This Week’s Power Ranking in MLB Betting (July 24)

As we push closer and closer to the stretch run in the MLB betting season, the Cardinals remain firmly on top. However, the rankings beneath them continue to shift as fortunes change.

Closer Look at This Week’s Power Ranking in MLB Betting (July 24th, 2015)

#30 Philadelphia Phillies

The Phils did just sweep the Marlins, but it doesn’t matter. 30 games under .500.

Trading Cole Hamels might not net #Phillies what they want, might need to lower their expectations @Ken_Rosenthal: http://t.co/rMzX1B2Z9b

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 21, 2015

#29 Miami Marlins

Jose Fernandez is a bright spot for the Fish right now, permitting only one walk against 21 strikeouts in his last three starts, and his fastball is getting as high as 99 mph.

#28 Milwaukee Brewers

The Brew Crew is playing well out of the break, winning a series against Pittsburgh. Can they start moving up the ladder?

#27 Colorado Rockies

Eddie Butler is back in the rotation after a stint in Triple-A. Before going down, he had only managed a 4.80 ERA in his 11 starts. The Rockies dropped two of three to Texas.

#26 Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati looked like Baseball Heaven during All-Star week, but now the season resumes with them 16 ½ games behind St. Louis in the NL Central.

#25 San Diego Padres

Will Middlebrooks looks to be the new shortstop for now, thanks to his hot bat. Odrisamer Despaigne remains one of the bright spots, along with Tyson Ross, in the San Diego rotation.

#24 Seattle Mariners

CSI needs to come find out why Nelson Cruz and Robinson Cano aren’t providing much in terms of offense in the Pacific Northwest.

#23 Oakland A’s

Oakland may be waking up, after taking two of three from the Twins after the All-Star break and clubbing six home runs along the way.

#22 Chicago White Sox

Chicago has started July with a 9-6 record despite getting fewer than three runs a game on offense. Tyler Saladino appears to have the third-base job for now.

#21 Texas Rangers

The Rangers lost two of three to Houston coming out of the break but took a series in Colorado. Rougned Odor is hitting well over .400 since the break.

#20 Boston Red Sox

Wade Miley, despite an iffy 4.49 ERA, threw no-hit ball against the Angels for six innings in his first start after the All-Star Game.

#19 Atlanta Braves

Freddie Freeman needs to return as soon as possible, because the Braves’ offense has fallen into the tank since he went on the DL.

#18 Arizona Diamondbacks

It’s time to think about 2016, as that brief flirtation with .500 fell apart against the Mets and then against the Giants.

#17 Cleveland Indians

The Tribe opened the second half by beating the Reds two out of three, and they finally scored some runs to support Corey Kluber.

#16 Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto has only won five games in their last 14, and if they’re going to stay in the playoff hunt instead of becoming sellers, these two weeks will be the proving ground.

#15 Tampa Bay Rays

With the scant offense that Tampa Bay scores, a record around .500 isn’t much of a surprise. The defense and pitching are solid, but they can’t score.

#14 Detroit Tigers

From 2009 through 2013, the Tigers regularly won at least 50 games at home. This year, Comerica Park hasn’t been as friendly.

#13 Baltimore Orioles

Chris Tillman had a rough first half, but he threw eight innings to beat Detroit Saturday, only yielding one hit. The O’s need him to contend.

#12 New York Mets

The Mets are 14-39 when they score three runs or fewer. With just a little more offense, they could be giving the Nationals a real run for their money.

#11 San Francisco Giants

The Buster Posey-at-first-base experiment may be at an end, as backup catcher Andrew Susac injured his thumb. Posey was batting .363 when in the lineup at first.

#10 Chicago Cubs

After the All-Star break, the Cubs’ first 17 games are against sub-.500 teams. They get to play the Phillies seven times.

#9 Houston Astros

Dallas Keuchel struck out 13 Rangers in seven innings on Sunday, giving him seven starts in which he has not permitted a run.

#8 New York Yankees

The Pinstripes finished the first half well, and things are looking good for them to win the East.

#7 Minnesota Twins

Glen Perkins saved the All-Star win for the American League but blew a save on Saturday night. The bullpen permitted seven more runs on Sunday.

#6 Los Angeles Angels

The starting rotation has an ERA of 1.97 in July. C.J. Wilson appears to be waking back up, with starts of at least six innings in 15 of his 19 starts.

#5 Washington Nationals

The Nats have a lot of injuries on offense. Luckily, their rotation is ironclad. 

#4 Los Angeles Dodgers

In Clayton Kershaw’s last 10 starts, he has a 1.36 ERA and is striking out 12.5 batters per nine innings.

#3 Kansas City Royals

The Royals are 10 games higher over .500 than any other American League team. The stretch starting with Pittsburgh this week will be the toughest 17-game section of the season.

#2 Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh went 13-3 before the All-Star break but were swept by Milwaukee and now face the tough Royals and Nationals.

#1 St. Louis Cardinals

Matt Holliday is back in the lineup, and Jason Heyward had five hits in the Cards’ win on Saturday.