{"id":769827,"date":"2026-06-30T12:02:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T12:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/769827\/"},"modified":"2026-06-30T12:02:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T12:02:09","slug":"mlb-power-rankings-the-storylines-worth-watching-as-the-calendar-flips-to-july","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/769827\/","title":{"rendered":"MLB Power Rankings: The storylines worth watching as the calendar flips to July"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every week,\u200b we\u200b ask a selected group of our baseball\u200b writers\u200b \u2014 local and national \u2014 to rank the teams from first to worst<\/a>. Here are the collective results.<\/p>\n

The approaching arrival of July represents a turning point in the baseball season. More than half the games have been played. The All-Star break is almost upon us. The trade deadline is not far behind<\/a>. It is no longer too early; for some clubs, it is already too late. But for every team, there are players, trends and decisions that deserve attention. This week\u2019s Power Rankings focuses on one storyline that is worth watching as the summer heats up.<\/p>\n

All stats are through Monday morning unless noted.<\/p>\n

Record: 55-30
Last Power Ranking: 1<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: Dalton Rushing\u2019s body language<\/p>\n

Rushing, L.A.\u2019s second-year catcher, has become a lightning rod for discourse<\/a> in 2026. Part of the reason for this is the Dodgers have entered a boring-great stage of hegemony, in which their superiority over the rest of the league is so pronounced that there is little to discuss on a day-to-day basis. And part of the reason is Rushing\u2019s own conduct. The latest kerfuffle involved his inability to get on the same page with Shohei Ohtani during Ohtani\u2019s last start, which led to cross-ups, mound conferences and dugout pow-wows. Rushing has become the team\u2019s primary catcher <\/a>with Will Smith nursing a neck problem, and his value to the club as a hitter remains immense. \u2014 Andy McCullough<\/p>\n

Record: 51-31
Last Power Ranking: 4<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: The radar gun<\/p>\n

Last Friday, Jacob Misiorowski needed all of three pitches to break his own velocity record<\/a>, touching 105.5 mph for the third-fastest pitch in the pitch-tracking era (since 2008), just a few ticks behind Aroldis Chapman\u2019s 105.8 and 105.7 mph offerings in 2010 and 2016, respectively.<\/p>\n

If you ask the Miz, there\u2019s still life left on his heater that we just haven\u2019t seen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I slipped a little bit on that pitch,\u201d Misiorowski told reporters. \u201cI think I\u2019ve got a little more.\u201d<\/p>\n

So here we are, looking to this Thursday \u2014 Misiorowski\u2019s next scheduled start \u2014 to see if the 24-year-old has some more history left in what is already a spectacular season. \u2014 Johnny Flores Jr.<\/p>\n

Record: 48-36
Last Power Ranking: 3<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: Stop spreadin\u2019 the news<\/p>\n

Ten days ago, the Yankees were three games up on the Rays in the AL East and seemed to be surviving just fine without Aaron Judge, Max Fried, Giancarlo Stanton and Trent Grisham. Don\u2019t rush rehab! October is what matters!<\/p>\n

Then came a series of negative headlines. Jazz Chisholm Jr. contributed a few, about a groin strike<\/a>, a lollipop<\/a> and an ejection<\/a>. Then there was the starting catcher that\u2019s the league\u2019s worst hitter<\/a>, the cooling MVP candidate<\/a>\u00a0and the rare loss in which they allowed no earned runs<\/a> during a four-game sweep at the hands of the rival Red Sox. The Yanks have lost seven of their past nine games \u2014 they were fortunate to squeak two wins past the Tigers.<\/p>\n

Judge\u2019s rib can\u2019t heal quickly enough. \u2014 Stephen J. Nesbitt<\/p>\n

Record: 49-33
Last Power Ranking: 2<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: The search for starting pitching<\/p>\n

The Braves are still firmly in first place and given 94.5 percent odds by FanGraphs to make the playoffs. So, why does it feel like the sky is falling?<\/p>\n

