Welcome to the first edition of the 2023 Half Street High Heat Power Rankings. Every Tuesday from now until the end of the season, HSHH contributors will submit their individual Top 15 MLB Power Rankings to be averaged out for an official HSHH Power Ranking. Below in parenthesis next to each HSHH contributor’s name you can see what each individual ranked that particular team that week. Also included are some of the thoughts on the teams ranked for each of these contributors. Note- these rankings are compiled before the games played on Mondays.

Do you agree with our rankings? Which HSHH contributor got it right and which HSHH contributor got it wrong?

1. Atlanta Braves (60-29)

Last Week Record: 3-2

Last Week Ranking: N/A

Monty (1): They’re the best team in MLB at the break. They just won a series over the AL’s best team in the Tampa Bay Rays.

Amanda (1): Is this one even a question?  I hate it, but the Braves are very for real.

Arthur (1): As unfortunate as it is, they are the best team right now. Their starting rotation isn’t great, but if Max Fried comes back, it will get a big boost. Mediocre players keep producing for them, as does Acuna. As long as that keeps happening, they’ll be at the top of this list.

Ryan (1): Best record in baseball, they’re inevitable. 8-2 in their last 10 and have not lost a series since they dropped one to the Oakland A’s. They’re rolling

Zander (1): Number one is obviously the Braves. They are the current kings of baseball and are just a ludicrous team. Their pitching is good and will only get better with Max Fried’s return. Their offense is firing on all cylinders and managing to get incredible performances out of players that were just thought to be average. Why does this have to happen to me?

2. Tampa Bay Rays (58-35)

Last Week Record: 1-5

Last Week Ranking: N/A

Monty (3): They drop a spot for me because they’re 3-7 and have seen their division lead dwindle to just two games over the Orioles.

Amanda (2): Even with a cool streak heading into the All Star break, this team is crazy good.  Their pitching makes me extremely jealous.  They just need to come back strong for the second half.

Arthur (2): A bit of a rough stretch before the all star break knocks them down a spot, but they’re still the best team in the AL. Even with a bunch of injuries to their starting rotation, they still put together good pitching performances. Adding some pitching at the deadline will keep them atop the AL and they should be the favorites to win the pennant.

Shack (5): Rays are beginning to slip and show cracks. Back to back series losses to NL East teams has me low on them.

Zander (2):  Tampa Bay has definitely slowed down their thrashing of the MLB at large, losing 7 of their last 10, however I don’t think that continues. The team is just too solid all around. This is led mostly by their pitching, which is simply a sight to behold on any given night. They will heat back up, trust me.

3. Baltimore Orioles (54-35)

Last Week Record: 5-1

Last Week Ranking: N/A

Monty (2): The O’s have won 5 in a row and are now just 2 games back of the Rays for first place in the AL East.

Amanda (4): All the years in the wilderness are finally paying off for the O’s.  They’re playing over .600 baseball and are finally a force to be reckoned with.  It’s great to see the other AL East teams not have so many automatic wins.  It’s a super interesting division!

Arthur (4): Those years of awful baseball have paid off for the Orioles. They have the best young hitting core in baseball and a great bullpen. They are within two games of the Rays and have momentum heading into the second half. The rotation is a bit sketchy, especially at the back end. If they add an established starter at the deadline, they could be a big threat in the playoffs.

Shack (2): Just 2 games back of the Rays and they get the 2 spot here. Great week for them, Aaron Hicks is all of a sudden a middle of the order bat, every week they call up a different top prospect, things are looking good.

Zander (3): Well, it’s finally happening. After all of those years in the trenches, this young O’s team is absolutely storming baseball this season. Just when you think they’re already good enough, they call up another prospect who is an absolute monster on the diamond. 

4. Los Angeles Dodgers (51-38)

Last Week Record: 4-1

Last Week Ranking: N/A

Monty (4): The Dodgers have won 4 in a row to reclaim their spot atop the NL West, albeit in a tie with the upstart Diamondbacks. Look for the Dodgers to take control of the division in the second half.

Amanda (3): Ugh.  Insert Thanos inevitable meme here.  The Dodgers aren’t what they were a few years ago, but they’re still one of the best teams in the National League.

Arthur (3): Even when they lose a bunch of talent, they still find a way. The losses of Trea Turner, Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger, and Tyler Anderson hurt, but here they are once again right at the top. Injuries have hit them hard, especially in the rotation, but their depth is so good that they’ve barely missed a step. Once players start coming back from injury, the Dodgers will get even better and will likely win the division.

Shack (3): Kind of like the Braves, they are inevitable. After a slow start (for their standards) they are back tied for first in the West. Look for them to keep churning along and then will randomly trade for Burnes at the deadline and just pull away.

