Baseball rankings roundup: Giants pull away from state rivals
The Giants began the week as the hottest team in baseball with nine wins in their past 10 games. The four polls sampled here (ESPN, Bleacher Report, USA Today and SI.com) took notice.
Based on that success, including Matt Cain’s first win as a starter since last July, the Giants peaked at third in the Bleacher Report power rankings and managed an average ranking of 5.5 with an average gain of plus-3.5.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, the Dodgers likely broke out the blue parachutes because they took an average fall of six places in the rankings and ranked no higher than 14 in any poll. They dropped a total of eight places in Bleacher Report’s rankings.
The Angels (average 22.5 ranking), A’s (24.75) and Padres (25.0) did their best to tread the poll waters. Of those three, the Angels enjoyed the best average movement (plus 1.75). Should the Angels’ L.A. neighbor continue in the same direction as this week, the teams could eventually bump into each other here.
Sorting the data:
Giants
Average rank: 5.5
Average change: +3.5
High/low: 3/8
From ESPN: “A four-game sweep of the Diamondbacks and a three-game sweep of the Padres gave the Giants their first cushioned lead in the N.L. West, pulling away from Dodgers with wins Saturday and Sunday over the Cubs.”
Dodgers
Average rank: 15
Average change: -6
High/low: 14/16
From Bleacher Report: “A shaky bullpen remains the most glaring hole on the roster, and that relief corps wcubs and as exhausted during the team's 17-inning marathon victory Sunday.”
Angels
Average rank: 22.75
Average change: +1.75
High/low: 22/23
From Bleacher Report: “The offense is finally providing some support for Mike Trout, averaging 5.70 runs per game during their current (7-3) run after putting up 3.62 over their first 34 games.”
A’s
Average rank: 24.75
Average change: -.75
High/low: 24/26
From ESPN: “Khris Davis has 12 home runs and 29 RBIs, but he also has five walks, 42 strikeouts and .a 263 OBP.”
Padres
Average rank: 25
Average change: -2
High/low: 24/27
From USA Today: “Melvin Upton deals (Dodgers close) Kenley Jansen two blown saves in three days.”
Compiled by Jeff Caraska
This story was originally published May 23, 2016 at 9:06 PM with the headline "Baseball rankings roundup: Giants pull away from state rivals."