In the past three weeks, Atlanta has gone 4-12. Baseball\u2019s best record no more. The lineup has lacked consistency in Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr.\u2019s absence, yet the team\u2019s glaring need is for front-line starting pitching. Chris Sale is still compiling ace results \u2014 2.10 ERA in 90 innings \u2014 but can\u2019t do this alone. Bryce Elder is fading. Spencer Strider was shut down<\/a>. Spencer Schwellenbach is slowly ramping up. Reynaldo L\u00f3pez is on a pitch count after returning to the rotation. Alex Anthopoulos has worked miracles at trade deadlines past. This may be the time for him to make a splash and land an(other) ace. \u2014 Nesbitt<\/p>\n

Record: 48-33
Last Power Ranking: 5<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: Junior Caminero\u2019s historic heater<\/p>\n

In the past calendar year, the 22-year-old Caminero has four more homers than any other American League hitter (47). He entered this week with seven homers in his last six games, tying Bryce Harper, Willie Horton and Boog Powell for most homers in a six-game span<\/a> for a hitter aged 22 or younger in the modern era.<\/p>\n

At the season\u2019s midpoint, Caminero is on track for a second consecutive 45-homer, 100-RBI season. But he\u2019s been considerably better this year than last, as a newfound selectivity at the plate has led to a doubled walk rate and a .292\/.384\/.548 slash line that has Caminero\u2019s OPS up by almost 100 points year-over-year.<\/p>\n

And he\u2019s not even the best hitter<\/a> on his team. \u2014 Nesbitt<\/p>\n

Record: 47-38
Last Power Ranking: 6<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: Kyle Schwarber\u2019s chase for 60 home runs<\/p>\n

I\u2019m starting to see why even low-spenders were making club-record offers<\/a> for Schwarber. After slugging a career-high 56 homers last year, Schwarber has a league-leading 30 homers halfway through this season \u2014 five clear of runners-up Yordan Alvarez, Byron Buxton and Hunter Goodman \u2014 putting him on target to become MLB\u2019s eighth-ever 60-homer hitter. Since the end of June last year, Schwarber has 14 more homers than any other hitter in the majors.<\/p>\n

In April, the Phillies started 9-19 and fired manager Rob Thomson<\/a>. Schwarber was batting .196. The team has been 20 games over .500 since then. And while Schwarber leads the majors in strikeouts, his .256\/.371\/.591 slash line and .962 OPS are the best numbers of his career, other than his 113-game 2021 season. \u2014 Nesbitt<\/p>\n

Record: 47-38
Last Power Ranking: 8<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: Pete Crow-Armstrong\u2019s fWAR<\/p>\n

If Pete Alonso has claimed \u201cPolar Bear Pete,\u201d then PCA really needs to get things going on \u201cPolarizing Pete.\u201d<\/p>\n

One minute he\u2019s doing this:<\/p>\n

PETE CROW-ARMSTRONG COMPLETES THE CYCLE \u203c\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/X3yjpSxEtL<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 MLB (@MLB) June 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The next, he\u2019s on the other end of this:<\/p>\n

Pete Crow-Armstrong is ruled out at second base after initially contacting second base and losing possession of the base.<\/p>\n

Crow-Armstrong had initially advanced to second base on a walk.<\/p>\n

Cubs manager Craig Counsell has been ejected. pic.twitter.com\/YlPGeYbmjb<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 SNY (@SNYtv) June 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

His 4.7 fWAR leads all non-Shohei Ohtani players in MLB, 2.6 of which have come in June alone. He\u2019s likely to win June\u2019s NL Player of the Month honors (228 wRC+, 10 homers, a cycle, strong defense). FanGraphs, via ZiPS, has him projected for a 7.3 fWAR season. The last Cub to cross that threshold was Kris Bryant in 2016 and \u201917. And yet, thanks to some subpar pitching and injuries, the Cubs feel further from a World Series than they should.<\/p>\n

So is PCA an fWAR \u201cmerchant\u201d? The best center fielder in baseball? Something in between? Either way, it\u2019s massively entertaining. \u2014 Flores<\/p>\n

Record: 44-39
Last Power Ranking: 10<\/p>\n

Something to watch for:\u00a0Munetaka Murakami\u2019s status<\/p>\n

The comedian in me wanted to write \u201cMike Vasil\u2019s spell-casting abilities<\/a>,\u201d but the purist landed on Murakami. Over the weekend, the rookie slugger took on-field batting practice, as he continues to work his way back from a right hamstring strain. That\u2019s a good sign for a Chicago team that recently returned catcher Kyle Teel and entered the week tied for first place in the AL Central ahead of a weekend showdown against the Guardians.<\/p>\n

