Welcome to the latest edition of the 2023 Half Street High Heat Power Rankings. Every Tuesday 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 sometimes 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 (67-37)

Last Week Record: 3-3

Last Week Ranking: 1 (-)

Monty (1)

Amanda (1): Yes, the Braves again.  It pains me, but they are a Juggernaut and even with a below .500 record since the All Star break, they don’t look to be slowing down in any meaningful way.  All we can hope for is a Bruins-esque meltdown of epic proportions in the playoffs. But I won’t be holding my breath.

Arthur (1): Unfortunately, the Braves are still at the top of the power rankings. It’s amazing, if not a bit suspicious, how they manage to coax above average production out of bad hitters on a consistent basis. The offense is among the best of any team in recent memory, though the rotation leaves a bit to be desired, with their “ace” Bryce Elder crashing back down to Earth and multiple injuries to other starters.

Ryan (1): Back on top, they absolutely beat up the Brewers back hack of the rotation this weekend which they needed after the slump for their standards.

Tyler (1): Just a studly team, not much more to say. Despite some struggles coming out of the break they’ve picked up where they left off with a sweep of the Brewers on the road. Nicky Lopez will be the NLCS MVP.

2. Baltimore Orioles (65-41)

Last Week Record: 3-3

Last Week Ranking: 2 (-)

Monty (2)

Amanda (2): Are the O’s really for real? Maybe so.  They’re leading the AL east and it’s August, which I definitely did not see coming.  I suppose they could fade down the stretch, but they have young guys, a winning attitude, and maybe that “it factor” that takes teams deep into the post-season.

Arthur (2): Although they have remained quiet at the trade deadline (so far), the Orioles have been able to stay atop the AL East. They dropped a series against the middling Phillies before taking a series at home against the Yankees, a series that included a nationally televised beatdown of the Bronx Bombers. If they add pitching at the deadline and, more importantly, are able to keep up with their performance this season thus far, they could be very scary in October.

Shack (3): America’s team just keeps on humming, first Sunday Night Baseball game in 5 years and they dropped a 7 spot on the Yankees in the first inning. I really want to see them go for it at the deadline and become a wagon but that just does not seem likely.

Tyler (2): Took the series from a hapless Yankees team this weekend and just will not slow down whatsoever. Some needed starting pitching at the deadline and this is easily the best team in the AL.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers (59-45)

Last Week Record: 2-3

Last Week Ranking: 3 (-)

Monty (4)

Amanda (5): I don’t quite buy the Dodgers right now.  They seem vulnerable, you know, like a normal baseball team would be when dealing with the number of injuries they are.  Their starting rotation is a shambles and even if they manage to win the division, there are too many better teams out there for them to be legit World Series contenders.  Down with the Evil Empire at last!

Arthur (3): They’ve been struggling a bit over the last week or so, but they’re still the Dodgers, so don’t count them out. The pitching has been a major issue all season due to an insane amount of injuries. They traded for Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly last week and will likely try to get another arm before the deadline. I’ve heard that there is a reigning Cy Young winner in New York that may be on the market…

Shack (2): Really is funny after everyone they lost this offseason and playing it quiet, they are once again a force in the NL, they are cruising right now.

Tyler (3): Despite just losing a series to the red-hot Reds at home, the Dodgers are here to remind everyone why they’re still the Dodgers. 7-3 in their last 10 and they won’t be letting up any time soon. Just when people thought this would be an off year for their standards and would only win 90+ games instead of 100+, that’s looking like a possibility yet again.

4. Texas Rangers (60-46)

Last Week Record: 1-4

Last Week Ranking: 4 (-)

Monty (9)

Amanda (3): After a free agency that said they were planning to contend this year, I absolutely love that the Rangers are going all in.  I like to think that losing a series to our lowly Nationals was a wake up call!  They have a terrific offense and just acquired some serious pitching in Max Scherzer, and also traded for additional starting and relief pitching.  They’re poised for a deep run.

