MLB power rankings: Rays rule the roost for second consecutive week

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The Tampa Bay Rays have baseball's best record and they own the No. 1 spot for a second consecutive week in USA TODAY Sports' MLB power rankings.

Coming off a weekend sweep of the Baltimore Orioles, the Rays (42-24) hit the road for a three-game series starting Monday against the No. 3 Chicago White Sox (41-24). The Chisox have won six of their last seven games and own the best run differential in the major leagues (+106).

Over in the National League, the San Francisco Giants (40-25) hold steady as this week's No. 2 team, while the San Diego Padres (38-29) drop from third to seventh on the heels of a four-game losing streak they snapped on Sunday.

Pitcher Tyler Glasnow and the rest of the Tampa Bay Rays have to be pleased sitting on top of the AL East standings
Pitcher Tyler Glasnow and the rest of the Tampa Bay Rays have to be pleased sitting on top of the AL East standings

Here's how our seven-person panel voted this week:

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RANK (movement from last week)

1. Tampa Bay Rays (--)

  • The Rays have been baseball's hottest team for more than a month now and have won 23 of their last 28 games since May 13.

2. San Francisco Giants (--)

3. Chicago White Sox (+1)

  • Who said Tony La Russa, 76, was too old to manage in the big leagues still.

4. Los Angeles Dodgers (+2)

  • Max Muncy's injury the latest blow to the Dodgers.

5. Boston Red Sox (--)

  • The Red Sox, 20-10 on the road, begin a nine-game road trip on Tuesday.

6. Oakland Athletics (+1)

  • Starting pitchers have dominated the last two weeks.

7. San Diego Padres (-4)

  • Their latest skid comes against a pair of first-place teams -- the NL Central-leading Cubs and NL East-best Mets.

8. Houston Astros (--)

  • Astros hitters own MLB's best batting average -- and have struck out the fewest times.

T-9. Chicago Cubs (--)

  • In his first 10 starts, 3B Patrick Wisdom hit eight homers, tying Aristides Aquino for the most by any player in his first 10 games with a team since 1900.

T-9. Milwaukee Brewers (-1)

  • Ten of their next 13 games against the Rockies, Diamondbacks.

11. New York Mets (--)

  • Signing Taijuan Walker (2.07 ERA in 11 starts) looks like a stroke of genius.

12. Cleveland (–)

  • Offense has heated up in the month of June, with the club batting. 280 collectively.

13.Toronto Blue Jays (–)

  • Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leads the majors with 21 home runs.

14. New York Yankees (+1)

  • Tough week ahead with three-game series against Blue Jays and Athletics

15. Philadelphia Phillies (+2)

16. St. Louis Cardinals (-2)

  • Nolan Gorman, the organiztion's No. 2 prospect, is on a tear in the minors.

17. Cincinnati Reds (+1)

  • RHP Hunter Greene is moving closer to the big leagues. His next start likely will be for Triple-A Louisville after his dominant start in Double-A.

18. Atlanta Braves (-2)

  • The Braves sit five games back in the NL East and three games below .500.

19. Kansas City Royals (--)

  • Veteran catcher Salvador Perez showing no signs of slowing down.

20. Los Angeles Angels (+3)

21. Miami Marlins (+1)

  • Second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. commands your attention with is electric persona, power, speed and defense.

22. Seattle Mariners (-2)

  • Mitch Haniger, with 16 homers and 40 RBI, having another All-Star season.

23. Washington Nationals (-2)

  • The chances of Max Scherzer becoming a trade candidate increase after every loss.

24. Minnesota Twins (–)

  • The Twins still know how to hit the long ball with 95 homers.

25. Detroit Tigers (--)

  • Utilityman Harold Castro has pitched two innings this year without allowing a hit or a run.

26. Colorado Rockies (+1)

  • Road woes I: The Rockies own MLB's worst road record (5-27).

27. Texas Rangers (--)

  • DH/OF Khris Davis, a three-time 40-home run hitter, is designated for assignment.

28. Pittsburgh Pirates (--)

  • Ke'Bryan Hayes has five extra-base hits since his return from the IL.

29. Baltimore Orioles (–)

  • Road woes II: The O's have lost 15 straight road games, their worst skid since the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore in 1954.

30. Arizona Diamondbacks (--)

  • Team woes: The D-backs are 5-33 in their last 38 games.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: Tampa Bay Rays maintain hold on No. 1 spot