Munetaka Murakami taking batting practice today. Will Venable watching. He says Mune is running at around 85 percent and is making good progress. pic.twitter.com\/rIKFHyHuac<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) June 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Even with a monthslong absence, Murakami still ranks seventh in the majors in homers (20) and 20th in walks (44). That\u2019s how impactful he was in his first 57 games in MLB. His healthy return could be the difference-maker in a tight division. \u2014 Flores<\/p>\n

Record: 45-40
Last Power Ranking: 12<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: The return of Liam Hicks<\/p>\n

The Fish entered this week again swimming on the fringes of the playoff pool thanks to their 18-6 record in June. Marlins pitching led the majors in ERA this month (2.84) by a wide margin.<\/p>\n

The Fish have arms, as we like to say at Power Rankings HQ.<\/p>\n

But can they hit? Miami has only three better-than-league-average hitters this season, and it will not surprise you to learn the team acquired them all by savvy means: Otto Lopez (132 wRC+, waivers), Hicks (129 wRC+, Rule 5 draft), Xavier Edwards (124 wRC+, secondary piece in a trade). Hicks should return shortly<\/a> from the injured list. He is slashing .278\/.359\/.472 with 13 homers and more walks (29) than strikeouts (28). The Tigers might have some regrets right now. \u2014 Nesbitt<\/p>\n

Record: 44-41
Last Power Ranking: 11<\/p>\n

Something to watch for:\u00a0Parker Messick\u2019s strikeout total<\/p>\n

Starting pitching has helped carry the Guardians (what a twist, I know), and Messick is a huge part of that. As The Athletic\u2019s Zack Meisel recently wrote<\/a>, only nine rookie pitchers in the last 55 years have notched at least 200 strikeouts. Messick is on pace for 202.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the breakdown:<\/p>\n

Rookies with 200 or more strikeouts<\/p>\n

PlayerTeamYearStrikeout total<\/p>\n

Guardians<\/p>\n

2026<\/p>\n

TBD<\/p>\n

Mets<\/p>\n

2023<\/p>\n

202<\/p>\n

Braves<\/p>\n

2022<\/p>\n

202<\/p>\n

Rangers<\/p>\n

2012<\/p>\n

221<\/p>\n

Red Sox<\/p>\n

2007<\/p>\n

201<\/p>\n

Cubs<\/p>\n

1998<\/p>\n

233<\/p>\n

Dodgers<\/p>\n

1995<\/p>\n

236<\/p>\n

Mets<\/p>\n

1984<\/p>\n

276<\/p>\n

Mariners<\/p>\n

1984<\/p>\n

204<\/p>\n

Giants<\/p>\n

1975<\/p>\n

215<\/p>\n

Of that group, four won Rookie of the Year, three finished second, one third and one fourth, respectively.<\/p>\n

Messick\u2019s 2.4 fWAR leads all qualified rookie pitchers, AL or NL, and ranks third among all rookies, behind Kevin McGonigle (3.4 fWAR) and JJ Wetherholt (3.3 fWAR). Even with the fWAR discrepancy, Messick is fourth in the AL by ERA, while being top 10 in strikeouts and WHIP. In other words, the AL Rookie of the Year is not a foregone conclusion, and that strikeout total might be a big part of things when all is said and done. \u2014 Flores<\/p>\n

Record: 43-43
Last Power Ranking: 7<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: Regression to the mean (but in the good way)<\/p>\n

Hope is not a plan, but sometimes it is the sensible thing to do. The Mariners, struggling through this season and unable to sustain the momentum of last year\u2019s historic campaign, are hoping for things to stabilize. The hope is that Cal Raleigh\u2019s malaise was a product of his oblique strain, and not some mysterious \u201cSpace Jam\u201d situation. The hope is that Josh Naylor\u2019s batted-ball luck will improve. The hope is that the ERAs of George Kirby and Bryan Woo will lower to match the success predicted by their FIPs. The hope is that Seattle will run away with the American League West, as the club was expected to do when the season began. On paper, no team in the division has more talent. \u2014 McCullough<\/p>\n