Arthur (4): What a weekend for the Rangers. They may have been swept by the disappointing Padres, but they have reinforcements coming in the form of Jordan Montgomery and future hall of famer Max Scherzer, and they may not be done yet. They are down to just a one game lead over the Astros in the AL West, so they need to get back into gear if they want a chance at the division title. An easier week against the White Sox and Marlins should help.

Shack (4): What a great time for their reinforcements. Eovaldi gets hurt, rotation is struggling they have a rough week and they go out and get Max Scherzer and Jordan Montgomery. That will come at a nice time as they are reeling on the pitching side of the ball. Their offense, which has been historically good this season, did cool off this week. But, this team will be a force down the stretch.

Tyler (4): Just got swept at home by the Padres, but this team is extremely forceful and just added more reinforcements in their rotation, trading for Max Scherzer and Jordan Montgomery. More help is likely on the way for them as well. This is an incredibly scary team that just got scarier.

5. Houston Astros (60-47)

Last Week Record: 4-3

Last Week Ranking: 6 (+1)

Monty (3)

Amanda (6): The Astros have been beset by injuries, but important pieces like Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve are back now.  They have trimmed their division deficit to half game and appear poised to go on a hot streak.

Arthur (5): Even though they lost the series against the Rays, the Astros have climbed to within a half game of the Rangers. They just got Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve back from the IL and the offense has been firing on all cylinders recently. Adding pitching help, both in the rotation and the pen, and a lefty bat at the deadline will solidify what is already an elite team. When all is said and done, don’t be surprised if the Astros are once again representing the American League in the World Series.

Shack (5): They are getting healthier and survived without a lot of their stars. Half game back and getting massive reinforcements. The AL West is going to be a bloodbath.

Tyler (6): Surprise, the Astros are still the Astros. They might not be quite the juggernaut they have been in these past few years, but they are still an extremely good baseball team with another extremely fair shot at winning their third title in the last 6 years.

6. Tampa Bay Rays (65-44)

Last Week Record: 4-2

Last Week Ranking: 5 (-1)

Monty (5)

Amanda (4): Injuries to the rotation and taking a noticeable toll on the Rays right now, but I still think they’re too good to stay down for long.  The bullpen has been excellent and they have lost 7 of 9 one run games over the past month.  That’s a lot of winnable games that just didn’t break their way.  They’re not out of the AL East race!

Arthur (8): After an abysmal 5-15 record through most of July, the Rays end the month on a high note with a series win on the road against the Astros. Injuries have really hurt the pitching staff, though they should be getting Andrew Kittredge and Josh Fleming back sometime in August. They haven’t made any deadline moves thus far, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see them get a bat or an arm. They have a lighter schedule this week with the Yankees and Tigers on the docket, so maybe they can get back on track.

Shack (8): Just acquired Aaron Civale which should help a pitching staff that is (surprisingly) struggling. They are regressing hard after their hot start and looking to turn the corner and get back on top of the AL East race. 

Tyler (7): They’ve been falling back down to Earth a bit after their insane start to the year. But make no mistake, this is still a dangerous team that will be extremely threatening in October with a rotation that just added Aaron Civale as well as a lineup with pop 1-9.

7. Cincinnati Reds (59-49)

Last Week Record: 4-2

Last Week Ranking: 8 (+1)

Monty (6)

Amanda (9): There is just something about this team.  They looked weak after the break, but sweeping Arizona was a statement series.  They haven’t been able to beat their division rival Brewers, getting swept by them both before and after the break.  I don’t know what it is, but this team has something special and I think they might just shock everyone by sticking around.

Arthur (7): The Reds have been extremely average since the break, going 9-8, though they did just win a series against the Dodgers out in Los Angeles. There have been rumors going around that they are unlikely to make any major deals before the deadline, though that could always change. They have the fourth-worst rotation ERA at 5.18, though they should be getting Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo back within the next month. With just a one and a half game lead over the Brewers, the Reds have a critical four game series at Wrigley Field against the Cubs before coming home to beat up on the Nationals, so it remains to be seen if they are able to stay atop the NL Central.

