2023 MLB Power Rankings Week 11: Phillies See Massive Bump

Welcome to a new edition of Inside the Phillies power rankings! This week, the Phillies see a massive bump in their standings.
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
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The Philadelphia Phillies made a major move up in this week's power rankings, after going 5-1 over the past week, winning a pair of series. Last week, the club was ranked no. 20.

This week's power rankings saw a flurry of movement from teams, 

Here's a look at our power rankings for Week 11 of the 2023 Major League Baseball season.

1) Tampa Bay Rays (48-20; +140 DIFF, 29-14 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 1 [no movement]) — For the fourth straight week, the Rays remain at the top of our power rankings. They solidified their status as baseball's best team over the weekend, taking two of three from the Rangers. They are currently on pace to finish the season with a 114-48 record, which would tie the 1998 New York Yankees for the third-highest regular season win total in Major League history.

2) Texas Rangers (41-23; +149 DIFF, 15-12 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 2 [no movement]) — The Rangers had won their last six series, prior to dropping a road series to the Rays this weekend. We'll keep them in the no. 2 spot for now.

3) Baltimore Orioles (41-24; +38 DIFF, 22-18 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 3 [no movement]) — I attended an Orioles' road game in Milwaukee Tuesday night. After watching Felix Bautista face three batters from my box seats in the infield, I'm convinced he is currently the most dominant relief pitcher in baseball. I watched the lengthy, 6-foot-8, 285-pound right-hander strike out a batter on three consecutive fastballs, one of which topped out at 103-mph. Mix in his wipeout splitter, and the 27-year-old is nearly untouchable.

4) Atlanta Braves (40-25; +69 DIFF, 13-12 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 7 [up 3]) — Had it not been for a blown late lead versus the Nationals on Sunday, the Braves would have finished the week a perfect 6-0 and extended their win-streak to eight in a row.

5) Arizona Diamondbacks (40-25; +40 DIFF, 16-13 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 8 [up 3]) — Just like we all expected, the Diamondbacks are tied for the National League lead midway through the month of June. Corbin Carroll is not only the NL Rookie of the Year frontrunner, but slashing .301/.385/.949 with 13 home runs, he is emerging as a legitimate MVP candidate, as the best player on one of the NL's best two teams.

6) Toronto Blue Jays (37-30; +25 DIFF, 23-23 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 9 [up 3]) — The Blue Jays gained a game from last week, but move up three spots, after lackluster performances from the Yankees, Astros and Dodgers. Toronto has won eight of its last 11, after taking three of four from the 'Stros this past week.

7) Houston Astros (37-29; +55 DIFF, 20-18 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 4 [down 3]) — Astros will get a much-needed day off Monday after playing a game on each of the last 17 days. The club showed some fatigue on the road this past week, going 2-5 while playing in Toronto and Cleveland.

8) New York Yankees (38-29; +43 DIFF, 21-22 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 5 [down 3]) — Disappointing homestand from the Yankees. Aaron Boone's club went 2-4, dropping series to the White Sox and rival Red Sox.

9) Miami Marlins (37-29; -20 DIFF, 13-12 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 13 [up 4]) — The Marlins crack the top ten for the first time this season! Even with a -20 run-differential, the Fish are now eight games above .500, and have won 12 of their last 15. The Marlins have been a high-contact offensive team, led by Luis Arraez, who is batting just below .400 (.397) with a .447 OBP and .932 OPS. 

10) Los Angeles Dodgers (37-29; +62 DIFF, 14-15 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 6 [down 4]) — The Dodgers have been a dismal 9-13 since May 17. The club has lost its last three series. Don't look now, but the Diamondbacks have a 3.5-game lead in the NL West.

11) Los Angeles Angels (36-31; +14 DIFF, 14-22 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 14 [up 3]) — The Angels looked great over the past week, bouncing back after getting roughed-up by the Astros in Houston. Phil Nevin's club is a different team with Anthony Rendon in the lineup. Rendon returned this week after missing nearly a month. The Angels have won six of their last seven, outscoring opponents 34-22 over that stretch. In past seasons, the Angels have faded out of contention by this point in this summer. Could this season be different? So far, so good.