Record: 43-38
Last Power Ranking: 9<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: These next two weeks<\/p>\n

Entering Monday, the skidding Cardinals were still in possession of an NL wild-card spot, albeit the third one and just with a half-game of separation between St. Louis and the Padres and Marlins. Now, they\u2019ll embark on a stretch of 14 games in 13 days<\/a>. Eight will be against the Brewers and Cubs, their two biggest hurdles in the NL Central. They\u2019ll face the Braves six times \u2014 three home games, three away.<\/p>\n

Point being: If these Cardinals are real, then these next two weeks will show that. Either St. Louis will enter the All-Star break in firmer possession of a wild-card spot with a chance to buy at the trade deadline, or some tough planning will lie ahead. \u2014 Flores<\/p>\n

Record: 43-42
Last Power Ranking: 14<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: Paul Skenes\u2019 next start<\/p>\n

Remember on Opening Day, when Skenes didn\u2019t make it out of the first inning, his career ERA shot above 2.00 and the roof was caving in? Well, we\u2019re back to that point, if only slightly. Following that disastrous go, Skenes looked like the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner over his next eight starts, dismantling the likes of the Padres and Brewers.<\/p>\n

Skenes’ eight starts after Opening Day<\/p>\n

W-LIPERAKBBERHR<\/p>\n

6-2<\/p>\n

49 1\/3<\/p>\n

1.09<\/p>\n

55<\/p>\n

5<\/p>\n

6<\/p>\n

4<\/p>\n

After that? Well, Skenes has seen better days, and barring a string of perfect games to close the season, his career ERA (2.22) will not start with a 1.<\/p>\n

Skenes’ last eight starts<\/p>\n

W-LIPERAKBBERHR<\/p>\n

0-8<\/p>\n

43<\/p>\n

4.40<\/p>\n

58<\/p>\n

13<\/p>\n

21<\/p>\n

5<\/p>\n

To be fair, Skenes has fallen victim to some atrocious defense, and while his fastball velo is down year-over-year, that\u2019s by design, according to the ace, as he attempts to prioritize longevity. He\u2019s striking out batters at a career best clip, walking fewer and the average exit velocity is within career norms. By xERA, Skenes sits at 2.62. In other words, he\u2019s been better than his line indicates. Still, all eyes are on Wednesday \u2014 his next start \u2014 as he attempts to right the ship. \u2014 Flores<\/p>\n

Record: 43-40
Last Power Ranking: 15<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: A.J. Preller doing his thing<\/p>\n

San Diego\u2019s best hitter this season has been first baseman Ty France. This is not, as they say in the parlance, \u201chow they drew it up.\u201d But the Padres still somehow own a winning record, their fans are still packing Petco Park and Preller still runs the baseball operations department. With that in mind, expect him to stay active at the deadline, searching for any way to upgrade his roster so the rest of the club can approach the excellence of the bullpen. When you have a relief corps featuring Mason Miller, Jason Adam, Wandy Peralta and other standouts, you might as well go for it. In search of starting pitchers and left-handed power, Preller will probably try to get creative. \u2014 McCullough<\/p>\n

Record: 43-42
Last Power Ranking: 17<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: Corey Seager\u2019s batting average<\/p>\n

The numbers on Seager\u2019s Baseball Reference page<\/a>, entering Monday, look like a misprint: .182\/.292\/.374. For more than a decade, Seager has been one of baseball\u2019s most predictable players. He tends to play about 110-120 games per season, and he tends to hit the snot out of the ball when he is not on the injured list. This season, he has experienced the usual spate of ailments \u2014 lower back problems in May, a concussion in June \u2014 but has not produced the usual damage at the plate. Seager did homer on Saturday in his second game back from the IL. The Rangers will need a lot more of that as they try to do more than tread water in the AL West. \u2014 McCullough<\/p>\n

Record: 43-43
Last Power Ranking: 13<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: Is this CJ Abrams\u2019 last stand in D.C.?<\/p>\n

Nationals hitters lead the majors in runs scored and are fourth in OPS. Their pitchers have MLB\u2019s sixth-highest ERA and fourth-worst opposing batting average.<\/p>\n