Shack (6): Reds pitching went from their biggest liability to all of a sudden a strength. They’re playing great baseball right now, young and have great depth. They played a great series against the Dodgers and look to keep the hot hand

Tyler (5): A huge series win in LA just put them on top in the NL Central again. 7-3 in their last 10 and are just cruising along right now. The Elly De La Cruz effect is real. This team could go on a huge run and is not going anywhere for a minute.

8. Toronto Blue Jays (59-48)

Last Week Record: 3-3

Last Week Ranking: 10 (+2)

Monty (7)

Amanda (8): I feel like maybe I have the Jays too high here since they are likely looking at a Wild Card berth if they get into the post-season.  The AL East is a Murderer’s Row and winning that division is a tall task.  But with the Rays in a bit of a swoon, it could still happen.  I’d love to see Vladdy hitting bombs in October!

Arthur (6): The Blue Jays have been red hot since the start of the second half, culminating in a series win over the Angels this past weekend. They traded for Jordan Hicks after their closer, Jordan Romano, went on the IL, and may add a bat at the deadline too. This week is crucial for them as they play the Orioles in a four game series at home and then go to Boston. How they perform this week will tell a lot about this team.

Shack (9): Series wins over the Dodgers and Angels gets a nice boost from me. They do have a massive question in Manoah who can seriously derail a good thing going, massive series against Baltimore but this team is starting to get heated up right as the dog days of summer continue on.

Tyler (8): Got a big backend arm in Jordan Hicks and will likely be making more reinforcements as well with the deadline approaching. Young, hungry, very good team. The fact they’re as good as they are in third place in that division just goes to show how stacked it is in the AL East.

9. Milwaukee Brewers (57-50)

Last Week Record: 1-5

Last Week Ranking: 7 (-2)

Monty (11)

Amanda (7): Although I love the young and plucky Reds, I still think the Brewers will win the Central.  Their pitching is legit and I don’t think anyone in the division can catch them

Arthur (9): After a sweep at the hands of the Braves suspiciously good offense this weekend, the Brewers have fallen a game and a half behind the Reds for the NL Central lead. They acquired Carlos Santana from the Pirates to help the struggling offense, but they will likely need more help if they want to compete down the stretch. They play the Nationals this week who just so happen to have the perfect player, so who knows what may happen.

Shack (7): The Brewers can beat the Reds but not that great at beating anyone else. They’re somehow a game and a half back after taking five of six from the Reds since the break. Luckily for them they do have the Nats next.

Tyler (9): They’ve been slipping a little bit recently but remain firmly in the mix for the NL Central, only a game and a half back. They’ve struggled a bit recently and despite the sweep at the hands of the Braves (which isn’t something to be upset about), they’re still an extremely solid team.

T-10. Boston Red Sox (56-50)

Last Week Record: 3-3

Last Week Ranking: 11 (+1)

Monty (8)

Amanda (11): The Red Sox are super middling this year.  An easier stretch of schedule has but them within striking distance of the last AL Wild Card spot, but when they get into August, it won’t last.  They’ll be watching the post-season on their couches like the rest of us.

Arthur (10): The Red Sox have cooled down a bit over the past week, but they now sit just 2.5 games out of a wild card spot. They swept a two game series against the Braves before dropping two of three to the Giants this weekend, but they are still in a good position. The AL wild card race is, well, wild, so the Red Sox will need to add some pitching at the deadline if they want to play in October.

Shack (13): Who is this team? Are they buyers? Are they sellers? Are they good? Are they bad? Really feel that it depends on the week. Nobody is more hot or cold than this team. They swept the Braves then turned around and got walked off twice against the Giants. This team has no identity but they are still in the wild card race.

Tyler (13): Solid but mid at the same time? This team is just very hard to gauge. I don’t know if I necessarily see them making the postseason but they also don’t suck? 5-5 in their last 10. Just a weird team, I guess I’ll put them here at 13.

