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MLB Power Rankings: Fastball On SI Poll (June 9)
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) celebrates with third baseman Max Muncy (13) after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Two of MLB's best matched up this week, as the Tigers hosted the Cubs. Detroit took two of three games, led dominant performances from starting pitchers Tarik Skubal and Jack Flaherty, who combined for 13.2 innings and just one earned run. Despite losing twice to the White Sox earlier in the week, that was enough for the Tigers to hang on to the top spot in this week's Fastball On SI MLB power rankings.

Elsewhere, a rivalry series saw the Red Sox win two of three games at Yankee Stadium, scoring 21 runs across the final two games after losing the series opener. That made for a strong week for the AL East, as the Rays won series against the Rangers and Marlins, and the Blue Jays went 4-2 against the Phillies and Twins.

The Astros passed the Mariners for the AL West lead with series wins on the road against the Pirates and Guardians. Seattle has been one of the worst teams to begin June, losing five straight against the Orioles and Angels before winning Sunday's series finale.

In the National League, the Mets extended their division lead as the Phillies have begun June with a 1-6 record. The Cubs lost their first series since early May, but still have a four-game lead over the Cardinals after a 3-3 road trip.

The NL West is shaping up to be one of the best division races, with the Dodgers holding a one-game lead over the Padres and Giants. The Dodgers are just 3-5 in June, while the Padres and Giants inched closer with series wins over the Brewers and Braves, respectively.

Here are the Fastball On SI MLB power rankings for June 9.

(This poll takes into account votes from four Fastball On SI MLB writers: Jack Ankony, Brady Farkas, Teren Kowatsch and Sam Connon. First-place votes are worth 30 points, and last-place votes are worth one point. Ties broken by highest vote or votes, then record. Total votes and first-place votes in parentheses.)

  1. Detroit Tigers (119) (3)
  2. Los Angeles Dodgers (112) (1)
  3. Chicago Cubs (112) 
  4. New York Mets (111)
  5. New York Yankees (106)
  6. San Francisco Giants (93)
  7. San Diego Padres (93)
  8. St. Louis Cardinals (91)
  9. Houston Astros (91)
  10. Philadelphia Phillies (89)
  11. Tampa Bay Rays (78)
  12. Minnesota Twins (74)
  13. Toronto Blue Jays (71)
  14. Cleveland Guardians (70)
  15. Milwaukee Brewers (66)
  16. Seattle Mariners (62)
  17. Kansas City Royals (56)
  18. Boston Red Sox (47)
  19. Cincinnati Reds (52)
  20. Arizona Diamondbacks (42)
  21. Texas Rangers (39)
  22. Washington Nationals (35)
  23. Los Angeles Angels (33)
  24. Atlanta Braves (31)
  25. Baltimore Orioles (26)
  26. Pittsburgh Pirates (18)
  27. Athletics (17)
  28. Chicago White Sox (12)
  29. Miami Marlins (10)
  30. Colorado Rockies (4)

Here's how each writer voted.

Jack Ankony

  1. Detroit Tigers
  2. New York Mets
  3. Chicago Cubs
  4. Los Angeles Dodgers
  5. New York Yankees
  6. San Francisco Giants
  7. San Diego Padres
  8. St. Louis Cardinals
  9. Houston Astros
  10. Philadelphia Phillies
  11. Minnesota Twins
  12. Tampa Bay Rays
  13. Toronto Blue Jays
  14. Cleveland Guardians
  15. Kansas City Royals
  16. Seattle Mariners
  17. Milwaukee Brewers
  18. Boston Red Sox
  19. Cincinnati Reds
  20. Arizona Diamondbacks
  21. Texas Rangers
  22. Los Angeles Angels
  23. Atlanta Braves
  24. Washington Nationals
  25. The Athletics
  26. Baltimore Orioles
  27. Pittsburgh Pirates
  28. Chicago White Sox
  29. Miami Marlins
  30. Colorado Rockies

Comments: It was a rough week for a few teams with division-title aspirations going into the year. Ranking the Phillies No. 1 a few weeks ago must have been a curse, because they’ve lost nine of their last 10 games. The Mariners also took a big fall this week, losing five of six games to the lowly Orioles and Angels. The Braves are on the verge of being trade deadline sellers come July, as they’ve fallen to 10 games below .500 with seven straight losses to begin June. The Tigers weren’t overly impressive this week, losing twice to the White Sox, but they rebounded with series win over the Cubs. After splitting their series in Los Angeles, I moved the Mets ahead of the Dodgers, who proceeded to lose two of three games against the Cardinals, part of a 3-5 start to June.