Zander (4):  It’s the Dodgers. Of course they’re in the top 5. They couldn’t fool me even with a rough start to the year.

5. Houston Astros (50-41)

Last Week Record: 3-3

Last Week Ranking: N/A

Monty (5): Even with all their injuries, the Astros are just 2 games behind the Rangers. With reinforcements on the way, the Astros are still the favorites to win the AL West.

Amanda (6): This team isn’t as good as last year’s, but they’re still legit.  They’ll likely be in the playoffs though, and their outstanding pitching will give them a great chance to make a run.

Arthur (5): After a slow start to the season, the Astros have climbed within two games of the struggling Rangers. Even with all of the injuries, the reigning World Series champions have played great baseball the last couple of months and show no signs of stopping. Getting Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve back will bolster an already potent lineup, and Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez are one of the best rotation duos in baseball. It’s hard to imagine the Astros getting even better, but if all goes well, they will do exactly that in the second half.

Shack (4): The Astros are coming. It’s only a matter of time before they take back first place in the AL West and don’t look back, doesn’t matter who they lose they keep producing.

Zander (5):  Echoing my last sentiment, it’s no surprise the Astros are here. While they are not as well-rounded as last year, they’re still seemingly never going to fall out of the top 5 in the game.

T-6. Texas Rangers (52-39)

Last Week Record: 2-4

Last Week Ranking: N/A

Monty (6): The Rangers lost a series to the woeful Nationals and are 3-7 over their last 10 games. Yes, they’re sending 5 position players to the All Star Game, but they’re stumbling a bit as the Astros loom.

Amanda (5): The Rangers’ offense is relentless, but they’re slipping a bit of late.  They’re still leading the NL West, so I’m keeping them in my top five, but they need to snap out of their recent funk if they’re going to stay there.

Arthur (7): The Rangers are on a really rough stretch right now, going 3-7 in their last ten and losing a series to the lowly Nationals to end the first half. They are still a very talented team with a high-scoring offense and good starting pitching, but the bullpen is a bit iffy. In order to keep up with the surging Astros, the Rangers need to get it back on track. They have the talent, but the Astros are going to be hard to overcome.

Shack (7):  They are reeling. After being scorching hot they are stumbling into the All-Star break. Rotation is starting to show issues, offense has slowed down a little, they are good but right now they look very vulnerable amongst the AL playoff contenders.

Zander (7): The Rangers are a team I would love to place higher. They still are undeniably a force to be reckoned with, however the cracks in their foundation —specifically in the pitching department— are starting to show. Having lost 7 of their last 10 games, with several being to a fairly lackluster Nationals team, some would say they’re at the risk of being “exposed.” While I do think they’re still a very good club, they are definitely on a skid, putting them several spots lower on this week’s list. 

T-6. Arizona Diamondbacks (52-39)

Last Week Record: 2-4

Last Week Ranking:N/A

Monty (7): The Diamondbacks are still tied for 1st in the NL West, but the Dodgers and Giants have each picked up ground and seem better suited as contenders.

Amanda (7): The D-Backs are a surprise this season.  They are hanging right with the Dodgers at the top of the NL West and have a real shot to ruin everyone’s pre-season predictions.  I hope they make some post-season noise!

Arthur (6): This is a fun team. Corbin Carroll is one of the most exciting players in baseball and is in the thick of the MVP conversation. He, along with Christian Walker and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.,  is leading a potent lineup out in the desert that can keep up with every other team. The rotation, led by Cy Young frontrunner Zac Gallen, is very top heavy, with young pitchers like Ryne Nelson and Brandon Pfaadt struggling and Merrill Kelly on the IL with blood clots. They, like many other teams on this list, need starting pitching at the deadline in order to make a deep run into the postseason.

Shack (6): Rough week for them as they stumbled to a 4-6 record in their last 10. Good news though is that Corbin Carroll avoided a disaster when he left the game early hurting himself on a swing.

Zander (6): This is easily the most exciting team to be breaking through this year. While I love Cincinnati — more on them later — this Arizona team just has that “it” factor. There’s something about the spirit of this team and watching players like Corbin Carroll and Zac Gallen that just gets me amped up. They’ve just got the spirit.

8. Cincinnati Reds (50-41)

Last Week Record: 4-2

Last Week Ranking: N/A

Monty (9): The surprising Reds go into the break with the NL Central lead, but they lead by just a single game after losing the last series to the Brewers. They’ll open up the second half at home to the same Brewers and they desperately need to win that series to maintain the division lead and their winning momentum.

Amanda (8): Elly De La Cruz is SOOO fun to watch.  This guy has totally changed the vibe on this team and is leading them directly to the post-season.  They need some other pieces to be a real contender, but if they get active at the trade deadline, they could be the real deal.  I’m rooting for them!