T-10 San Francisco Giants (58-49)

Last Week Record: 4-2

Last Week Ranking: 14 (+4)

Monty (12)

Amanda (10): The Giants are hanging around in the NL West against the powerful Dodgers and Diamondbacks, but they don’t really look like a serious contender at the moment.  It’s hard to get respect after getting swept by the Nationals…  They’re only two and a half games back, but I can’t see them winning the West.

Arthur (11): Two straight series wins, one against the Athletics, but it counts, have put the Giants just two and a half games back of the Dodgers in the NL West and in the top NL wild card spot. Once again, they have found a way to get production out of no-name players and to stay in the thick of the playoff race. They could use help on both sides of the ball, but even if they don’t get any, the Giants will be dangerous down the stretch.

Shack (12): This team is slowly coming back from their overperforming stretch. 4-6 in their last 10 and could have been worse but they had 2 walk off come from behind victories against the Red sox. They are struggling to stay afloat in the West so all attention for them will be on the Wild Card.

Tyler (10): FINALLY this team is coming back to Earth a bit. They still have sole possession of NLWC1 and are still a solid team, don’t get me wrong, but one of my biggest irrational hatreds in baseball is this team being one of the winningest teams in the league with a roster that simply isn’t up to par with baseball’s best. Them winning 107 games in 2021 is still the biggest anomaly in sports history.

12. Philadelphia Phillies (56-49)

Last Week Record: 3-2

Last Week Ranking: 12 (-)

Monty (10)

Amanda (15): The Phillies are going nowhere fast.  They’re a distinctly middle of the road team and even a Wild Card berth seems like a stretch.  The hate being directed at Trea Turner is tough to see, but with the club underperforming as they are, it’s not surprising.  At least Harper can hit bombs again.

Arthur (13): As much as the media wants you to think to the contrary, the Phillies are not that great of a team and their series against the Pirates this weekend was a prime example. Baserunning mistakes, poor managing, and bad pitching led to a painful series loss. The pitching is solid, but the lineup is extremely inconsistent. There aren’t many bats left on the market and if they do find one, it still may not help. They play the Marlins and the Royals this week, so it will be interesting to see what they look like then.

Shack (11): Castellanos, Harper, Realmuto, Schwarber Harper and Turner are a combined 100 wRC+. Getting exactly league average production from them is a problem. Even with that, they are dead in the middle of the playoff race just half a game back of the last wild card spot.

Tyler (12): The Phillies have reverted back to mediocre recently, which is astounding but also not considering they do it every year excluding that insane run last year. That roster is just too stacked to be only 56-49, but also makes sense when you consider Trea Turner hates his life there right now and some of their other big bats are underperforming. I still think they’re a WC team when it’s all said and done but man.

13. Chicago Cubs (53-53)

Last Week Record: 5-2

Last Week Ranking: Unranked (N/A)

Monty (13)

Amanda (Unranked- Marlins were her pick at 14): The Marlins are treading water for their lives.  Trading for David Robertson will help the bullpen, which has been the source of many of their recent losses.

Arthur (15): This team is flat out not good. They just had an 8 game winning streak against the *checks notes* Cardinals and White Sox. They have had a cakewalk of a schedule since the start of the second half, facing the Red Sox (to whom they lost the series), the Nationals, the White Sox, and the Cardinals twice. The front office has now deluded themselves into buying at the deadline because of this. They have the best rental bat available in Cody Bellinger and Marcus Stroman, although he’s been awful recently, both of whom could get the Cubs a good haul in a very seller-friendly market. Instead, they’re going to add to their mediocre team and try to compete. To be fair, the NL Central is pretty bad, so they could win it, but looking at the long-term for the team, buying is not the right move. They play the Reds and Braves next which should reveal if this winning streak was indicative of a good team or bad opponents. I am looking forward to seeing them fall back to Earth.

