1. Boston Red Sox (103-49) | Previous: 1
Boston’s offense has had a little lull here in recent games, and they’re looking to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Yankees later tonight. The Red Sox need to build momentum heading into the postseason after they’ve been able to front run for much of the year.
2. Houston Astros (95-57) | Previous: 2
The Astros are 21-9 in their last 30 games, and they finish the season against three non-playoff teams. The defending World Series champions could be on a roll when October arrives.
3. New York Yankees (93-58) | Previous: 4 (+1)
Aaron Judge is back, and these next couple weeks are big as he looks to get acclimated to playing full-time every day again. Getting a home wild-card game at Yankee Stadium would be significant.
4. Chicago Cubs (89-63) | Previous: 6 (+2)
Kris Bryant has worn the golden sombrero twice in the last five games, but he had a hit (including a homer) in the three games in between that stretch. He’ll obviously be a key player for the Cubs down the stretch.
5. Oakland Athletics (91-61) | Previous: 3 (-2)
The A’s didn’t have a great week, and the Rays are within striking distance for the second wild-card spot in the American League. Last night’s ten-run rout of the Angels could get the team going.
6. Los Angeles Dodgers (85-68) | Previous: 11 (+4)
The Dodgers move up into the top six of the power rankings, and they could be in the top three if they keep it up. Yasiel Puig has six homers in his last 18 at-bats, and they have taken a 2.5-game lead in the NL West after a sweep of the Rockies.
7. Cleveland Indians (85-66) | Previous: 5 (-2)
Jason Kipnis recorded his 1,000th career hit in style, with a walk-off grand slam to lift the Indians over the White Sox. That type of play could be a huge boost heading into the final few series of the season.
8. Milwaukee Brewers (87-66) | Previous: 7 (-1)
The Brewers drop one spot just because the Dodgers are surging, but they are looking great for a playoff spot. The acquisitions they’ve made have worked out, and Christian Yelich might be the NL MVP favorite.
9. Atlanta Braves (84-68) | Previous: 8 (-1)
The pitching struggled in four straight losses, but the Braves got back on track with a win against the Cardinals ahead of an important series versus the Phillies.
10. Tampa Bay Rays (85-66) | Previous: 12 (+2)
At 23-7 in the last month, the Rays have been the hottest team in baseball. It might be tough to crack the American League playoffs, but this has been a great run.
11. St. Louis Cardinals (84-69) | Previous: 9 (-2)
The Cardinals lost a four-game series against the Dodgers, but they bounced back with a nice three-game series win against the Braves. Meanwhile, LA helped knock the Rockies down in the wild-card race.
12. Colorado Rockies (82-70) | Previous: 10 (-2)
The Rockies are very much in both the division and wild-card hunt, but they finish the season against all above-.500 teams. It won’t be easy to make the playoffs for Colorado.
13. Philadelphia Phillies (78-73) | Previous: 16 (+3)
The Phillies have seemed out of the playoff picture for a few weeks now, but they are in a position to take the division, with seven of their last 11 games coming versus the NL East-leading Braves. Atlanta has a 5.5-game lead, so the Phillies can put things into their own hands here.
14. Arizona Diamondbacks (79-74) | Previous: 13 (-1)
Arizona also has a good opportunity, as they face the Rockies and Dodgers the next two series—both at home. They’ve been cold, though, and this is the time to turn it on.
15. Seattle Mariners (84-68) | Previous: 14 (-1)
The Mariners had a solid series win against the Astros, but it’s probably too little too late in a stacked American League.
16. Washington Nationals (77-75) | Previous: 15 (-1)
The Nationals are hanging around, and their path to the playoffs is probably the Phillies taking care of business against the Braves while faltering in their other series.
17. Pittsburgh Pirates (77-74) | Previous: 18 (+1)
The Pirates own an MLB-best five-game winning streak, and they’re back three games over the .500 mark. However, they’re currently fourth in the NL Central.
18. Los Angeles Angels (75-77) | Previous: 17 (-1)
It’s been fun to watch Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani play together, and they’d be a blast to watch in the postseason. Hopefully it happens before (if/when) Trout leaves LA.
19. New York Mets (70-82) | Previous: 20 (+1)
The Mets usually dominate in Citizens Bank Park, but they fell to the Phillies in a three-game series after dropping game one. They finish the season with matchups against the other three divisional foes.
20. Minnesota Twins (71-81) | Previous: 19 (-1)
The Twins have a four-game winning streak, and they’ll look to carry the momentum to maybe play some spoiler versus the Athletics and help the Rays get back into the playoff picture.
21. San Francisco Giants (72-81) | Previous: 21
Their first wins of the month came in the last week, as the Giants put an end to the 11-game losing streak. San Fran will attempt to finish the season strong.
22. Toronto Blue Jays (69-83) | Previous: 22
With the Rays coming to town, the Jays can put a stop to a division rival making a surge up the standings in the AL wild-card race.
23. Cincinnati Reds (65-88) | Previous: 23
After a series win against the Dodgers earlier this month, the Reds were unable to keep the momentum with back-to-back series losses.
24. Texas Rangers (64-88) | Previous: 24
The Rangers started the last seven days with two straight wins, but they’ve dropped four straight.
25. San Diego Padres (61-92) | Previous: 26 (+1)
They’re at the bottom of the NL West, but the Padres will have a chance to make some late-season noise in the division when they face the Dodgers this weekend.
26. Detroit Tigers (61-91) | Previous: 25 (-1)
The Tigers are an MLB-worst 2-8 in their last ten games, so they drop a spot in the power rankings.
27. Chicago White Sox (59-92) | Previous: 27
The White Sox will look to avoid a sweep against the Indians before they take on the Cubs in a crosstown series.
28. Miami Marlins (59-92) | Previous: 28
The Marlins have their final home series of the season starting tonight against the Reds, so hopefully they give the hometown fans something to cheer about heading into next season.
29. Kansas City Royals (52-100) | Previous: 29
Overall, the Royals are above .500 in the last 20 games, but they hit the 100-loss mark after four straight losses.
30. Baltimore Orioles (44-108) | Previous: 30
The Orioles are an MLB-worst 8-22 in their last 30 games—the only team in the majors without double-digit wins in that span.
Ugh I guess there’s next year