1. Boston Red Sox (86-36) | Previous: 1
The Red Sox remain the hottest team in baseball, and they don’t appear poised to slow down anytime soon. 50 games over .500 and 11 games over the next-best teaming mid-August is astounding.
2. Cleveland Indians (69-51) | Previous: 4 (+2)
The steady climb up the power rankings for the Indians has gotten them all the way to the number two spot behind Boston. Cleveland doesn’t have to deal with a tight division race or competition for a wild-card spot.
3. New York Yankees (75-45) | Previous: 3
At 30 games over .500, the Yankees still remain in a tight wild-card battle that the Astros might suddenly be in. There’s still no timetable on Aaron Judge’s return from his wrist injury.
4. Houston Astros (74-47) | Previous: 2 (-2)
Getting swept by the Mariners in a four-game series at home has the Astros just 2.0 games up on the Athletics and 4.5 games up on the Mariners in the AL West. With two other 70-win teams in the division, this isn’t going to be easy down the stretch.
5. Oakland Athletics (72-49) | Previous: 6 (+1)
In fact, the Athletics can take the division lead this weekend, as they face Houston in a three-game series in Oakland. They’re coming off a series win versus Seattle, but yesterday’s loss in 12 innings had to sting.
6. Chicago Cubs (69-50) | Previous: 5 (-1)
Cole Hamels remains the story for the Cubs, as he threw another exceptional game, allowing just one hit to the Nationals in seven innings. Hamels has a 1.00 ERA and 2-0 record through three starts with Chicago.
7. Atlanta Braves (68-51) | Previous: 11 (+4)
What a shame Ronald Acuna got drilled (likely intentionally) to start last night’s game against the Marlins. Acuna was on a tear, with three straight games with a leadoff home run (and five straight games with a home run overall). If the Braves stay hot offensively, they might be the top team in the NL.
8. Philadelphia Phillies (66-53) | Previous: 7 (-1)
While the Braves have gone on a surge, the Phillies have gone on a lull. Wilson Ramos’ Phillies debut last night (three hits, three runs, three RBI) could be the boost the team needs moving forward after they gave up the division lead.
9. Seattle Mariners (70-52) | Previous: 13 (+4)
The Mariners looked like they were done as they fell back in the standings the last several weeks, but the four-game sweep over the defending champs got them right back into it. They now face the Dodgers for a three-game series before facing the Astros again.
10. Milwaukee Brewers (68-55) | Previous: 9 (-1)
The Brewers continue to play average baseball, but they remain in the second NL wild-card spot. This upcoming series against the red-hot red birds is critical.
11. Arizona Diamondbacks (66-55) | Previous: 10 (-1)
Both west divisions are tough, but the Diamondbacks lead in the NL, as the Rockies and Dodgers were not able to take advantage of Arizona’s 2-3 week. A four-game series versus the Padres could potentially get the Diamondbacks to 70 wins.
12. St. Louis Cardinals (66-55) | Previous: 14 (+2)
Opinions and narratives change on a dime, but the manager switch for the Cardinals is looking like a genius move with the team in the midst of an eight-game winning streak. Thankfully, NL MVP contender Matt Carpenter appears to be fine after taking a HBP on the hand in yesterday’s game.
13. Los Angeles Dodgers (65-57) | Previous: 8 (-5)
The division-leading Diamondbacks have not separated themselves, but the Dodgers couldn’t make a move up the standings with a 2-5 week. The Dodgers needed that walk-off win against the Giants last night to end their five-game losing streak.
14. Colorado Rockies (64-56) | Previous: 15 (+1)
The Rockies got routed by the Astros last night, but they were on a 4-1 stretch before that. Coming up is a big four-game series against the Braves.
15. Washington Nationals (60-61) | Previous: 12 (-3)
With Atlanta surging and Philadelphia also several games above .500, the Nats are running out of time to make a division comeback. They were a bit unlucky running into the streaking Cardinals, and they must get on track against the Marlins.
16. Pittsburgh Pirates (61-60) | Previous: 16
Two road series versus the Giants and Twins did not go well for the Pirates, who have cooled off since their hot stretch. They’ll look to get back on track with a home series versus Chicago.
17. San Francisco Giants (61-61) | Previous: 18 (+1)
This is the time for the Giants to make a run if they’re going to, with series against the Reds, Mets, and Rangers coming up.
18. Los Angeles Angels (62-60) | Previous: 17 (-1)
The Angels took care of business with a three-game sweep over San Diego, and it might be the start of a run here. The season isn’t over yet.
19. Tampa Bay Rays (61-59) | Previous: 19
The Rays don’t have the roster strength of the Angels, so a late-season run is difficult to imagine. Tampa Bay is looking for a series win over the Yanks before they face the Red Sox.
20. Minnesota Twins (56-63) | Previous: 20
After two straight home wins against the Pirates, the Twins continue their home-stand with a four-game series against Detroit. Logan Forsythe has been getting it done since he’s come over from the Brian Dozier trade.
21. Texas Rangers (53-69) | Previous: 21
The offense has come back down to earth a bit, but the Rangers will look to continue playing spoiler. They might be able to knock the Angels out of contention with a four-game series coming up.
22. Toronto Blue Jays (55-65) | Previous: 22
Marco Estrada is someone to watch for a potential trade before the waiver trade deadline. Josh Donaldson is also working his way back and could be an intriguing trade candidate if he’s healthy in time.
23. New York Mets (51-67) | Previous: 24 (+1)
15-15 in the last 30 games and 4-2 in the last week, the Mets have been playing relatively well recently. We’ll see if they can help Jacob deGrom get more wins down the stretch.
24. Cincinnati Reds (52-69) | Previous: 23 (-1)
The Reds couldn’t keep the momentum from their series win over Arizona, as Cleveland took a three-game series in Cincinnati.
25. Detroit Tigers (50-71) | Previous: 25
After a six-game losing streak last week, the Tigers have bounced back with a 3-3 stretch.
26. San Diego Padres (48-75) | Previous: 27 (+1)
A series win over the Phillies over the weekend has helped the Padres jump up one spot in the power rankings.
27. Miami Marlins (48-75) | Previous: 26 (-1)
Jose Urena is getting a lot of flack for hitting Braves superstar Ronald Acuna on the first pitch last night, and he probably has a fastball coming his way the next time he steps in the box against Atlanta.
28. Chicago White Sox (44-76) | Previous: 28
The White Sox had a series win over the Tigers, and they’ll look to keep it going with a winnable series versus the Royals.
29. Baltimore Orioles (36-85) | Previous: 29
Both of the bottom-two teams had one win in the last week, so they remain in the same spot as last week.
30. Kansas City Royals (36-84) | Previous: 30
One win wasn’t enough for Kansas City to leap over Baltimore.
I am so scared we will fall apart.