12) Pittsburgh Pirates (34-30; +2 DIFF, 8-16 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 12 [down 1]) — The Pirates can thank the A's for an unprecedented sweep of the rival Milwaukee Brewers, putting the Buccos in sole possession of first place in the extremely subpar NL Central.

13) San Francisco Giants (33-32; +15 DIFF, 17-18 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 17 [up 4]) — I have a feeling this Giants team is going to continue to jump all over these rankings throughout the season. San Francisco's seesaw of a season continued this past week, sweeping the Rockies in Colorado before dropping two of three at home to an unremarkable Cubs team.

14) Milwaukee Brewers (34-32; -21 DIFF, 12-16 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 10 [down 4]) — The Brewers are another team, like the Giants, that up to this point, has been decidedly average. Just when it seemed that the Brew Crew would make a move and build a lead in the NL Central after taking two of three from the Orioles, the club gets swept at home by a historically terrible Oakland A's team.

15) Philadelphia Phillies (32-33; -33 DIFF, 11-19 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 20 [up 5]) — The Fightin' Phils are heating up. Rob Thomson's club is 7-1 over its last eight games. They'll be tested this week, when they travel to Arizona for a four-game series against a red-hot Diamondbacks team.

16) Minnesota Twins (33-33; +40 DIFF, 16-21 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 12 [down 4]) — Okay, let's throw the Twins into the decidedly average tier, along with the Giants and Brewers. The Twinkies had a chance to make a statement this week in Tampa, but were swept by the Rays. 2-6 over their last eight games, the Twins better watch out. The Guardians are heating up and are only 1.5 games back entering Monday.

17) Boston Red Sox (33-33; 0 DIFF, 20-22 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 15 [down 2]) — Losers of seven of their last nine, we'll give the Red Sox this: Alex Cora's squad is the best last-place team in baseball.

18) Cleveland Guardians (31-34; -18 DIFF, 16-15 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: 19 [up 1]) — Since the returns of starting pitchers Triston McKenzie and Aaron Civale, the Guardians have been a different team. Terry Francona's club has won six of its last eight, and is 10-6 since May 26. The Guardians have not lost a series since May 24. As it warms up off the shores of Lake Erie, the Guardians bats are heating up with the changing of the seasons. The Guards are averaging 5.5 runs per game in the month of June.

19) Cincinnati Reds (31-35; -34 DIFF, 11-18 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: 25 [up 6]) — The Reds 5-2 over the past week, with series wins versus the Dodgers and at the Cardinals. Top prospect Elly De La Cruz made his highly-anticipated debut, and appears to be a star in the making. Am I starting to believe in this Reds team? Cincinnati is four games back of Pittsburgh for the division-lead, and I don't see why any reason they can't remain in the hunt for the division crown all summer.

20) San Diego Padres (31-34; +19 DIFF, 16-18 vs. >.500. LAST WEEK: 22 [up 2]) — The Padres put together their first winning record in a week since the final week of April, but they still have a lot of ground to make up in the NL West race, as they enter the week nine games back of the division-leading Diamondbacks.

21) Seattle Mariners (31-33; -3 DIFF, 11-22 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 18 [down 3]) — My concerns for the Mariners are growing, the deeper we get into the season. Scott Servais' club is 3-8 over its last 11 games, and is now ten games back of the division-leading Rangers and five games back of the final American League Wild Card spot. The M's' lineup has struggled greatly, and is showing no signs of improvement.

22) New York Mets (31-35; -23 DIFF, 13-19 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 16 [down 6]) If you came to America from another country, knowing nothing about Major League Baseball teams, players and salary caps, but understanding the sport, how unimpressed would you be with the New York Mets? Ignore the names of the players on the roster. Ignore the MLB-record payroll. The Mets are 1-8 over their last nine games, and will likely be without Pete Alonso for the next month. I keep expecting this club to flip a switch, but right now, this isn't a good team.

