Dallas Keuchel is just one of many interesting recent developments for the Braves.
Atlanta has exploded for seven straight wins in an eventful week that resulted in third baseman Josh Donaldson getting a one-game suspension for a benches-clearing fight against the Pirates. Donaldson took exception after being clipped by Pittsburgh pitcher Joe Musgrove during the first inning of Monday’s game.
The brawl seems to have served as a shot in the arm for Atlanta, though, as they went on to sweep the four-game series against the Pirates, including a four-homer performance on Tuesday that helped the team take full control of first place in the NL East and climb further up the MLB Power Rankings.
Donaldson later appealed the suspension and is still waiting to hear the final ruling.
Meanwhile, in class-A Rome, Keuchel struck out nine while allowing just one hit and one walk on 77 pitches through seven innings. Judging by the 31-year-old’s first of two scheduled minor-league outings, he should be ready for the big-leagues in no time, making the Braves an even scarier team for National League opponents.
In the NL Central, after flirting with first place for a couple of weeks, the Brewers finally snagged top spot from the Cubs, and have a chance to solidify the feat with series against the Giants and Padres coming up. Chicago, on the other hand, is amid a series versus the mighty Dodgers in which they dropped a rather lopsided first game.
As Los Angeles continues to fight tooth-and-nail against the Astros and the Twins for the best record in baseball, the middle of the pack continues to shuffle in the NL West. The Padres will try to right the ship against the Rockies after dropping five straight games and several positions in the MLB Power Rankings.
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One of this year’s most interesting developing stories, the Twins are once again winners this week, as their league-best +115 run differential has put them comfortably in the driver’s seat for the lead in the AL Central and the current best record in MLB.
In the AL West, Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani have shown that there is some upside to this uninspired Angels season. After an unexpected series sweep of the Dodgers, Ohtani became the first Japanese player to hit for the cycle in Major League Baseball history in Los Angeles’ 5-3 win over the Rays on Thursday. The Angels are still not post-season ready, but they’re definitely an interesting team to watch.
Over in the East, the imminent return of slugger Giancarlo Stanton might just serve as the springboard the Yankees need to jump back to No. 1 in the Power Rankings. Stanton is expected back next week after being sidelined since March 31 with biceps, shoulder and calf injuries. A two-game losing streak and the Twins’ constant improvement, however, has cost New York in the rankings this week.
Here are this week’s MLB Power Rankings, a palate cleanser after Thursday’s celebration with the Toronto Raptors:
1 (1) 
Los Angeles Dodgers
2 (2) 
Houston Astros
3 (4) 
Minnesota Twins
4 (3) 
New York Yankees
5 (5) 
Tampa Bay Rays
6 (8) 
Atlanta Braves
7 (7) 
Milwaukee Brewers
8 (6) 
Chicago Cubs
9 (9) 
Boston Red Sox
10 (10) 
Philadelphia Phillies
11 (12) 
Colorado Rockies
12 (11) 
St. Louis Cardinals
13 (13) 
Cleveland Indians
14 (16) 
Texas Rangers
15 (15) 
New York Mets
16 (17) 
Arizona Diamondbacks
17 (19) 
Los Angeles Angels
18 (14) 
San Diego Padres
19 (18) 
Oakland Athletics
20 (20) 
Washington Nationals
21 (22) 
Chicago White Sox
22 (21) 
Pittsburgh Pirates
23 (23) 
San Francisco Giants
24 (24) 
Cincinnati Reds
25 (25) 
Seattle Mariners
26 (27) 
Toronto Blue Jays
27 (26) 
Kansas City Royals
28 (28) 
Detroit Tigers
29 (29) 
Miami Marlins
30 (30) 
Baltimore Orioles
