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MLB Power Rankings Yankees stay on top plus a look at every
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Surprises come in many forms, right?
Usually, the connotation is positive. Surprise parties! Surprise hugs! Surprise, Publisher's Clearing House is at your door!
But there's also the, "Surprise, you spent way too much money on dollar margaritas at Chili's this weekend."
MORE:
Baseball is no different: There are awesome surprises andthere are bad surprises over the course of a162-game season. So, without further ado, here are the latest SN MLB Power Rankings, along with every team's most surprising player in 2019. As always, do not @ me.
1. Yankees
Previous: 1
Mike Tauchman, Domingo German, Cameron Maybin have all been big surprises for the Yankees this year. However, when it comes to the team's biggest surprise Jose Abreu Jersey , it has to be Gio Urshela, right?
Urshela played in 167 major-league games before 2019 and ama sed a skinny 57 OPS+ in 499 plate appearances. This year: a 142 OPS+ in 114 games (414 PAs), good for a 3.5 bWAR (3.0 fWAR).
2. Astros
Previous: 3
Expectations should always be tempered when a top prospect is called up, but Yordan Alvarez currently leads the team in: slugging, OPS andOPS+ in just 66 games. He also goes the shortest between home runs Nicky Delmonico Jersey of anyone on the team, at 10.9 ABs/home run.
Also, 22.2 percent of his fly balls are dingers, whichalso leads the team.
3. Dodgers
Previous: 2
Beat the Freese?
David Freese has been spectacular for the Dodgers off the bench this season. Freese, now 36, has banged 10 home runs in 68 games and has a 157 OPS+, despite dealing with a hamstring injury for a big chunk of the season. In his first game back from the IL, he mashed a home run.
In limited action with LA last year, Freese was really good, so maybe it shouldn't be surprising that he's playing even better this year. But at 36, who really expected this?
4. Braves
Previous: 5
The Braves didn't nece sarilyneedMike Foltynewicz to be his 2018 self, considering they had ample arms on which to rely. But Folty's (I'm not spelling that out again) 2018 season looks more and more like an aberration with every fifth day.
While he's dealt with injury i sues in 2019, he's been better, but not great in August since returning from the IL: He's pitched to a 3.90 ERA in five starts, allowing 13 runs in 27 2/3 innings and walking at least two batters in every start.
5. Twins
Previous: 4
You know about Jorge Polanco and Eddie Rosario and Byron Buxton and Nelson Cruz and Max Kepler. But do you have a second to talk about Mitch Garver?
Garver was an ascending catcher with Minnesota in 2018, but he's broken through the ceiling in 2019. Though he's dealt with a high-ankle sprainandsplit time with Jason Castro behind the dish, Garver is posting a 148 wRC+, the best among catchers in the majors (minimum 200 PAs).
6. Athletics
Previous: 9
In his Age 30 season, Mark Canha is putting together the best year of his career.
The super utility guy has played all three outfield spots and first base in 2019, putting together the best offensive season of his career through 102 games (.279/.389/.539) with a 148 OPS+, the best mark of anyone on the team (minimum 100 PAs).
7. Cardinals
Previous: 8 Reynaldo Lopez Jersey
As mentioned, not all surprises are pleasant, despite the connotation. This year, Harrison Bader has been a major disappointment for the Cardinals.
Bader had a really good 2018 season and looked to be a big part of an ascending Cardinals core, but through the first half of the season, Bader was putrid: He hit .195 in 90 games before being sent to the minorsin late July. Since being recalled, Bader has been much better, hitting .310 with a .940 OPS in 14 games. Good for Bader to come alive now, but that doesn't erase the first terrible part Bobby Jenks Jersey of his season.
8. Nationals
Previous: 10
The reports of Howie Kendrick's demise have been greatly exaggerated.
In his Age 35 season, Kendrickhas a career high in OPS+ through 309 PAs, and he's having his best season by bWAR (1.8) since 2014.
Someone needs to sit Kendrick down and find out what he knows about the fountain of youth.
9. Rays
Previous: 11
It seems like in recent years, anything the Rays touch turns to gold. That includes Travis d'Arnaud.
D'Arnaud was picked up off the scrap heap because the Rays' catching situation was wrought with injuries. D'Arnaud is hitting .270 for the team with a 116 OPS+ after being JAG for years with the Mets.
The key for d'Arnaud has been health. He faced IL time with the Mets earlier this season, but has been through 75 games as the Rays primary backstop this season.
But whatever they're eating and drinking in Tampa is working, especially for d'Arnaud.
10. Cubs
Previous: 7
The Heyward surprise has been twofold: He looked to be breaking out at the beginning of the year offensively, but then came back down to Earth. Unfortunately, the Cubs' dynasty which so many believed was a certainty a few years agois looking more and more Bruce Rondon Jersey shaky with every week that pa ses in 2019.
It's been a Jekyll-and-Hyde season for Jason Heyward: He had an excellent April, then was bad in May, then good in June and July, then bad in August. It's more of the same for Heyward over the course of his Cubs career, with four years of mediocre-to-bad offensive baseball coupled with great defense. But the offensive breakout has yet to come to fruition.
Middle of the pack
11. Indians
Previous: 6
Without Shane Bieber (not Justin) and his 3.27 ERA this year, the Indians probably would be an afterthought in the AL Central heading into September. He showed flashes of dominance in 2018, but this year he's shown he can be the future of the Indians rotation.
12. Phillies
Previous: 13
This season certainly felt like the do-or-die season for Maikel Franco. With his option to Triple-A and sub-zero bWAR, it looks like his Phillies career is in jeopardy.
13. Red Sox
Previous: 16
The Red Sox as a whole have been a disappointing surprise in 2019, but the defending world champs are fighting Jeff Keppinger Jersey until the last strike despite their injuries, so that counts for something.
14. Brewers
Previous: 14
Lorenzo Cain had a phenomenal year for Milwaukee in 2018, but offensivelyhe's been nondescript in 2019. He's inching dangerously close to having his worst offensive season as a major leaguer.
15. Mets
Previous: 12
The Mets were inching closer to a wild card spot, but someone has thrown a bucket of cold water on their playoff hopes. However, Pete Alonso has been their biggest surprise, despite having been a top prospect. I mean, setting franchise and National League records? C'mon.
16. Diamondbacks
Previous: 17
Ketel Marte has alwa
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