In the span of a few days, the New York Yankees lost 3 ½ games in the standings and the reigning MVP to the injured list.
So how was your week?
Probably a little better than the Bronx Bombers, who got schooled again by the Toronto Blue Jays and nearly swept at home by the Philadelphia Phillies, while along the way losing Triple Crown threat Aaron Judge for at least 10 days with a flexor strain in his right elbow.
And they remain mired at ninth in USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings as the Blue Jays ascend to a season-high No. 2.
If this keeps up, a wild card berth might be the only thing the Yankees have left to play for – the Blue Jays are the hottest team in the AL and essentially added another game to their 5 ½-game East lead by winning the season series from the Yankees. And while the Yankees are optimistic Judge may miss the minimum 10 days or not much beyond that, he’ll be parked at DH for at least the short term, further constraining the team’s options.
With third baseman Ryan McMahon already in tow, it’s quite fuzzy how much more the July 31 trade deadline can help – after all, it can’t get the Yankees’ MVP back any sooner.
A look at our updated rankings:
1. Chicago Cubs (+1)
- Went 5-1 against White Sox – and what if that schedule quirk was the difference in NL Central?
2. Toronto Blue Jays (+2)
- Another unsettling development for rivals: Max Scherzer strikes out 11, throws 96 pitches.
3. Milwaukee Brewers (-1)
- Huge week in MKE as Jacob Misiorowski starts opener of series vs. Cubs.
4. Detroit Tigers (-3)
- Cold streak really not the worst development: Still have a huge division lead and they learn what to shore up before trade deadline.
5. New York Mets (+3)
- Reel off seven in a row to ease past Phillies.
6. Philadelphia Phillies (+1)
- Would be an interesting destination for Eugenio Suárez.
7. Los Angeles Dodgers (-2)
- The Blakes Are Back, and not a moment too soon for beleagured pitching staff.
8. Houston Astros (-)
- Getting swept at home by the A’s is, um, not a good sign.
9. New York Yankees (-)
- You wonder what they really think of prospect Spencer Jones. We may find out this week.
10. San Diego Padres (-)
- If you enjoy good performance art, it’s trade deadline week and AJ Preller is still the GM.
11. Boston Red Sox (-)
- Aroldis Chapman exiting with back spasms a real deadline week stressor.
12. Texas Rangers (+5)
- They’ve run down the Mariners and are primed to be trade deadline aggressors.
13. Seattle Mariners (-1)
- Top priority is making sure Ichiro’s speech isn’t the biggest second-half highlight.
14. Cincinnati Reds (+1)
- Vroom, vroom! Reds are season-high six over .500 as Speedway Classic looms.
15. San Francisco Giants (-1)
- Rotation injuries may hasten the debut of noted pitching prospect Carson Whisenhunt.
16. St. Louis Cardinals (-)
- Will it be four years in a row the Cardinals trade a player to eventual World Series champion?
17. Tampa Bay Rays (-4)
- Have lost six of nine since break, enough ammo to convince front office to blow it up a bit.
18. Cleveland Guardians (+2)
- A sweep of the Rockies just before the deadline would push them north of .500.
19. Kansas City Royals (+3)
- Signing Seth Lugo to a contract extension takes some of the sting out of disappointing season.
20. Miami Marlins (+3)
- Remarkable surge fueled by starting pitching, as Eury Perez might win NL honor for July.
21. Arizona Diamondbacks (-3)
- Zac Gallen perhaps the most intriguing figure this trade deadline.
22. Los Angeles Angels (-3)
- Mike Trout notches RBI No. 1,000 and his 400th homer could come this week.
23. Minnesota Twins (-2)
- Relievers Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax probably not available for suitors, as they’re years from free agency.
24. Baltimore Orioles (-)
- Crazy timing for oft-injured Tyler O’Neill to run off three homers in three games.
25. Athletics (+1)
- The distance on Nick Kurtz’s historic four home runs might have been enough to travel from Houston back to Yolo County.
26. Atlanta Braves (-1)
- Just stunningly bad, given their annual expectations.
27. Pittsburgh Pirates (+1)
- They win two Paul Skenes starts in one week.
28. Washington Nationals (-1)
- Gather ’round for a tradition unlike any other: The Annual Josh Bell Trade.
29. Chicago White Sox (-)
- Who knew Adrian Houser would become one of AL’s most dominant pitchers the past two months?
30. Colorado Rockies (-)
- Ryan McMahon may be their lone impact player to get traded.