Brady Farkas

  1. Los Angeles Dodgers
  2. Detroit Tigers
  3. Chicago Cubs
  4. New York Yankees
  5. New York Mets
  6. Philadelphia Phillies
  7. San Diego Padres
  8. Houston Astros
  9. St. Louis Cardinals
  10. Cleveland Guardians
  11. San Francisco Giants
  12. Milwaukee Brewers
  13. Tampa Bay Rays
  14. Minnesota Twins
  15. Toronto Blue Jays
  16. Seattle Mariners
  17. Kansas City Royals
  18. Arizona Diamondbacks
  19. Cincinnati Reds
  20. Boston Red Sox
  21. Atlanta Braves
  22. Texas Rangers
  23. Washington Nationals
  24. Los Angeles Angels
  25. Baltimore Orioles
  26. Pittsburgh Pirates
  27. Athletics
  28. Chicago White Sox
  29. Miami Marlins
  30. Colorado Rockies

Comments: After toppling the Cubs, the Tigers look like a true contender for the American League pennant, and Tarik Skubal is back. The AL East has suddenly gotten hot, muddying the waters in the wild card race, too. Given their veteran presence, I just can't quit the Toronto Blue Jays.

Teren Kowatsch

  1. Detroit Tigers
  2. New York Mets
  3. Chicago Cubs
  4. New York Yankees
  5. Los Angeles Dodgers
  6. San Francisco Giants
  7. San Diego Padres
  8. Philadelphia Phillies
  9. Houston Astros
  10. St. Louis Cardinals
  11. Minnesota Twins
  12. Tampa Bay Rays
  13. Toronto Blue Jays
  14. Seattle Mariners
  15. Cleveland Guardians
  16. Milwaukee Brewers
  17. Cincinnati Reds
  18. Kansas City Royals
  19. Arizona Diamondbacks
  20. Boston Red Sox
  21. Washington Nationals
  22. Texas Rangers
  23. Los Angeles Angels
  24. Baltimore Orioles
  25. Atlanta Braves
  26. The Athletics
  27. Pittsburgh Pirates
  28. Miami Marlins
  29. Chicago White Sox
  30. Colorado Rockies

Comments: The elite teams in the major leagues are still firmly entrenched in their elite status, with the Detroit Tigers reigning on top. The teams in the Wild Card race and in the middle of the pack in baseball is still a large ball of chaos that's hard to unravel. The Seattle Mariners have lost 12 of their last 18, the St. Louis Cardinals are a tough team in what was supposed to be a rebuild season and the Tampa Bay Rays have had quality wins bolstered by one of the most impressive rookies in baseball, Chandler Simpson. The final Wild Card spots will be a dogfight, which will make the trade deadline incredibly interesting.

Sam Connon

  1. Detroit Tigers
  2. Los Angeles Dodgers
  3. Chicago Cubs
  4. New York Mets
  5. New York Yankees
  6. St. Louis Cardinals
  7. Houston Astros
  8. San Francisco Giants
  9. Tampa Bay Rays
  10. San Diego Padres
  11. Philadelphia Phillies
  12. Toronto Blue Jays
  13. Milwaukee Brewers
  14. Minnesota Twins
  15. Cleveland Guardians
  16. Seattle Mariners
  17. Cincinnati Reds
  18. Cincinnati Reds
  19. Boston Red Sox
  20. Texas Rangers
  21. Washington Nationals
  22. Los Angeles Angels
  23. Baltimore Orioles
  24. Atlanta Braves
  25. Arizona Diamondbacks
  26. Pittsburgh Pirates
  27. Chicago White Sox
  28. Miami Marlins
  29. Athletics
  30. Colorado Rockies

Comments: Most of the top teams held serve this week, although the Yankees falling to the Red Sox on Sunday was far from a good look. One tier down, the Mariners' struggles called their status as playoff contenders into question. The Phillies also appear to be on the brink of a full-on meltdown – even if their record would suggest otherwise – so their upcoming matchups with the Cubs and Blue Jays should prove to be solid litmus tests.


This article first appeared on Fastball on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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