23) Chicago White Sox (29-38; -52 DIFF, 14-27 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 23 [no movement]) — After a 3-3 week, the White Sox remain unimpressive, yet are only 4.5 games back of the division-leading Twins.

24) Chicago Cubs (28-37; -13 DIFF, 13-21 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 21 [down 3]) — This week, the Cubs fall behind the White Sox, midway through what could be the worst sports year in Chicago history.

25) St. Louis Cardinals (27-39; -1 DIFF, 13-26 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 26 [up 1]) — Like the Mets, I keep waiting for this team to flip a switch, and the Cardinals continue to dig themselves into a deeper hole. The Redbirds are now 12 games below .500 in mid-June.

26) Washington Nationals (26-38; -45 DIFF, 10-24 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: 27 [up 1]) — 

27) Detroit Tigers (26-37; -83 DIFF, 10-22 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 24 [down 3]) — Two weeks ago, the Tigers were just one game under .500. Since, they've lost 10 of 11.

28) Colorado Rockies (27-40; -69 DIFF, 9-19 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 28 [no movement]) — The Rockies remain steady at the bottom of the National League.

29) Oakland Athletics (17-50; -194 DIFF, 13-32 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 30 [up 1]) — Okay, so update. Since our last power rankings, the A's have gone 5-1, and are winners of five straight.. all of which have come on the road! What has gotten into these A's? Oakland is now on pace to finish the season 41-121, which would be the worst record in a 162-game season in baseball history. For now, they leap in front of the Royals. If they keep it up, they'll continue to climb our rankings.

30) Kansas City Royals (18-47; -102 DIFF, 8-33 vs. >.500, LAST WEEK: no. 29 [down 1]) — Thanks to Oakland's hot streak, the Royals now find themselves at the very bottom of our rankings. The Royals are on pace to finish the season with a 45-117 record.


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Jack Vita
JACK VITA

Jack Vita is a writer and contributor to Sports Illustrated's Inside the Phillies, and host of the Jack Vita Show, a popular sports podcast available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and wherever podcasts are found. Jack is a 2017 graduate of Valparaiso University, in northwest Indiana. Since completing his degree, Jack has created his own independent sports media outlet (JackVita.com) and podcast (the Jack Vita Show). He has featured prominent guests from the worlds of sports and entertainment including Brian Urlacher, Scot Pollard, Bob Nightengale, Dan O'Dowd, and Survivor icons Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick, Cirie Fields, Danni Boatwright and "the Dragon Slayer", Coach Benjamin Wade. While studying at Valparaiso, Jack was the school newspaper's beat writer for the Valpo Crusaders men's basketball team, which won three straight Horizon League championships from 2015-2017. Traveling to cover the team, Jack had a front row seat to one of the nation's best mid-major teams, headlined by future NBA Draft pick Alec Peters and coached by NCAA Tournament hero Bryce Drew. Jack hosted a weekly sports radio show and provided play-by-play and color commentary services for ESPN 3 and the university's student radio station, WVUR-FM, 95.1 The Source, covering Valparaiso men's soccer, women's basketball, softball and volleyball. Jack also covered these sports, in addition to men's and women's tennis, baseball and women's soccer for the school newspaper, The Torch. While he was in college, Jack interned for and co-hosted Jewell On Sports, a sports radio program on AM 1050 WLIP in Kenosha, Wisconsin. There, he interviewed various pro athletes such as Ahman Green, Javon Walker and Javier Arenas, in addition to talking sports with the late, great Brad Jewell. Jack also interned for 22nd Century Media, a now defunct newspaper corporation that provided news to the North Shore of Chicago. With 22nd Century Media, Jack wrote post-game recaps, feature stories about local athletes, reviews of local restaurants and compiled the newspaper's "Pet of the Week" and "Athlete of the Week" sections, while providing copy-editing services. Before attending Valparaiso, Jack enrolled at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he studied for two years before transferring. He is a high school graduate of New Trier Township High School in Winnetka, Illinois. You can follow Jack on Twitter @JackVitaShow, subscribe to his podcast, the Jack Vita Show, wherever podcasts are found, and reach him via email at jack@jackvita.com.