Cleveland Indians at No. 11 spot in FanSided’s MLB power rankings

The Cleveland Indians have not been great, but have done enough to remain in the top half of the MLB and in FanSided’s power rankings.

Last night wasn’t a great one for Cleveland Indians fans, but the team has been on a solid stretch over the past week.

The Indians swept the Houston Astros last weekend, and enter play today with a record of 24-21. That isn’t good enough for first in the American League Central, but it is far too early to begin worrying about that given the current record.

The Indians are playing solid, but other teams around the league are surging as June approaches. This has seen the Indians drop down one spot to No. 11 in the latest edition of FanSided’s MLB power rankings.

From the article:

"When we think about MLB stars, we think of them as perfectly-programmed baseball robots. In reality, they are human beings who deal with the same difficulties that come with starting a new job and moving to a new city. Throw on the added pressure of a new $60-million contract, and you have all the ingredients for a prolonged slump to start the year. Encarnacion’s swing still looks good when he drives the ball, and the numbers will continue their upward trend."

The focus on Edwin Encarnacion makes sense, but he has begun to turn it around. He has picked up hits in each of the last four games, and is just one home run away from tying Francisco Lindor for most on the team.

His play has been frustrating, but it is hard to solely blame him for the team’s offensive struggles. Most of the lineup has struggled, while the starting pitching has also been shaky.

The fact the Indians are 24-21 right now may surprise some fans who have seen so much inconsistent play, but it doesn’t matter how the team wins as long as they do.

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A No. 11 ranking isn’t great, but as long as the team continues to fight for the AL Central lead, the team is in good shape.