The Yankees cruised from No. 4 to the No. 2 slot on the strength of a 15-1 stretch that included a weekend sweep of the Cleveland Indians. The Red Sox have been on a virtual season-long hot streak, taking a 25-9 mark into New York this week.
Meanwhile, the Arizona Diamondbacks eased out of a third-place tie with the Houston Astros by winning two of three in the desert against the reigning World Series champions. The Toronto Blue Jays and Colorado Rockies were the biggest risers, moving up eight spots, while the New York Mets dropped 12 spots.
From 1 to 30, this is how they stack up:
TEAM. MOVEMENT
1. Boston Red Sox (–)
►Chris Sale averaging more than nine strikeouts per start in Red Sox career.
2. New York Yankees (+2)
►A 15-1 stretch heading into Red Sox showdown? That’ll do.
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (-1)
►A.J. Pollock off to MVP-like start.
4. Houston Astros (-2)
►Seemed like Justin Verlander would never lose a game in orange.
- 5. Los Angeles Angels (+1)
►4-1 in Shohei Ohtani’s starts.
6. St. Louis Cardinals (+3)
►A month without Yadi Molina will pose a significant test.
7. Chicago Cubs (-1)
►This may end up the finest year of Javy Baez’s career.
8. Toronto Blue Jays (+8)
►Down at Class AA, Vlad Guerrero Jr. has at least two hits in 13 of 24 games.
9. Colorado Rockies (+8)
►With NL-best 13 saves, Wade Davis well on way to fourth All-Star bid, with three teams.
10. Seattle Mariners (+3)
►Ugly week: Ichiro dumped, while fans boo Shohei Ohtani.
T-11. Cleveland Indians (-3)
►Mercifully, they won’t see the Yankees again until July.
T-11. Milwaukee Brewers (-4)
►Catchers batting an NL-worst .181.
13. Atlanta Braves (-2)
►Nick Markakis hit eight home runs in 160 games last year. He has six in 32 this year.
14. Washington Nationals (+4)
►Now 6-1 since Bryce Harper moved to leadoff spot.
15. Philadelphia Phillies (-5)
►Jake Arrieta’s strikeouts per nine innings tumbles to career-worst 6.35, but ERA still 3.15.
16. San Francisco Giants (+4)
►They’ve won five straight series and jumped the Dodgers.
17. New York Mets (-12)
►Dumping Matt Harvey can’t stop losing skid, now at six games.
18. Pittsburgh Pirates (-4)
►Corey Dickerson once again hitting like an All-Star.
19. Los Angeles Dodgers (-7)
►Perhaps it’s not going to get better?
20. Oakland Athletics (-1)
►Gave up two runs in sweeping Orioles.
21. Tampa Bay Rays (–)
►Played more one-run games than anyone; unfortunately, not winning many (5-11).
22. Minnesota Twins (–)
►Eddie Rosario has five homers in the last 10 days.
23. Detroit Tigers (–)
►Ron Gardenhire seems a legitimate difference-maker, no?
24. Texas Rangers (-1)
►Current pace: 59-103.
25. San Diego Padres (–)
►Current pace: 60-102.
26. Miami Marlins (-1)
►Teamwide .224/.294/.329 slash line is last in NL across the board. Yes, they’re last in runs scored, too.
27. Chicago White Sox (-1)
►Current pace: 46-116.
28. Kansas City Royals (+1)
►Current pace: 53-109.
29. Baltimore Orioles (-1)
►Current pace: 38-124.
30. Cincinnati Reds (–)
►Current pace: 38-124.