The top of the MLB continues to be extremely tight, while teams towards the back half of the power rankings are falling out of contention.
1. Philadelphia Phillies (73-51) | Last week: 2 (+1)
It came against the Marlins and Nationals, but Philadelphia snapped their struggles with a 4-2 week to reclaim the top record in baseball—and they looked good doing it. Now, the Phillies enter Atlanta tomorrow night with a 7.0 game lead in the NL East.
2. Baltimore Orioles (73-52) | Last week: 1 (-1)
Baltimore split versus the Nationals and Red Sox at home, so they drop a spot with Philadelphia seemingly back on track. Still, the move for Zach Eflin at the deadline has worked out tremendously with a 4-0 record and 2.13 ERA in four starts, and the Orioles are AL favorites right now.
3. New York Yankees (73-52) | Last week: 3
The bats cooled for the Yankees over the weekend with a series loss to Detroit, and we’ll see if the off day gets them ready for the visiting Guardians. After that, New York faces all teams currently below .500 through the first week of September.
4. Los Angeles Dodgers (73-52) | Last week: 5 (+1)
The Dodgers move up a spot after a split with the Brewers on the road last week, but it was a slight disappointment because they took the first two games of the series before two close losses. Plus, they got Mookie Betts back, and him being back in right field (rather than shortstop) makes the most sense for the club.
5. Milwaukee Brewers (72-52) | Last week: 6 (+1)
Milwaukee couldn’t have asked for much better than splitting a four-game series versus the Dodgers and then sweeping the Guardians, so they crack the top five after opening up an 11.0 game lead in the NL Central—easily the biggest gap in baseball.
6. Cleveland Guardians (72-52) | Last week: 4 (-2)
Cleveland had to fall a couple of spots after getting swept by a team with the same record as them, but they at least swept the Cubs to began last week. And the Guardians cannot afford many slipups with the Twins (2.0 games back) and Royals (3.0 games back) continuing to close in.
7. Minnesota Twins (70-54) | Last week: 9 (+2)
Minnesota moves up after their series victory over Kansas City, and they followed it up by potentially ending any hopes of the Rangers making a late-season run by taking three of four games against them. Starting tonight, I’m excited to watch the Twins travel to San Diego to take on an emerging Padres squad that’s suddenly reached the 70-win mark.
8. San Diego Padres (70-55) | Last week: 8
San Diego stumbled over the weekend by dropping a series to the Rockies, but they entered Colorado with eight consecutive series wins to put them 3.0 games behind the rival Dodgers. The next seven days are huge with the Twins and Mets coming to town.
9. Arizona Diamondbacks (69-56) | Last week: 7 (-2)
Arizona is still very dangerous and someone the NL won’t want to face in October, but they drop following a weekend sweep versus the Rays. Although they are in a playoff race, the Diamondbacks need to focus on getting Ketel Marte healthy after he aggravated his ankle injury as a pinch hitter yesterday.
10. Kansas City Royals (69-55) | Last week: 10
Again, Kansas City dropped two of three in their battle versus Minnesota, but they rebounded nicely by sweeping the Reds by scores of 7-1, 13-1, and 8-1. After hosting the Angels to begin this week, the Royals will really be tested versus the next six opponents (v PHI, @ CLE, @ HOU, v CLE, v MIN, @ NYY).
11. Houston Astros (67-56) | Last week: 11
12. Atlanta Braves (66-58) | Last week: 13 (+1)
13. Boston Red Sox (65-58) | Last week: 14 (+1)
14. Seattle Mariners (64-61) | Last week: 12 (-2)
15. New York Mets (64-60) | Last week: 15
16. San Francisco Giants (63-63) | Last week: 17 (+1)
17. Tampa Bay Rays (62-61) | Last week: 19 (+2)
18. St. Louis Cardinals (61-63) | Last week: 16 (-2)
19. Chicago Cubs (61-64) | Last week: 18 (-1)
20. Cincinnati Reds (60-64) | Last week: 20
21. Detroit Tigers (61-64) | Last week: 23 (+2)
22. Pittsburgh Pirates (58-65) | Last week: 21 (-1)
23. Texas Rangers (57-68) | Last week: 22 (-1)
24. Toronto Blue Jays (58-66) | Last week: 24
25. Washington Nationals (56-69) | Last week: 25
26. Oakland Athletics (53-71) | Last week: 27 (+1)
27. Los Angeles Angles (53-71) | Last week: 26 (-1)
28. Colorado Rockies (46-79) | Last week: 28
29. Miami Marlins (46-78) | Last week: 29
30. Chicago White Sox (30-95) | Last week: 30