The Tampa Bay Rays held the No. 4 spot in MLB’s latest Power Rankings heading into the final week before the Trade Deadline, with the club emerging as one of the most likely destinations for pitcher Tarik Skubal if he becomes available.
The rankings, compiled by MLB.com contributors, described the possibility of the Rays acquiring Skubal as a move that “may be downright terrifying” for opponents come October. The Rays dropped one spot from their previous No. 3 ranking but remain the highest-ranked team in the American League East, ahead of the No. 5 Yankees.
The Rays face a significant test this week with seven games against the Yankees and White Sox on the schedule. The White Sox, ranked ninth, carry a 2 1/2-game lead over the Guardians and a 3 1/2-game lead over the Twins in the AL Central. White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami hit two of the club’s five home runs Sunday, ending a 13-game home run drought.
The other Florida club in the rankings told a far grimmer story. The Miami Marlins plummeted from No. 8 to No. 18 after losing 12 consecutive games, the club’s longest skid of the season. The collapse came after weeks of optimism about the Marlins having turned a corner.
Elsewhere in the AL East, the Red Sox surged from No. 15 to No. 7 after acquiring Curtis Mead — a trade MLB.com called proof that Boston’s front office is taking the club’s playoff push seriously. The Red Sox traded a pitching prospect to land Mead, who was picked up off waivers earlier in the offseason by the Washington Nationals before being flipped to Boston.
The NL East-leading Braves climbed to No. 3 after winning eight of 11 games, with outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. expected to return this week. The Braves sit four games behind the No. 2 Brewers for a potential first-round playoff bye. The Los Angeles Dodgers held the top spot for a second consecutive week despite Shohei Ohtani going 7-for-38 with no home runs since the All-Star break.
The Trade Deadline arrives next week, with the Rays positioned as one of the most aggressive potential buyers in baseball.