MLB Power Rankings – Week 9

By Mike Ivcic

Real interleague begins this weekend with a number of high-profile rivalry series, highlighted by Mets-Yankees and Rays-Marlins. There are other big-time matchups, too, including Texas at San Francisco, St. Louis hosting Cleveland, Detroit visiting Cincinnati, and the Red Sox hosting the Nationals. We at power rankings decided that, in order to get you geared up for the next two and a half weeks, we would eschew our standard comments and instead present you the next five series upcoming for each of the teams below. Consider our handy one-stop interleague guide gift to you. Enjoy! Records through Thursday, June 7.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (37-21) 1 – at SEA, vs. LAA, vs. CHW, at OAK, at LAA
2. Tampa Bay Rays (32-25) 3 – at MIA, vs. NYM, vs. MIA, at WAS, at PHI
3. Texas Rangers (33-25) 2 –.at SF, vs. ARZ, vs. HOU, at SD, vs. COL
4. Washington Nationals (32-23) 7 – at BOS, at TOR, vs. NYY, vs. TB, at BAL
5. San Francisco Giants (33-25) 11 – vs. TEX, vs. HOU, at SEA, at LAA, at OAK

6. New York Yankees (31-25) 9 – vs. NYM, at ATL, at WAS, vs. ATL, at NYM
7. Chicago White Sox (32-25) 8 – vs. HOU, at STL, at LAD, vs. CHC, vs. MIL
8. Cincinnati Reds (31-25) 5 – vs. DET, vs. CLE, at NYM, at CLE, vs. MIN
9. Baltimore Orioles (32-25) 6 – vs. PHI, vs. PIT, at ATL, at NYM, vs. WAS
10. Miami Marlins (31-26) 4 – vs. TB, vs. BOS, at TB, at BOS, vs. TOR

11. Atlanta Braves (32-25) 17 – vs. TOR, vs. NYY, vs. BAL, at NYY, at BOS
12. Cleveland Indians (30-26) 10 – at STL, at CIN, vs. PIT, vs. CIN, at HOU
13. Los Angeles Angels (29-29) 13 – at COL, at LAD, vs. ARZ, vs. SF, vs. LAD
14. New York Mets (32-26) 16 – at NYY, at TB, vs. CIN, vs. BAL, vs. NYY
15. Toronto Blue Jays (30-27) 14 – at ATL, vs. WAS, vs. PHI, at MIL, at MIA

16. St. Louis Cardinals (30-28) 12 – vs. CLE, vs. CHW, vs. KC, at DET, at KC
17. Boston Red Sox (29-28) 18 – vs. WAS, at MIA, at CHC, vs. MIA, vs. ATL
18. Pittsburgh Pirates (29-27) 19 – vs. KC, at BAL, at CLE, vs. MIN, vs. DET
19. Milwaukee Brewers (26-31) 21 – vs. SD, at KC, at MIN, vs. TOR, at CHW
20. Arizona Diamondbacks (27-30) 22 – vs. OAK, at TEX, at LAA, vs. SEA, vs. CHC

21. Philadelphia Phillies (28-31) 15 – at BAL, at MIN, at TOR, vs. COL, vs. TB
22. Detroit Tigers (26-31) 20 – at CIN, at CHC, vs. COL, vs. STL, at PIT
23. Kansas City Royals (24-31) 23 – at PIT, vs. MIL, at STL, at HOU, vs. STL
24. Oakland Athletics (26-32) 28 – at ARZ, at COL, vs. SD, vs. LAD, vs. SF
25. Seattle Mariners (26-33) 25 – vs. LAD, vs. SD, vs. SF, at ARZ, at SD

26. Colorado Rockies (24-32) 24 – vs. LAA, vs. OAK, at DET, at PHI, at TEX
27. Houston Astros (24-33) 26 – at CHW, at SF, at TEX, vs. KC, vs.CLE
28. Minnesota Twins (22-34) 27 – vs. CHC, vs. PHI, vs. MIL, at PIT, at CIN
29. Chicago Cubs (19-38) 29 – at MIN, vs. DET, vs. BOS, at CHW, at ARZ
30. San Diego Padres (19-39) 30 – at MIL, at SEA, at OAK, vs. TEX, vs. SEA

Three series to watch this weekend…
1) NYM @ NYY (6/8-6/10) – It’s the next chapter of the Subway Series, beginning tonight with Johan Santana making his first start since the no-hitter. What are the odds Derek Jeter gets a hit in the first at-bat?
2) TEX @ SFG (6/8-6/10) – A big series for the revival of the Giants, who found themselves closing the gap on the Dodgers before LA ripped off four straight in Philly. Could be a big momentum swing weekend either way for the Giants.
3) DET @ CIN (6/8-6/10) – I’m beginning to believe in the Reds because of their starting pitching, which isn’t good news for the offensively challenged Tigers. Detroit needs to start turning things around quickly, so perhaps the homer-friendly Great American Ballpark will help.

Check out Mike Ivcic’s weekly column, “The Tenth Inning,” every Monday and the weekly “Power Rankings” every Friday, only at ultimatecapper.com

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