Shack (10): Do I think they are the 10th best team in baseball? No. But this is power rankings. 9 straight wins gets them the 10th spot. They are the hottest team in baseball and all of a sudden are only 3.5 games back of the Brewers. Things got even more interesting in the Central because of this stretch.

Tyler (11): Yeah, they’re  .500 and yeah, there’s some teams below them that have better records, but the Cubs are the hottest team in baseball over the last 10 games. Their 8 game win streak catapulted them from selling to buying. The front office came out and said they’re taking Cody Bellinger off the market and are now looking to add. Don’t necessarily think they make a WC run or make the playoffs, but things are getting interesting in Chicago.

14. Arizona Diamondbacks (57-50)

Last Week Record: 3-3

Last Week Ranking: 13 (-1)

Monty (14)

Amanda (12): The collapse of the D-Backs has been sad to see.  They’re sporting a bottom five record in baseball since the middle of June, to go along with a bottom five rotation ERA.  Barring a miracle, they’re not going to the playoffs.

Arthur (unranked- Angels were his pick at 12): Just last week, the baseball world was wondering who would dish out their top prospects for Shohei Ohtani. Now, the Angels have done the complete opposite, trading several of their top prospects to get Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, C.J. Cron, and Randal Grichuk. The question is whether or not it will have been worth it. They swept the Tigers but dropped a series against the Blue Jays and have a pivotal three game series in Atlanta coming up. In addition to the trades, the Angels should be getting multiple key players back from injury, including Logan O’Hoppe, Anthony Rendon, Ben Joyce, Brandon Drury, and, most importantly, Mike Trout, although they did lose Taylor Ward for the season after he got hit by a pitch in the face from Alek Manoah. The Angels have the talent to make a run to the playoffs, but if they do it is another story.

Shack (unranked- Twins were his pick at 14): It feels weird having a division leader this low on my list. But, being the leader of the AL Central really is not much to brag about. Just got swept by the Royals including a walk off grand slam loss, so they should be happy they are in here. They have the cardinals next and look to get things right against a team that is beginning to tear it all down.

Tyler (15): An even crazier falloff. This one shocks me a lot more than the Marlins, as I thought they were here to stay starting from this year. Tied for the WC but again, this team has just been reeling from where they were earlier this year. 3-7 in their last 10, but furthermore they have not been playing good baseball for a month now. There’s still time for them to turn it around though.

15. New York Yankees (55-51)

Last Week Record: 2-4

Last Week Ranking: 15 (-)

Monty (15)

Amanda (13): I love to see the Yankees suffering and I’ve had lots to enjoy lately.  There is a good chance they will finish last in the AL East, even with an above .500 win percentage, which has never happened before.  I’ll inject the Yankees fan tears straight into my veins.

Arthur (14): Even with Judge back, the Yankees offense is still putrid. They are in last place in the AL East. They were shutout against the Orioles on Friday, finally scored more than three runs in a game for the first time in nearly a week on Saturday, and then struck out 18 times (there are 27 outs in a 9 inning game) on Sunday in primetime, which, according to Aaron Boone, is fine because they grinded out at-bats. Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge can’t lead this team themselves and neither can Aaron Boone. No wonder Yankees fans hate him. The rotation is bad outside of Cole, although the bullpen is among the best in baseball. The offense does nothing most of the time, and when it does, it’s usually Aaron Judge (if he’s even healthy). Even if they add at the deadline, it’s going to be tough to fix all of these issues. They have the Rays and Astros coming up next and this may not be pretty for the Yankees.

Shack (unranked-Marlins were his pick at 15): I truly do not know how they are still in this race but here we are. I do think Ng is (wrongfully so) getting pressured by the front office so they will look to do something they never do and add at the deadline. They did win a series against the Tigers to help stop their skid but I am just not sold on this team and do think they finish the year close to .500.

Tyler (unranked- Marlins were his pick at 14): Man, just what a falloff. They’re somehow still in possession of a WC spot but I think that’s more of just the NL being mediocre rather than their performance. Very very predictable falling back down to Earth, this team was never as good as their record showed for most of the year.