Washington\u2019s lineup is as good as its pitching staff (particularly its bullpen) is bad. Only the first half of that sentence is surprising. The rebuilding Nats are under new leadership and were never expected to contend this season. And despite their much-improved record, their playoff odds remain dreadfully low. They are a prime candidate to thread the needle at the trade deadline \u2014 lightly buying and selling simultaneously.<\/p>\n

That could change if a club drops the Godfather offer of all Godfather offers<\/a> for Abrams. The shortstop is batting .275 with 17 homers, 13 steals and a 138 wRC+ this season, tracking toward his best year yet. An acquiring club would have Abrams under club control for 2 1\/2 seasons. \u2014 Nesbitt<\/p>\n

Record: 42-42
Last Power Ranking: 18<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: Corbin Carroll, rounding second base<\/p>\n

Carroll, the fleet-footed outfielder, entered Monday leading baseball with 10 triples. Perhaps even more impressive was that he ranked 11th with a .532 slugging percentage, nestled between Aaron Judge (.533) and Bryce Harper (.531). In a world without Shohei Ohtani, he would be contending with Pete Crow-Armstrong for the National League MVP.<\/p>\n

In this world, though, Carroll is trying to keep the Diamondbacks from falling off a cliff. The team got swept over the weekend by Tampa Bay. The offseason reunions with Zac Gallen (6.15 ERA) and Merrill Kelly (5.84 ERA) have done more harm than good. After looking like contenders for portions of May and June, the Diamondbacks might become sellers by August. \u2014 McCullough<\/p>\n

Record: 37-46
Last Power Ranking: T-22<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: Four series to save the season<\/p>\n

Maybe you gave up when the Red Sox fired Alex Cora in April. Or when Roman Anthony joined Garrett Crochet and Trevor Story on the injured list in May. Or just last week when the Sox lost a series in Colorado, allowing the Rockies to pull even with them in a shameful category: fewest wins.<\/p>\n

But after sweeping the Yankees, the Red Sox are 4 1\/2 games out of a wild-card spot and have 12 games left before the All-Star break arrives and trading season begins. They host the Nationals, then hit the road to face the Angels, White Sox and Mets. That\u2019s a first-place team, a fourth-place team and two last-place teams. (How \u2019bout those division-leading White Sox!)<\/p>\n

The Red Sox pitching staff gives them a chance to compete every time out. It\u2019s the hitters who will determine whether a resurgence is coming. \u2014 Nesbitt<\/p>\n

Record: 40-45
Last Power Ranking: 16<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: Vladdy\u2019s missing power<\/p>\n

After winding up on the wrong end of a four-game sweep over the weekend, Jays manager John Schneider was asked whether he\u2019ll bench Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The question wasn\u2019t just referring to Guerrero\u2019s 3-for-26 slump. This season, he\u2019s a below-average hitter, by both OPS+ and wRC+, for the first time in his MLB career. His power has vanished: He has four homers, and none at home. That follows a yearslong trend in Guerrero\u2019s homer totals, from 48 in 2021 to 23 in 2025.<\/p>\n

Schneider indicated, no, he\u2019s not benching Vladdy. \u201cIt\u2019s no secret we\u2019re going to need Vlad, if we want to be good,\u201d the manager said<\/a>. Indeed. Yet Toronto\u2019s issues extend well beyond its star first baseman. The Jays entered the week on a six-game losing streak and with the worst run differential in the AL East. \u2014 Nesbitt<\/p>\n

Record: 40-45
Last Power Ranking: 19<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: Deadline aggression or deadline passivity?<\/p>\n

The A\u2019s are banged up and scuffling as June draws to a close. They dropped series in San Francisco and Anaheim last week, and now the Dodgers are coming to town. Playing in a weak division, with an MVP candidate such as Nick Kurtz, the Athletics could convince themselves to be aggressive buyers at the deadline and try to improve the patchwork pitching staff. But prudence will likely prevail, especially with another sweltering summer on tap in West Sacramento. \u2014 McCullough<\/p>\n

Record: 42-45
Last Power Ranking: 25<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: The outfield trade market<\/p>\n