Arthur (10): Elly De La Cruz has put a spark in this young Reds team, leading them to a 23-7 record since his call-up. Their lineup is potent, with EDLC, Jonathan India, and veteran Joey Votto as key parts of the offense and some other rookies who have been hitting well. The pitching, however, is a bit sketchy. Andrew Abbott has been great since his call-up, but Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo are hurt, Graham Ashcraft has been bad, and the other arms in the rotation have been below-average at best. The bullpen is good, but they need starters to be able to seriously compete this season.

Shack (8): AMERICAS TEAM! ELDC is an absolute difference maker as they are 23-7 since his debut and the culture in that clubhouse looks completely different, they continue their great play.

Zander (8): The 2023 Cincinnati Reds folks, how can you not love them? I don’t think I need to say much about Elly De La Cruz. He’s just an absolute spectacle to have the privilege to witness. Couple this with several other very hot bats like those of Spencer Steer and Matt McClain, and you have an incredible lineup to watch. Their pitching, however, could definitely stand to improve. If they stay hot, expect them to definitely move up for me.

9. Toronto Blue Jays (50-41)

Last Week Record: 5-1

Last Week Ranking: N/A

Monty (8): The Jays are finally looking to be back on track after passing the Yankees in the standings. They’re 5 games back of Baltimore and 7 back of the Rays.

Amanda (9): The AL East is a killing field this year, so the Jays really need to step it up if they expect to have a chance  at the playoffs.  They’ve been hot and cold, but if they can get their offense to produce enough, their pitching is good enough to get them there.

Arthur(8): The Blue Jays have been playing well as of late and have reinforcements coming in the form of Hyun-Jin Ryu and a revitalized Alek Manoah. Adding pitching at the deadline will make the Blue Jays a dangerous team primed to make a run down the stretch.

Shack (10): Now in third place in the AL East for some reason I just can’t buy into them and personal bias has me low on them in this weeks rankings

Zander (11): The Jays seem to be on the road to recovery as of late. For the last several seasons they have just been a team I look at and go “Well of course the Blue Jays are going to the postseason.” and then don’t think twice about it. They definitely have sailed some rough waters, but they seem to have righted the ship and are knocking on Baltimore’s 2nd place spot in the AL East.

10. Miami Marlins (53-39)

Last Week Record: 4-2

Last Week Ranking: N/A

Monty (10): The Marlins keep finding ways to win and it’s an incredible story. If Sandy Alcantara can figure it out for the second half, they become an even more dangerous team.

Amanda (10): I definitely didn’t expect Miami to be second in the NL East at the break.  They’re a fun surprise and are keeping the disappointing Phillies and Mets down the standings board.  They have won a ton of one-run games, the most in the Majors, which shows their grit.

Arthur (14): If you look up the word “mediocre” in the dictionary, the 2023 Miami Marlins will be the first thing you see. I have never seen a team overperforming this much in my life. They have a negative run differential, yet are still 14 games over .500. They have an absurd record in one-run games, which cannot be sustained. Their offense, outside of Jorge Soler and Luis Arraez, is not good, and the pitching isn’t fantastic either. The collapse of the 2023 Miami Marlins will make me so happy and I cannot wait.

Shack (9): Best surprise of the first half, Arraez continues going along, their rotation is good and deep and they are in a playoff spot with reigning CY Young Winner Sandy Alcantara struggling.

Zander (9): This Marlins team is a really interesting one. They have definitely surprised me this year. You can attribute this to standout hitters like Arraez — who is in his own separate category from his competition — and Soler, as well as having a balanced rotation and a solid bullpen. Everything has just clicked for the Marlins this season.

11. Milwaukee Brewers (49-42)

Last Week Record: 3-3

Last Week Ranking: N/A

Monty (11): They won a big series before the break over the Reds, which puts them just one game back in the NL Central.

Amanda (11): The NL Central is certainly not the toughest division, but the Brewers have all they can handle in the surging Reds.  Despite beating them in the last series, I think the Reds are going to pass them and take the division title.

Arthur (9): The Brewers have been playing well the last couple of weeks, capping off the first half with a series win over the Reds. The pitching is strong, as usual, and Christian Yelich is starting to look like his old self again. The lineup, as has been the case for the past few seasons, if not great outside of a couple of bats. Willy Adames and Rowdy Tellez are struggling and there is not much depth in the system. If the Brewers want to have a chance at the division, they need to add bats at the deadline.

Shack (12): Should they be ahead of the Reds for winning the series against them? Sure, but I do not think they are better than the Reds so I have them lower this week.

Zander (12): The Brewers were very disappointing for a solid portion of this season. They just couldn’t seem to get things right. As of late though, they have managed to pull some players close to where they should be. Christian Yelich is finally showing flashes of his old self and par for the course, the pitching is very sturdy. Although, their lineup overall is going to need some help if they want to topple the kaiju-like presence of the Reds.

