MLB Power Rankings: Can Cards Be Dethroned?

Jun 20, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) is doused with chocolate sauce by left fielder Jayson Werth (right) after throwing a no hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Nationals Park. The Nationals won 6 – 0. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Despite the continuous dominance of the Saint Louis Cardinals, the story of the week hailed from Nationals Park as Max Scherzer threw the second no-hitter of 2015.

At least that’s what it will go down as in the record books. In reality Scherzer should have pitched a perfect game. With two strikes and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Scherzer delivered a inside slider that just barely nicked the elbow of Jose Tabata and cost him the first perfect game in Washington Nationals history. Tabata appeared to lean into the slider a bit to intentionally get hit by the pitch. Maybe a little low, yes, but you can’t fault the hitter for doing everything he can to get on base. So it will always be the one that could have been for Scherzer. What a difference that one inch can make.

Elsewhere, the San Diego Padres finally canned longtime manager Bud Black as his team continued to underplay after their lavish spendings on marquee free agents during the offseason. Black had been the manager since 2006. Their choice as interim manager? The loquacious Pat Murphy who had been managing the Padres Triple-A team. Pat Murphy is best known locally for his work as the head coach of the Arizona State University baseball team for 15 years.

With the biggest MLB news out of the way here’s who made the biggest moves this week.

Biggest Jump: Rangers & Rays (3 spots)

Biggest Drop: Padres (5 spots)