More than halfway through the 2021 MLB season, the Boston Red Sox are not slowing down.They've won nine of their last 10 games and suddenly own the best record in the American League, the second-best record in the majors behind only the equally-surprising San Francisco Giants. Meanwhile, their division rivals over in the Bronx continue to scuffle and lose ground in the AL East standings.The Houston Astros are right there with Boston as one of the tougher teams in the AL, boasting a league-best +137 run differential. The defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers aren't far behind in that category (+120) as they appear to have returned to form as one of the most dominant teams in the game.So, how does all of this impact our updated MLB Power Rankings after the halfway point? Let's take a look.
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1/30
Previously: 30
Get ready for the D'Backs fire sale. They've lost eight of their last 10 and went 3-24 in June.
2/30
Previously: 29
The Orioles aren't a good baseball team, but they do have some great stories in 2021. Trey Mancini's comeback, Cedric Mullins' All-Star nod, and Ryan Mountcastle's emergence all qualify as reasons to be optimistic in Baltimore.
3/30
Previously: 28
The Pirates have two All-Stars in Bryan Reynolds and Adam Frazier. It'll be interesting to see whether they'll be on the trade block this month.
4/30
Previously: 27
Another team that likely will be selling some intriguing pieces at the deadline. All-Stars Joey Gallo and Kyle Gibson both are strong candidates to be moved.
5/30
Previously: 22
The Royals have lost eight of their last 10 and have plummeted to the bottom of the AL Central standings. They went a putrid 9-21 in June and suddenly look primed to be sellers.
6/30
Previously: 24
The Lucas Giolito-Josh Donaldson dust-up was entertaining, but Giolito made a valid point. The White Sox sit atop the AL Central while the Twins are struggling to stay out of the cellar. Tough to talk trash when you're in that spot.
7/30
Previously: 25
Colorado actually has played pretty well as of late, sweeping the Pirates before taking three of four vs. ex-Rockies star Nolan Arenado and the Cardinals. That 6-31 record on the road still jumps off the page, though.
8/30
Previously: 23
The Marlins own a +21 run differential, but that hasn't translated to wins. They're last in the NL East and with the trade deadline approaching, Starling Marte is a name to monitor.
9/30
Previously: 26
Detroit currently is third in the AL Central after winning seven of its last 10 games, including two out of three vs. both the Indians and White Sox.
10/30
Previously: 9
Plenty can change in just a couple of weeks. The Cubs now are sub-.500 after losing 10 straight games. Suddenly, the conversation about whether Chicago should sell at the deadline becomes real interesting.
11/30
Previously: 17
The Cardinals find themselves nine games back in fourth place in the NL Central. After a 10-17 June, they're going to need their pitching staff to turn things around before it's too late.
12/30
Previously: 20
Other than Zack Wheeler, who's headed to Denver for the All-Star Game, the Phillies have been incredibly mediocre. And yet, they're only 4.5 games back in the tightly-contested NL East.
13/30
Previously: 18
Shohei Ohtani rightfully is the hottest name in baseball right now and he's helped the Angels keep their heads above water while Mike Trout misses time. The three-time MVP is set to return soon after the All-Star break.
14/30
Previously: 13
The Yankees have an Aroldis Chapman problem. The usually-reliable closer saw his struggles continue Sunday, allowing three runs vs. the Mets and failing to get an out. New York is now 10.5 games behind in the AL East.
15/30
Previously: 21
Kyle Schwarber's injury is such a bummer. The former Cubs slugger crushed 16 homers during a June in which he won NL Player of the Month. Washington went 19-9 amid Schwarber's hot streak.
16/30
Previously: 11
The Indians have lost seven straight (nine of their last 10) as their anemic offense has come back to bite them with their pitching staff depleted by injuries.
17/30
Previously: 15
The Braves are still chasing that elusive .500 mark, and it's hard to believe they won't get there soon. As much as they've underperformed, there's simply too much talent on this roster. All it takes is getting hot at the right time, and Atlanta could soon find itself battling for the top spot in the NL East.
18/30
Previously: 16
The Mariners have quietly been one of the hottest teams in baseball lately, going 11-4 in their last 15 games. Is it sustainable? We'll see. But Seattle deserves props for defying expectations.
19/30
Previously: 19
The Reds are riding a five-game win streak and are six games behind the NL Central-leading Brewers. They'll face Milwaukee in seven straight games starting Thursday. Get your popcorn ready.
20/30
Previously: 12
The Mets hold the top spot in the crowded NL East and have done so since mid-April. With the Nationals and Braves 4.0 and 4.5 games behind respectively, how much longer will New York's lead last?
21/30
Previously: 14
The Blue Jays are nine games back in the American League East despite having the third-best run differential in the AL (+73). With a terrifying lineup, expect Toronto to pursue one of the top arms available at the upcoming trade deadline.
22/30
Previously: 4
After dropping two of three vs. Boston, the A's will head to Houston for a big three-game set. They're currently 3.5 games behind the Astros in the AL West standings.
23/30
Previously: 8
The Rays have fallen 4.5 games behind the Red Sox in the AL East, their largest deficit of the season, after losing 12 of their last 18.
24/30
Previously: 6
The White Sox hold their largest AL Central lead of the season (six games) despite losing their last three. They're anxiously awaiting the returns of Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert from injury.
25/30
Previously: 10
The Brewers rode an 11-game winning streak to the top of the NL Central and now hold a six-game lead. Since May 21, Milwaukee has the most runs scored in the NL (218).
26/30
Previously: 7
It's pretty wild to see this Padres team in third place, 4.5 games behind the Giants. Yu Darvish is an All-Star, but San Diego needs more from its rotation (namely Blake Snell) if it's going to fight for the division title.
27/30
Previously: 1
Getting swept by the Orioles isn't ideal. Still, the Astros boast the best run differential in the game (+137) heading into a big series vs. Oakland.
28/30
Previously: 5
This team just continues to find new ways to win games. They've won nine of their last 10 and now own the best record in the AL, the second-best in baseball. Boston also has five players heading to Denver for the All-Star Game: Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez, Nathan Eovaldi, and Matt Barnes.
29/30
Previously: 3
The Dodgers' bizarre rough patch in May seems like a distant memory. They've returned to form as a World Series favorite with nine wins in their last 10 games, and they're now only a half-game behind the Giants in the division.
30/30
Previously: 2
The Dodgers are right on their tail, but it's about time we respect what this underdog Giants team has been able to accomplish. This will be a fun battle to watch in the second half, and don't sleep on San Diego either.