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MLB power rankings: Free-falling Cardinals in last place after disastrous road trip

gabe lacques, usa today
·4 min read
45

The St. Louis Cardinals are still waiting for a soft landing.

One of the game's most consistent franchises this century - any century, really - finds itself in a free fall after losing eight of 10 games on a road trip that ensured they'd finish April in a most unusual place.

Last in the National League Central.

They also tumbled three more spots in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings, settling in at No. 23 after starting the season ranked 11th. How unfamiliar is this turf?

Unfortunately, our power rankings archive doesn't go back that far, but suffice to say it's been a minute since the Cardinals find themselves in the bottom third. They've made the playoffs four consecutive seasons, and in 16 of 23 since 2000.

They haven't finished lower than third in 15 years, and just twice in the last 25 years.

Yes, it's still early, yet the Cardinals still have a lot to sort out, most notably the return of prospect Jordan Walker after weeks of soft contact and a crowded outfield situation compelled the club to send him to Class AAA to sort out his swing. And the schedule has yanked them out of their NL Central comfort zone - they're 3-4 against divisional foes and 7-15 against everybody else.

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Perhaps the path will get smoother. But for now, the Cards have a lot of looking up to do.

This week's rankings:

Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas reacts after giving up a home run.
Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas reacts after giving up a home run.

1. Tampa Bay Rays (-)

2. Atlanta Braves (-)

3. Toronto Blue Jays (-)

  • What a month for Matt Chapman: Majors-best 1.152 OPS, five homers, 25 extra-base hits.

4. Baltimore Orioles (+4)

  • All they do is win series - six in a row, now.

5. Milwaukee Brewers (-)

6. Pittsburgh Pirates (+4)

  • Another chance to prove they're legit: Three games at No. 1 Tampa Bay.

7. New York Mets (-1)

  • Rainouts mean Max Scherzer won't end his suspension against Atlanta, as he hoped.

8. Houston Astros (-1)

  • Cristian Javier not as overpowering as full-fledged rotation member, but still pretty great.

9. San Diego Padres (-)

  • Can they bottle that Mexico City air and take it back to Petco Park?

10. Los Angeles Dodgers (+1)

11. Minnesota Twins (+1)

  • You beat the Yankees in a series for the first time since 2001, you get ranked higher. Them's the rules.

12. Texas Rangers (+4)

13. New York Yankees (-9)

14. Arizona Diamondbacks (-1)

  • Dominic Fletcher, younger brother of David, doubles in major league debut.

15. Chicago Cubs (-1)

16. Seattle Mariners (+1)

17. Boston Red Sox (+1)

  • Small sample, but Jarren Duran has 10 extra-base hits and averaging 94 mph exit velocity in 53 plate appearances.

18. Philadelphia Phillies (+1)

  • Bryce Harper returns this week? Bryce Harper returns this week.

19. Cleveland Guardians (-3)

  • Rank 29th with 17 homers, 28th with .664 OPS.

20. Miami Marlins (+1)

  • 10-0 in one-run games after sweeping Cubs.

21. Los Angeles Angels (+1)

22. San Francisco Giants  (+1)

  • Bullpen dragging 'em down with 6.15 ERA, 1.52 WHIP.

23. St. Louis Cardinals (-3)

  • Hoping that Jordan Walker's field trip to Class AAA is just a quick fix.

24. Cincinnati Reds (+1)

  • Alexis Diaz has struck out 19 of 33 batters faced.

25. Detroit Tigers (+1)

  • Tarik Skubal gets off bullpen mound for first time since August flexor tendon surgery.

26. Chicago White Sox (-2)

  • "Put it on me," says GM Rick Hahn. Careful what you wish for.

27. Washington Nationals (+1)

28. Colorado Rockies (-1)

  • Already eating money: Jose Ureña, due $3.5 million this year, released after five starts with 9.82 ERA.

29. Kansas City Royals (-)

  • 1-5 against Twins.

30. Oakland Athletics (-)

  • Record: 6-23. Run differential: -117. Video clip edited to obscure signs unflattering to management: One.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: Cardinals stumble to last in NL Central standings