John McGrath’s Major League Baseball power rankings

John McGrath’s Major League Baseball power rankings

The Royals’ Mike Moustakas is the top All-Star Game
vote-getter for AL starting third baseman.

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/05/30/3816654_john-mcgraths-major-league-baseball.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy

1. St. Louis Cardinals (1): Redbirds responded to tough news of Matt Adams’ season-ending quad injury by putting together a winning streak.

2. Kansas City Royals (2): Mike Moustakas, who hit a career-low .212 in 2014, has taken the lead in the All-Star Game vote for starting AL third baseman.

3. Houston Astros (3): Two years removed from a 51-111 finish in their AL debut, Astros’ status as Best of the West has a long-term look.

4. Washington Nationals (4): Jayson Werth’s broken left wrist latest evidence hard-luck Nats are destined to be tested.

Vintage Clayton Kershaw lifts Dodgers over Braves

Vintage Clayton Kershaw lifts Dodgers over Braves

Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and third baseman 
Justin Turner point at outfielder Andre Ethier
after scoring on his two-run double in the fourth inning.

Before the Dodgers' 8-0 win over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, Clayton Kershaw had begun to take over more than just his scheduled start day. His ongoing struggles seemed to acquire their own spot in the rotation.

The day before each start, the theories would begin. Was something wrong with Kershaw? The next day he would start and the same question would be asked. The day after that would bring more questions about the imperfections from the previous game.

So Tuesday represented Kershaw's latest start day and another chance for theorizing. Manager Don Mattingly offered his latest hypotheses. Hitters were adjusting. Kershaw wasn't putting batters away. He'd gotten bad bounces.

Baseball trade deadline primer: 10 teams, players to watch

Baseball trade deadline primer: 10 teams, players to watch

Keep an eye on these 10 players and teams before the July 31 baseball trade deadline:

Philadelphia Phillies: They are that poker player wearing the dark shades, devious grin and a blank face. In or out? The Phillies, with a $175 million payroll, five consecutive division titles and three-year sellout streak, aren’t saying whether they will try to make a run at the playoffs or start selling off players.

At 13 games out in the NL East and 9.5 games behind the wild card after Tuesday’s games, the challenge is sizable. But with Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Roy Halladay healthy and supposed to be in the same lineup for the first time this season Tuesday, it’s easy to see why they may give this group a chance.