There’s not much change in this week’s MLB power rankings as teams gear up to make a run in the final two weeks of the regular season.
1. Houston Astros (98-53) | Last week: 1
Houston lost three of four to Oakland to start last week, but they were able to bounce back with a three-game sweep of the Royals and remain atop the power rankings as we enter the second half of September.
2. New York Yankees (98-53) | Last week: 2
The Yankees might have just had a sluggish weekend north of the border while losing their weekend series versus the Blue Jays, but they’ll return home for series against the Angels and then the Jays again as they battle for homefield in the American League.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers (97-54) | Last week: 3
The Dodgers gained a little bit of ground last week as they look to keep the top spot in the National League. LA’s final five home games of the regular season are this week.
4. Atlanta Braves (93-58) | Last week: 4
Atlanta did well to split a four-game series with Philadelphia and then win a three-game series over Washington all on the road, and now they’ll return home this week against the Phillies and Giants for their own final home series of the regular season.
5. Minnesota Twins (91-58) | Last week: 5
It was just a .500 week for the Twins, but it ended with a series win against the Indians to keep a solid 4.5-game lead in the AL Central. The Twins are in an excellent position, as they finish the season facing teams in the bottom third of the majors.
6. Oakland Athletics (90-60) | Last week: 7 (+1)
The A’s started last week with a 15-0 loss to the Astros, but they responded beautifully with six consecutive wins starting with them returning the favor via a 21-7 rout of Houston. Oakland is an MLB-best 22-8 in their last 30 games.
7. Tampa Bay Rays (89-62) | Last week: 6 (-1)
After a 3-3 week, the Rays now have a critical matchup (two games) with the Dodgers that has implications in both leagues late in the season. Austin Meadows hit three homers this week to bring his season total to 31.
8. St. Louis Cardinals (83-66) | Last week: 8
Two consecutive series losses and the Cardinals are in a tough spot. The Cubs and Brewers are right on their heels, and the Red Birds must now face the Nationals before playing the Cubs for four games.
9. Cleveland Indians (87-63) | Last week: 9
The series loss to Minnesota was tough, but the Indians continue to keep pace in the American League wild card race, and they get to host the Tigers for three games to start this week. Cleveland just needs to take care of their own business and hope to land in the playoffs.
10. Washington Nationals (82-66) | Last week: 10
The Nats were able to win a series over the Twins, but then they dropped two of three to Atlanta over the weekend. Washington plays on the road all this week before returning home to end the regular season.
11. Chicago Cubs (81-68) | Last week: 11
Chicago’s offense put up run totals of 17, 14, and 16 in their three-game sweep of the Pirates, so they appear to be hot at the right time. A 5-2 stretch puts them just two games back in the NL Central mix with an upcoming four-game series with the first-place Cardinals to end this week. Anthony Rizzo has a sprained ankle, but he shouldn’t miss too much time with it.
12. Milwaukee Brewers (80-69) | Last week: 14 (+2)
The Brewers are also hot, as despite the loss of NL MVP Christian Yelich for the season, Milwaukee continues to play well and is now 9-1 in their last ten games.
13. New York Mets (77-72) | Last week: 16 (+3)
The Mets are playing well, too, and a 5-2 week puts them back in the NL wild card mix. They weren’t able to get a series win over the Dodgers, but the Mets knocked the Diamondbacks nearly out of the race and now face the Rockies and Reds in winnable series.
14. Philadelphia Phillies (76-72) | Last week: 13 (-1)
The Phillies were able to split four games with the Braves, but they lost two straight at home to the Red Sox and lost ground in the playoff hunt. A couple of series wins at Atlanta and Cleveland are a must at this point.
15. Arizona Diamondbacks (76-74) | Last week: 12 (-3)
The Diamondbacks looked to be in a promising position to potentially secure an NL wild card spot, but they drop three spots in the power rankings after a 1-6 week.
16. Boston Red Sox (79-70) | Last week: 15 (-1)
There’s an argument to be made for Boston being a couple of spots higher than this after a series win over the Phillies, but their playoff chances are more unrealistic than the teams above them.
17. Texas Rangers (74-77) | Last week: 17
The Rangers can play spoiler against AL West opponents as they take on the Astros and A’s this week.
18. San Francisco Giants (72-78) | Last week: 18
Manager Bruce Bochy will lead the Giants on his final road series of his career this week at Boston and Atlanta.
19. Cincinnati Reds (70-80) | Last week: 21 (+2)
They aren’t contending, but the Reds can make some noise in the NL playoff race. Cincinnati starts the week versus the Cubs before facing the Mets.
20. San Diego Padres (68-81) | Last week: 20
The Rockies have a case for the No. 20 spot after a series win over the Padres, but San Diego has been better this season (and they are mathematically alive for the playoffs) and get the No. 20 spot.
21. Los Angeles Angels (68-82) | Last week: 19 (-2)
22. Colorado Rockies (65-85) | Last week: 24 (+2)
23. Chicago White Sox (65-84) | Last week: 23
24. Pittsburgh Pirates (65-85) | Last week: 22 (-2)
25. Seattle Mariners (62-88) | Last week: 25
26. Toronto Blue Jays (59-91) | Last week: 26
27. Kansas City Royals (55-95) | Last week: 27
28. Miami Marlins (52-97) | Last week: 28
29. Baltimore Orioles (49-100) | Last week: 29
30. Detroit Tigers (44-104) | Last week: 30