Are the Astros a particularly strong club? Not really. The team has allowed more runs than it has scored. The organization\u2019s once-vaunted pitching depth has trickled away. Jose Altuve is putting together his weakest offensive season in more than a decade. But the AL West is not a particularly strong division, Hunter Brown has looked solid since returning from injury and the team still employs Yordan Alvarez. Plus, owner Jim Crane despises punting. So, general manager Dana Brown is already throwing calls<\/a> around the sport, hoping to improve an outfield whose collective .630 OPS as of Monday morning was the worst in baseball.<\/p>\n

Oh, by the way: Do the Astros have a particularly strong farm system? Not really. But that won\u2019t stop Brown from trying to make the club better on the margins. \u2014 McCullough<\/p>\n

Record: 41-45
Last Power Ranking: 24<\/p>\n

Something to watch for:\u00a0Ryan Kreidler\u2019s ascent<\/p>\n

In 104 plate appearances, Kreidler has five homers, 21 RBIs and a 146 wRC+, while playing some decent defense at shortstop. It\u2019s a breakout season for the 28-year-old, who was claimed off waivers in October and is now in Minnesota by circumstance.<\/p>\n

Maybe it\u2019s all for naught, and Kreidler, who\u2019s never had a league average wRC+ or OPS+, comes crashing back to earth. Maybe it isn\u2019t, and the Twins have a cost-controlled player to add to their rebuild. Either way, in a Twins season with few things worth watching, it\u2019s something to pay attention to for the remainder of 2026. \u2014 Flores<\/p>\n

Record: 39-47
Last Power Ranking: T-22<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: They\u2019re \u2026 going for it?<\/p>\n

Standings be damned, Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias declared Saturday that the fourth-place O\u2019s are preparing to buy ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline. \u201cWe\u2019re going for it,\u201d he said, according to MLB.com<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019ll let you know if that changes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Orioles promptly lost their next two games.<\/p>\n

There are reasons to be bullish on Baltimore. Pete Alonso has had a huge June. So has Blaze Alexander. Taylor Ward\u2019s power outage has to end eventually. Adley Rutschman and Dylan Beavers have returned from the injured list, and Dean Kremer and Cade Povich will be back soon to fortify the rotation. Still, buyers? They\u2019ll need to make up a lot of ground in the next month for that to happen. \u2014 Nesbitt<\/p>\n

Record: 36-49
Last Power Ranking: 20<\/p>\n

Something to watch:\u00a0Tarik Skubal\u2019s next few starts<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a reason Skubal landed No. 1 on The Athletic\u2019s trade deadline Big Board<\/a>. Simply put, he\u2019s a bona fide ace pitching for a team that, entering Monday, was a half-game in the standings from the worst record in the AL and just two overall from baseball\u2019s worst mark. Barring a comeback of epic proportions, the writing is on the wall for the Tigers to make one of the deadline\u2019s biggest hauls in quite some time.<\/p>\n

Until then, \u201cThe gift of Skubal, drink it, man.<\/a>\u201d \u2014 Flores<\/p>\n

Record: 39-44
Last Power Ranking: 26<\/p>\n

Something to watch for:\u00a0Hunter Greene\u2019s return<\/p>\n

After Greene pitched 6 1\/3 one-hit innings for Triple-A Louisville, his next stop is almost certainly Great American Ball Park, where the former No. 2 overall pick should make his season debut against the Baltimore Orioles. Over his three rehab starts following right elbow surgery, Greene tossed 14 1\/3 scoreless innings.<\/p>\n

As oft-injured as Greene has been \u2014 he\u2019s never made 30 starts in a season \u2014 it\u2019s that kind of upside that makes him so special. His return, plus that of closer Emilio Pag\u00e1n, should give Cincinnati enough of a boost to get back into the thick of the NL wild-card race. Few teams in the league possess the kind of 1-2 punch that Chase Burns and Greene can provide, making his return all the more important. \u2014 Flores<\/p>\n

Record: 36-50
Last Power Ranking: 27<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: John Mozeliak\u2019s cameo stewardship<\/p>\n

It was a fairly typical weekend for the Angels. The team fired general manager Perry Minasian<\/a> on Friday. His interim replacement, former long-time Cardinals executive John Mozeliak<\/a>, indicated on Saturday he had taken the job without speaking to owner Arte Moreno. Fans at Angel Stadium removed their shirts and chanted for Moreno to sell the team.<\/p>\n

