We typically like to take an optimistic approach when looking at team performance each week, but it's really hard when none of the squads in the group below actually rose in the latest edition of our power rankings. There were plenty of drops, though.
| Rank | Team | nERD | Record | Playoff Odds | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Kansas City Royals | -1.26 | 8-16 | 2.0% | 0 |
| 29 | Toronto Blue Jays | -0.94 | 9-17 | 12.7% | 0 |
| 28 | San Diego Padres | -0.7 | 11-16 | 1.1% | -1 |
| 27 | New York Mets | -0.68 | 11-14 | 25.9% | -10 |
| 26 | San Francisco Giants | -0.65 | 10-17 | 25.8% | -1 |
| 25 | Texas Rangers | -0.62 | 11-15 | 11.8% | -6 |
| 24 | Baltimore Orioles | -0.61 | 16-8 | 45.1% | -6 |
| 22 | Detroit Tigers | -0.41 | 13-12 | 29.9% | 0 |
| 22 | Colorado Rockies | -0.41 | 16-10 | 33.6% | -9 |
| 21 | Miami Marlins | -0.38 | 11-13 | 17.0% | -7 |
Biggest Rise: Detroit Tigers
Since we don't have a clear winner in this department, we decided to go with the squad who didn't regress and held on to the highest ranking. Even without Miguel Cabrera in the lineup -- he'll be activated off the disabled list on Tuesday -- the Detroit Tigers were one of the most productive offenses over the last seven days, posting the fourth-best team wRC+ (129) and seventh-best wOBA (.351).
The dude you wouldn't expect to be leading this charge is Tyler Collins. The outfielder is pacing all Tigers hitters with a 0.5 fWAR over this past week and slashed .476/.577/.762 over his last 26 plate appearances.
Biggest Drop: New York Mets
None of the drops were as large as the one experienced by the New York Mets, though. To say they had a rough week is an understatement. In a year in which a lot of things have to go their way in order to find success, pretty much none of that has happened.
After starting 7-4 on the season, they've gone 4-10 since, and it's tough to feel optimistic even after winning a series -- they broke a five-game losing streak by taking the first two games against the Nats in D.C., but their one loss was a humiliating 23-5 drubbing, with Anthony Rendon doing a lot of the damage.
Furthermore, Noah Syndergaard and Yoenis Cespedes have each hit the disabled list and are expected to be out for a considerable amount of time. But thank goodness for Michael Conforto -- he's taken advantage of the opportunity to play and has slashed .292/.370/.667 with 3 homers and 8 RBI over his last 27 plate appearances.