For weeks, the Houston Astros have consistently been slotted behind their American League peers in Boston and New York by MLB power rankers from ESPN, CBS Sports and USA Today.
No more.
Winners of 12 in a row as they host a homestead against Tampa Bay this week and boasting an impressive record of 29-11 away from Houston, the defending World Series champs have a league-leading run differential of +157. To put that number in context, the only other team in MLB that has a run differential of more than 100 is Boston (+108).
Houston’s streak has now taken them to first place in the AL West, past the surprising Seattle Mariners, a spot they aren’t likely to give up anytime soon, if at all.
Their position in RealClearLife‘s Ultimate Power Rankings, which combine ratings from ESPN, CBS and USA Today to get a single definitive rank for all the teams in Major League Baseball, might be slightly more precarious, but for this week at least, the ‘Stros are safe at the top.
To see who else has moved up, moved down and played themselves into or out of contention in the past week, check out the full list and segmented tiers in our Ultimate Power Rankings for Week 11.
The Best of the Best (1.00-5.00)
No. 1.00, last 2.66, two weeks ago 2.33: Houston Astros – (ESPN, 1), (CBS Sports, 1), (USA Today, 1, tie)
No. 1.66, last 1.00, two weeks ago 2.00: New York Yankees – (ESPN, 2), (CBS Sports, 2), (USA Today, 1, tie)
No. 3.00, last 2.33, two weeks ago 1.66: Boston Red Sox – (ESPN, 3), (CBS Sports, 3), (USA Today, 3)
No. 4.33, last 5.00, two weeks ago 6.66: Seattle Mariners – (ESPN, 5), (CBS Sports, 4), (USA Today, 4)
No. 4.66, last 4.66, two weeks ago 5.00: Chicago Cubs – (ESPN, 4), (CBS Sports, 5), (USA Today, 5)
The Best of the Rest (5.01-10.00)
No. 6.33, last 6.66, two weeks ago 5.66: Milwaukee Brewers – (ESPN, 7), (CBS Sports, 6), (USA Today, 6)
No. 6.66, last 8.33, two weeks ago 6.00: Atlanta Braves – (ESPN, 6), (CBS Sports, 7), (USA Today, 7)
No. 8.66, last 6.00, two weeks ago 7.00: Washington Nationals – (ESPN, 8), (CBS Sports, 10), (USA Today, 8)
No. 9.33, last 11.33, two weeks ago 12.66: Los Angeles Dodgers – (ESPN, 9), (CBS Sports, 8), (USA Today, 11)
No. 9.66, last 11.66, two weeks ago 13.66: Arizona Diamondbacks – (ESPN, 11), (CBS Sports, 9), (USA Today, 9)
So You’re Saying There’s a Chance (10.01-15.00)
No. 10.33, last 8.66, two weeks ago 11.00: Cleveland Indians – (ESPN, 10), (CBS Sports, 11), (USA Today, 10)
No. 12.00, last 9.33, two weeks ag0 8.33: Los Angeles Angels – (ESPN, 12), (CBS Sports, 12), (USA Today, 12)
No. 13.33, last 12.33, two weeks ago 9.33: St. Louis Cardinals – (ESPN, 13), (CBS Sports, 14), (USA Today, 13)
No. 13.66, last 14.33, two weeks ago 10.33: Philadelphia Phillies – (ESPN, 14), (CBS Sports, 13), (USA Today, 14)
Stuck in the Middle with You (15.01-20.00)
No. 15.66, last 15.33, two weeks ago 16.00: Oakland Athletics – (ESPN, 16), (CBS Sports, 16), (USA Today, 15)
No. 17.00, last 15.33, two weeks ago 19.00: San Francisco Giants – (ESPN, 18), (CBS Sports, 17), (USA Today, 16)
No. 17.00, last 17.33, two weeks ago 17.00: Colorado Rockies – (ESPN, 15), (CBS Sports, 18), (USA Today, 18)
No. 17.66, last 17.66, two weeks ago 16.33: Pittsburgh Pirates – (ESPN, 17), (CBS Sports, 19), (USA Today, 17)
No. 19.00, last 20.66, two weeks ago 21.66: Detroit Tigers – (ESPN, 23), (CBS Sports, 15), (USA Today, 19)
It’s Probably Not Your Year (20.01-25.00)
No. 20.33, last 20.66, two weeks ago 20.33: Minnesota Twins – (ESPN, 19), (CBS Sports, 20), (USA Today, 22)
No. 21.00, last 21.33, two weeks ago 17.33: Tampa Bay Rays – (ESPN, 20), (CBS Sports, 22), (USA Today, 21)
No. 21.66, last 21.66, two weeks ago 24.00: San Diego Padres – (ESPN, 21), (CBS Sports, 21), (USA Today, 23)
No. 21.66, last 20.66, two weeks ago 22.66: Toronto Blue Jays – (ESPN, 22), (CBS Sports, 23), (USA Today, 20)
No. 25.00, last 24.00, two weeks ago 20.66: New York Mets – (ESPN, 25), (CBS Sports, 26), (USA Today, 24)
No. 25.33, last 25.00, two weeks ago 24.66: Texas Rangers – (ESPN, 26), (CBS Sports, 25), (USA Today, 25)
See You in 2019 (25.01-30.00)
No. 26.00, last 26.66, two weeks ago 26.66: Cincinnati Reds – (ESPN, 24), (CBS Sports, 28), (USA Today, 26)
No. 26.33, last 28.33, two weeks ago 28.66: Miami Marlins – (ESPN, 28), (CBS Sports, 24), (USA Today, 27)
No. 27.33, last 26.66, two weeks ago 29.00: Chicago White Sox – (ESPN, 27), (CBS Sports, 27), (USA Today, 28)
No. 29.00, last 28.00, two weeks ago 26.33: Kansas City Royals – (ESPN, 29), (CBS Sports, 29), (USA Today, 29)
No. 30.00, last 29.33, two weeks ago 29.33: Baltimore Orioles – (ESPN, 30), (CBS Sports, 30), (USA Today, 30)
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