for last with 19 homers.
12. Cleveland Guardians (-4)
-
Angel Martínez's first career multi-homer game comes with a pair of blasts off Max Scherzer.
13.Seattle Mariners(-)
-
Kade Anderson watch: One earned run, 30 strikeouts in 18 ⅔ innings at Class AA.
14.Miami Marlins(-)
-
Win every other day and it's real easy to build big leads over the Phillies and Mets.
15. Texas Rangers (+1)
-
Don't look now, but Josh Jung has a .920 OPS.
16. Toronto Blue Jays (+1)
-
Pitching the eighth inning means Jeff Hoffman loses his light show intro.
17. New York Mets (+1)
-
Move up a spot only because the Phillies are more embarrassing.
18. Baltimore Orioles (+1)
-
Kyle Bradish averaging nearly three walks per start.
19. Athletics (+1)
-
Have won four consecutive series away from Yolo County.
20.St. Louis Cardinals
-
Outfield prospect Joshua Baez has six homers at Class AAA.
21. Los Angeles Angels (-)
-
Catcher Logan O'Hoppe suffers wrist fracture.
22. Philadelphia Phillies (-10)
-
What if they're simply this bad?
23. Boston Red Sox (-1)
-
Alex Cora their first manager to get fired during the season since Jimy Williams in 2001.
24. Minnesota Twins (-)
-
Have lost nine of 10, perhaps an inevitable bit of regression.
25. San Francisco Giants (-)
-
Daniel Susac's injury puts onus on Patrick Bailey to hit, once again.
26. Washington Nationals (+1)
-
Foster Griffin tosses seven shutout innings and looks more and more like a real find.
27. Houston Astros (-1)
-
Christian Walker's revival (seven homers) one of the few bright spots.
28. Kansas City Royals (-)
-
It took more than 100 at-bats, but Bobby Witt has himself a home run.
29. Colorado Rockies (-)
-
Overworked bullpen prompts Chase Dollander's first start of season - and he pitches seven shutout innings.
30.Chicago White Sox (-)
-
Noah Schultz strikes out eight in third major league start..
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:MLB power rankings: Phillies a huge disappointment in NL East standings
Post a Comment