MLB power rankings: Red Sox on 10-game win streak as post-Devers roll continues

The team that made one of the strangest early-season moves in recent baseball history is roaring into the second half hotter than anybody.

The Boston Red Sox, who traded $313 million slugger Rafael Devers in mid-June, will take a 10-game winning streak into the second half, climbing within a game of the New York Yankees and lurking within striking distance of the first-place Toronto Blue Jays in a once-again rugged American League East.

And they've zoomed up six more spots to 10th in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings.

Boston is coming off a four-game sweep of Tampa Bay and opens the second half with a showdown at Wrigley Field against the Cubs. A pitching staff once strafed by injury and poor performance now has two right-handers, Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello, performing like reliable near-aces. Its lineup, bereft of Devers, has benefited from the quiet and focused rise of super rookie Roman Anthony, the recent activation of All-Star Alex Bregman and the star turn of center fielder Ceddane Rafaela.

Over his last 21 games, Rafaela has batted .347 with a 1.152 OPS, 10 doubles and eight home runs. Little wonder Boston has won 11 of 12 in July - and continuing to rise as the trade deadline comes into sight.

A look at our updated rankings:

1. Detroit Tigers (-)

• From a roar to a whimper as they're swept to end the first half.

2. Chicago Cubs (+2)

• They take a series at Yankee Stadium to barely keep control of NL Central.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)

• Shohei Ohtani is up to three innings a start, and looking better every time out.

4. Houston Astros (-2)

• From red-hot to dropping five of six.

5. Toronto Blue Jays (+2)

• An ascendant farm system adds perhaps the best prep shortstop in JoJo Parker.

6. Milwaukee Brewers (-)

• Can't stop the Jacob Misiorowski hype train. Ready for a pennant race, kid?

7. Philadelphia Phillies (-)

• Kyle Schwarber probably the phans' phavorite Phillie and now he's the NL's, too.

8. New York Mets (-)

• Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga will make this an entirely different team.

9. New York Yankees (-)

• Aaron Judge seemed strangely invisible at the All-Star Game.

10. Boston Red Sox (+6)

• In addition to his offensive exploits, rookie Carlos Narvaez leads the majors with 20 runners caught stealing.

11. San Diego Padres (-)

• A 10-game road trip to tip off the second half may yet determine their fate.

12. Seattle Mariners (+2)

• The Summer of Dumper resumes. Next stop: 40 home runs?

13. San Francisco Giants (-)

• With Matt Chapman back, Willy Adames and Rafael Devers should thrive in second half.

14. Tampa Bay Rays (-4)

• Have they played their way into a neutral actor at the trade deadline?

15. St. Louis Cardinals (-3)

• In a packed NL Central race, they're the "why not us?" entry.

16. Cincinnati Reds (-1)

• Terry Francona reaches 2,000 career wins.

17. Texas Rangers (-)

• Nearly reaching .500 by the All-Star break is a significant feat.

18. Arizona Diamondbacks (-)

• The last days of Eugenio Suárez? Say it ain't so.

19. Los Angeles Angels (-)

• Shocked the world by drafting Tyler Bremner second overall.

20. Minnesota Twins (-)

• Rob Manfred insists they'll be sold soon.

21. Kansas City Royals (+1)

• Seth Lugo would be significantly attractive on the trade market.

22. Cleveland Guardians (+1)

• Paul Sewald hits IL again with sore shoulder.

23. Miami Marlins (+2)

• What a week for Kyle Stowers: Three-homer game vs. his old team, and a swing-off bomb.

24. Baltimore Orioles (-1)

• Had a chance to make sure Bryan Baker deal wasn't beginning of end. Then get swept by Miami.

25. Atlanta Braves (-1)

• A nice pop for Brian Snitker during All-Star Game introductions.

26. Pittsburgh Pirates (-)

• Paul Skenes impresses Clayton Kershaw with workout routine.

27. Athletics (+1)

• All Brent Rooker does is hit bombs in All-Star Games. They should try to bring one to Yolo County.

28. Washington Nationals (-1)

• What will the franchise look like by the time 17-year-old Eli Willits gets to the bigs?

29. Chicago White Sox (-)

• Yep, even Shane Smith got into the All-Star Game - for 10 pitches.

30. Colorado Rockies (-)

• Ethan Holliday is a nice bit of hope to sell, at least for a while.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: Red Sox roll into second half, AL East standings