Week 8 MLB Power Rankings

Do you believe in Magic? The Dodgers sure are playing like they do as they claim the top spot in the rankings this week with a sizzling 8-2 stretch in their last 10. See how your team is doing below. *As always stats through the last Sunday, this time the 20th*

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (28-13) They have the best record in baseball and are coming off a sweep of the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals. And did I mention they are doing this while MVP candidate Matt Kemp is on the DL?(Last week rank 2)

2. Baltimore Orioles (27-15) The O's continue their unexpected success. While I still don't believe this will last, prospect Dylan Bundy is tearing up the low minors. He has a 0.00 ERA with a 40:2 K/BB ratio in 30 innings. Oh, and he has only allowed 5 hits. To use the word dominant would be an insult. (LWR 3)

3. Atlanta Braves (26-16) The Braves are playing extremely well this year and not getting enough pub for it. As a Braves fan I am quite alright with that. Now if only they can figure out the black hole at the end of the rotation that is Mike Minor (7.09 ERA in 8 starts). (LWR 4)

4. Texas Rangers (26-16) While the Rangers may not have had a banner week as Josh Hamilton came back down to Earth one could argue they should be higher on this list. I don't see any reason why they should not run away with the division title as they are 8 games up on the Angels whom most experts decided would take the AL West. (LWR 1)

5. Tampa Bay Rays (25-17) Carlos Pena made a statement in his return to the Rays on Opening Day with a home run and 5 driven in. Those are the same numbers he has so far for the month of May. (LWR 5)

6. Toronto Blue Jays (23-19) Joey Bats is starting to heat up and that makes this already formidable offense that much scarier. The Jays were a sexy pick to take a Wild Card spot this year. They are starting to make a believer out of me. (LWR 9)

7. St. Louis Cardinals (22-19) The injuries are piling up for the Cards with Lance Berkman being the latest and possibly most severe. Preliminary reports say he has a torn ACL and if that is the case that might be the end of the Big Puma's career. (LWR 6)

8. Washington Nationals (24-17) Stephen Strasburg's slash line is .375/.412/.750 with an OPS of 1.162. For comparison's sake Josh Hamilton's line is .389/.442/.785 with an OPS of 1.227. He isn't to shabby on the mount either. (LWR 8)

9. New York Yankees (21-20) The Bronx Bombers are not blowing out their competition like they have in the past as they currently have the worst run differential (+7) in the division. (LWR 7)

10. Cleveland Indians (23-18) Speaking of run differential, the Indians are the only division-leading team to be in the red (-4) in that category. (LWR 12)

11. Miami Marlins )22-19) The Marlins have a chance to gain ground in the NL East as they start a 10-game homestand tonight starting with the lowly Colorado Rockies. (LWR 10)

12. Cincinnati Reds (21-19) With all the injuries piling up for St. Louis now is prime time for the Reds to make a move. They are only 1/2 game out entering play today. (LWR 13)

13. Philadelphia Phillies (21-21) The Phils had a great week that started with a 6-game winning streak before they dropped the final two of the weekend to Boston to fall back to .500. The NL East is the only division where every team is .500 or better. (LWR 18)

14. New York Mets (22-19) The Mets continue to hang around in the NL East but with a run differential of -31 one has to wonder how long that is going to last. (LWR 11)

15. Oakland Athletics (21-21) The A's are just like the Mets. Hanging around .500 when nobody expected them to be there. Offensive help is also on the way as Manny Ramirez (remember him?) is beginning a Triple-A stint as he prepares to return to the bigs. (LWR 14)

16. Boston Red Sox (20-21) The Sox have won 8 of their last 10 yet remain in last place in the ultra competitive AL East. Manager Bobby Valentine was ejected for the first time this year arguing a call at first base. Chew on that. (LWR 23)

17. Chicago White Sox (21-21) Adam Dunn already has more home runs (14) this year than he hit all of last season (11). His resurgence along with the underrated Paul Konerko are a big reason why the Pale Hose are in the thick of the AL Central. (LWR 16)

18. Detroit Tigers (20-21) Max Scherzer fanned 15 Pirates on Sunday but continues to be erratic (3-3, 5.73 ERA). The Tigers have defined erratic this year and it might be nearing panic town in Detroit. (LWR 15)

19. San Francisco Giants (21-20) Giants fans have to be wondering who has been Tim Lincecum's body double on the mound this year. The two-time Cy Young winner is off to a wretched start (2-4, 6.04 ERA). The Giants need him if the expect to contend this year. (LWR 17)

20.Los Angeles Angels (18-24) Albert Pujols may be turning things around as he has hit .286 with two homers, six RBI and three walks in the last week. (LWR 20)

21. Pittsburgh Pirates (19-22) The BUccos are surprisingly only three games out of first place in the Central. If they can start hitting they might b able to sneak into the playoff hunt this year. (LWR 24)

22. Kansas City Royals (16-24) Mike Moustakas (.299/.356/.533) has taken this team on his back. Once Eric Hosmer gets going they Royals could be a problem for competing teams the rest of the way. (LWR 27)

23. Houston Astros (18-23) Currently the Astros have a 19.9 percent playoff probability. Last year's division champion Brewers sit at 9.9 percent. (LWR 19)

24. Arizona Diamondbacks (19-23) Chris Young is back from the DL and if he can continue his torrid hitting the D'backs could be right back in the thick of things. (LWR 22)

25. Seattle Mariners (19-24) Kevin Millwood threw his first shutout in 9 years against the Rockies last week while allowing only 2 hits. I don't think anyone, including Millwood, saw that one coming. (LWR 25)

26. Milwaukee Brewers (17-24) When Prince Fielder left it was easy to assume the Brewers would regress a little bit. I just didn't think they would regress this much. (LWR 21)

27. Colorado Rockies (15-25) As I mentioned above the Rockies were two-hit by Kevin Millwood as part of a 3-game sweep at home by the Mariners. If there is a lower low they can hit I don't know what it is. (LWR 26)

28. Minnesota Twins (14-27) They just pulled off a 4-3 week. Let's give the Twins something to cheer about this time around. (LWR 30)

29. San Diego Padres (16-26) The Padres are a mere 4-10 on the road so far and today they embark on a 10-game road trip. Things could get real ugly real quick in San Diego. (LWR 29)

30. Chicago Cubs (15-26) The Cubs have lost 6 in a row including being swept by the crosstown rival White Sox. Things have to get worse before they can get better for the Cubs. (LWR 28)