The only aberration from the norm, really, was the Angels won the series against the Athletics. Mozeliak is under contract through December, and indicated he does not intend to stay in charge beyond that point. There are many in the industry, including our Ken Rosenthal, who think Moreno may not make a permanent hire for the gig until after the lockout ends. So it will be interesting to see if Mozeliak persuades Moreno to make the sort of moves \u2014 like trading pitcher Reid Detmers or outfielder Jo Adell \u2014 that rival executives think would benefit the Angels in the future. \u2014 McCullough<\/p>\n

Record: 35-50
Last Power Ranking: 21<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: How aggressively they will sell<\/p>\n

A week that started with the hopeful news of Francisco Lindor\u2019s return from the injured list was overwhelmed by progressively poorer developments: Kodai Senga\u2019s demotion<\/a>, Juan Soto\u2019s (short-lived) injury, David Peterson\u2019s change-of-scenery trade<\/a> and then Carlos Mendoza\u2019s firing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Mets are in last place, twice as far back of the NL East lead as the fourth-place Nationals. FanGraphs generously grants the Mets 4.7 percent playoff odds \u2014 better than only the Royals, Giants, Angels and Rockies. The Mets have the fourth-worst rotation ERA (4.82) in the majors. Their best starting pitcher this season, Clay Holmes, isn\u2019t back yet after fracturing his fibula in May.<\/p>\n

Mets hitters have the second-worst OPS (.675) of any team in the sport. Even with Bo Bichette\u2019s return, a third of the Mets\u2019 Opening Day lineup remains on the injured list. All that\u2019s left is David Stearns\u2019 first July move<\/a>. \u2014 Nesbitt<\/p>\n

Record: 35-49
Last Power Ranking: 29<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: The heat beneath Buster Posey\u2019s seat<\/p>\n

Perhaps you have heard: this Giants season is not going well. A team with a nearly $200 million Opening Day payroll has generated one of the worst records in baseball, with a run differential that suggests the Giants are as bad as their record says they are.<\/p>\n

Posey, the future Hall of Fame catcher turned president of baseball operations, has not assembled a winning roster at the big-league level, and then refused to take questions<\/a> about the team\u2019s Pride Night fiasco<\/a>. He will be trying to sell off pieces at the deadline, hoping to find a big return for a veteran pitcher such as Robbie Ray. That would help change the perception he currently faces, which is that despite his status as a franchise icon and member of the team\u2019s ownership group, he may not be the best person to lead the baseball ops department. \u2014 McCullough<\/p>\n

Record: 35-50
Last Power Ranking: 28<\/p>\n

Something to watch: Carter Jensen\u2019s hit streak<\/p>\n

There\u2019s one non-Bobby Witt Jr. reason to watch the Royals, and it has everything to do with rookie catcher Carter Jensen. His RBI single on Sunday extended his MLB-best hitting streak to 19 games, breaking the franchise record that was set by Maikel Garcia in 2023.<\/p>\n

Next up? Buster Posey\u2019s rookie catcher hitting streak of 21 games in 2010. Anytime you can end up on the same list as Posey (player version), that\u2019s a good thing. If Jensen can get there, then it\u2019s Nomar Garciaparra\u2019s run of 30 games for Boston in 1997, followed by Benito Santiago\u2019s all-time rookie mark of 34 for San Diego in 1987.<\/p>\n

With Salvador Perez in the twilight of his career, Royals fans can rest easy knowing that there\u2019s a ready-made replacement. \u2014 Flores<\/p>\n

Record: 33-52
Last Power Ranking: 30<\/p>\n

Something to watch for: Hunter Goodman away from Coors Field<\/p>\n

Extreme home-road splits can be common for the Rockies. But Goodman, who may be the team\u2019s lone All-Star again, is leaning into the bit. He swatted four home runs over the weekend at Target Field, which gave him 18 on the road compared to just seven at Coors Field. His ability to succeed away from the thin air of Colorado could entice contending teams to hound new head of baseball operations Paul DePodesta about Goodman\u2019s availability at the trade deadline. The previous regimes were exceedingly cautious about moving homegrown players. Goodman has not yet even reached arbitration, and the Rockies have telegraphed they will not move him. But it would behoove them to, at the very least, listen to offers. \u2014 McCullough<\/p>\n