12. San Francisco Giants (49-41)

Last Week Record: 3-2

Last Week Ranking: N/A

Monty (13): The Giants are within 2.5 games of the Dodgers and Diamondbacks heading into the All Star Break, and with the addition of starting pitching, could compete for the division.

Amanda (14): They’re back!  While still trailing the Dodgers and D-Backs, they are right in the mix.  Assuming they are buyers at the deadline, we may just see a very interesting NL West race!

Arthur (11): They have the devil powers from 2021 again. They keep finding random players who turn out to be extremely solid. It’s honestly amazing how they do it. The pitching is very strong and the lineup is pretty decent. If they add bats at the deadline, they could sneak into the wild card.

Shack (14):  Giants devil magic is back.

Zander (10): I don’t know how but they’re doing it again y’all.

13. Philadelphia Phillies (48-41)

Last Week Record: 4-2

Last Week Ranking: N/A

Monty (12): The Phillies might just be figuring it out, which is more than we can say for the Mets.

Amanda (13):  Despite the recent hot streak, I’m not really buying the Phillies.  Trea has just not been himself and their offense just isn’t very potent.  They have a lot of great pieces, but I don’t think they have what it takes to last down the stretch.

Arthur (12): The Phillies are not as good as their record shows. The pitching is pretty solid, but the offense has been bad. Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber haven’t been very good, Bryce Harper doesn’t seem fully healthy, and the bottom 5 of their lineup is just not scary to any good team facing them. Unless they get the bats going, it’s not going to be a great second half for them.

Shack (11): The Road Warriors (won 13  in a row on the road) had a great week taking care of the Rays and are now 7 games over .500. Their rotation is much better than last year and is helping big time, the Phillies will become a even bigger threat when Bryce’ power returns and Trea starts playing like Trea.

Zander (15): Where do I start with the Phillies? They’ve been hot recently, that much is undeniable. I just don’t think that continues without strong performances from the players we’ve come to expect to produce, such as Trea Turner and Realmuto. Their pitching is serviceable and their lineup has several players that plus carry it, but I’m just not sure if it will all click like they need it to for them to see any real success.

14. New York Yankees (49-42)

Last Week Record: 2-4

Last Week Ranking: N/A

Monty (14): Injuries have crippled this team, but they got Rodon back earlier this week. If the season ended today, however, the Yankees would not make the playoffs.

Amanda (12): I have rarely seen a team so beset by injuries and the fact that they are still hanging around despite all of that is impressive.  I don’t know if they will get enough guys back in time to sneak into the postseason, but for now, they’re staying in the top 15 of my power rankings.

Arthur (15): This team is just bad without Aaron Judge. The offense is putrid and the pitching is okay. The timeline for Judge coming back is unknown and the rotation is awful outside of Gerrit Cole. Their bullpen is fantastic, but that doesn’t matter as much when you don’t score runs. Unless something drastically changes, the Yankees will miss the postseason in 2023.

Shack (13): The fact the Yankees are staying afloat and this close to a playoff spot with the amount of injuries they have suffered is insane and a testament to the roster. The lineup just is not the same without Judge but Rodon back is a huge boost to a great pitching staff that will keep winning games for them

Zander (13): The Yankees have actually been pretty impressive. The fact that they have been able to hang in an absolutely mind-bogglingly tough AL East with all of the injuries attempting to drag them down should not be overlooked. The catch is that they still do need these players back if they want to really roll through the latter half of the season.

15. Boston Red Sox (48-43)

Last Week Record: 5-1

Last Week Ranking: 13

Monty (15): They are in last place in the AL East, but they’ve won 5 in a row and are just 2 games back in the crowded AL Wild Card Race.

Amanda (unranked-Mariners were her pick at 15): This one is a little bit of a reach, but the Mariners are looking hot going into the break.  With series wins against the Ray, Giants, and Astros in their last three series, it’s hard not to give them some power rankings credit.  I don’t know if they can sustain their recent success, but they are looking dangerous.

Arthur (13): They may be last in the AL East, but the Red Sox have won 8 of their last 10 games coming into the all star break. The offense has been great as of late, although the pitching leaves something to be desired. If they add pitching at the deadline, they could make a run at the wild card.

Shack (15): They are the weirdest team in baseball and I did not want to put them in my top 15 but with the week they had I have to.

Zander (14): The Sox are a very odd team. After the first few weeks of the season, I really thought they were going to struggle heavily all year. Lately though, they have proved me wrong. Going on a 5 game win streak and winning 8 of their last 10 heading into the break has made me seriously rethink them as a team. They balance their subpar pitching with several hitters who have been on a tear as of late. Somehow it just all works.