Bottom of the 9th Power Rankings (Through Series #2)

At long last, WGL’s MLB 15 The Show league, Bottom of the 9th, got underway last week. As part of our league coverage, WGL will be bringing you a weekly top 10 power rankings, which will update everyone on the top teams throughout the league.

*Please keep in mind that with the one series flex rule, some teams have played ahead of schedule and as a result, have more games shown on their record than others.

1. Seattle Mariners (jayoh30): 6-0

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The Mariners land the top spot in the inaugural WGLBottom9th power rankings on the strength of being the lone remaining undefeated team left. All six wins came on the road against division rivals, giving the Mariners an early advantage in the American League West. Nelson Cruz has done wonders for this lineup, as he paces the team with 2 home runs and 4 runs batted in. Their team earned run average of 1.00 is good for 2^nd in the AL thus far.

2. Kansas City Royals (primetimekcs): 7-1

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The Royals are out to show the league that their real life World Series appearance last season was no fluke. They have sizzled out of the gate, off to a 7-1 start and riding a six game winning streak. The pitching staff has been unhittable, leading the league with a 0.95 ERA. The offense has struggled to get it going so far, but the acquisition of Matt Holliday from the Cardinals gives the lineup another big bat that could provide a spark going forward.

3. Boston Red Sox (Official_Mole): 7-2

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The Red Sox started the season 5-0, and appeared destined to claim the top spot in the power rankings before going through a setback in the series finale against the Orioles. That 2-1 loss in 13 innings was the first loss of the season for the Red Sox, and also kept the Orioles close by in the American League East division race. This team is dynamic on offense in a league starved for runs (top 5 with a .248 batting average), which should allow the Red Sox to be a serious threat all season long.

4. Minnesota Twins (OoMyJosh): 5-1

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The Twins may only have one loss after the first two series, but that still isn’t good enough to lead their own division. It is however, good enough for the 4^th spot in the power rankings. This team is pretty balanced overall, and doesn’t really jump out in any certain category. The impending arrival of top prospect Byron Buxton could be enough to catapult the Twins to the top of what is arguably the toughest division in the league.

5. Baltimore Orioles (Jmag24): 6-3

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The Orioles have struggled mightily to hit the baseball through the first portion of the season. Their .158 team batting average ranks toward the bottom of the league. Yet somehow, this team finds a way to win games, mainly on the strength of solid pitching. If the offense can find its groove, the O’s have a chance to challenge the Red Sox for the American League East crown.

6. St. Louis Cardinals (KyleLea20): 4-2

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The Cardinals, slotting in at #6, are the first National League team to appear in the power rankings. They top the NL Central early on, leading a division in which all five teams are within a game of the leader. This is another well-rounded team that doesn’t do anything great, but is solid in all aspects. Dealing away Matt Holliday could come back to hurt the Cards later on, as they didn’t really do anything to replace his bat in the middle of the lineup.

7. Cleveland Indians (bigmiketurntup): 4-2

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The American League dominance continues, as a 6^th team (and 3^rd in the AL Central) finds itself in the top 7. The Indians have struggled offensively thus far, but capitalized out of the gate against an Athletics team that has yet to win a game to this point in the season. The AL appears to be really strong, so it is imperative that the Indians offense wakes up soon and gives support to a young pitching staff if this team wants to hang around for the long haul.

8. Milwaukee Brewers (Texas__Ranger21): 4-4

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The Brewers were swept in their opening series against the Red Sox, but have since bounced back in a big way. The offense is firing on all cylinders. They lead the majors in just about every major offensive category, including hits, runs, and stolen bases. It is unclear if this type of production is sustainable over the course of the season. With the majority of their remaining games being against division opponents, it will soon be known whether these Brewers will sink or swim.

9. Texas Rangers (Jae-Gee): 5-4

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The Rangers become the 7^th team out of the American League to make the Top 9. Already 2.5 games behind the division-leading Mariners, this team may be left fighting for a wildcard berth when it’s all said and done. Only time will tell. The starting rotation has been average, but it was the offense that let the Rangers down in a couple of close losses to the Red Sox. They may need to make a move or two in order to become a serious contender in an ultra-competitive American League.

10. New York Mets (MarryDaWanna): 3-3

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This was a tough choice for the 10^th and final spot in the inaugural power rankings. Several teams were in the mix, but it ultimately came down to the Mets and Nationals, who are tied for the lead in a very mediocre National League East division. The Mets have been abysmal offensively, but their talented starting rotation, led by Matt Harvey and Bartolo Colon, has dazzled so far. The Mets took two out of three in the opening series against the Nationals, and that was what ultimately gave them the advantage here.