1. Boston Red Sox (107-52) | Previous: 1
The big task for the Red Sox is getting Chris Sale right before the start of the postseason. Boston can become the seventh team in MLB history to eclipse 110 wins in a season if they sweep the Yankees.
2. Houston Astros (100-58) | Previous: 2
The Astros have been the hottest team in baseball in both the last 20 games (15-5) and the last 30 games (22-8). They’ll look to keep the momentum going into the postseason as they face the league-worst Orioles to end the regular season.
3. New York Yankees (97-61) | Previous: 3
The Yankees have won their last two series and are looking to win their third straight today against the Rays. If they can do that and beat the Red Sox to end the month, it should mean a lot of momentum for October.
4. Oakland Athletics (96-63) | Previous: 5 (+1)
Because the Yankees are facing the league-best Red Sox, the Athletics have a legitimate chance at hosting the wild-card game if they can take care of business against the Angels. The A’s have 50 wins at home this season.
5. Chicago Cubs (92-66) | Previous: 4 (-1)
The Cubs drop a spot in the power rankings because the Brewers are right on their heels, which could kick them from the top team in the NL to a wild-card team.
6. Milwaukee Brewers (92-67) | Previous: 8 (+2)
With a 21-9 record in the last month, the Brewers have been the best team in the NL for a few weeks. The offseason trade for Christian Yelich, the likely NL MVP favorite, looks better by the day. And Ryan Braun is getting hot ahead of the postseason.
7. Cleveland Indians (89-69) | Previous: 7
While playing in the worst division in baseball, the Indians have been able to coast a bit this season. They’ll lock in for a series against the Royals to end the regular season.
8. Atlanta Braves (89-69) | Previous: 9 (+1)
There was a chance for the Phillies to make it interesting in the NL East, but the Braves quickly put an end to that to win the division and make the postseason for the first time since 2013.
9. Los Angeles Dodgers (88-71) | Previous: 6 (-3)
A hot streak by the Rockies kicked the Dodgers out of first place in the NL West, but I still think they might take the division. It’s hard not to like the trio of Hyun-Jin Ryu, Clayton Kershaw, and Walker Buehler being thrown out there to end the regular season.
10. Colorado Rockies (88-70) | Previous: 12 (+2)
Six straight wins has the Rockies atop the NL West and in a strong playoff position with four games to go. They’ve rolled over the Phillies to this point and remain at home for their final series against the Nationals.
11. St. Louis Cardinals (87-72) | Previous: 11
Of the NL teams fighting for a playoff spot, the Cardinals have the toughest task going up against the Cubs in Wrigley. This final weekend should be a lot of fun.
12. Tampa Bay Rays (88-70) | Previous: 10 (-2)
Now we get to the teams that are out of playoff contention. The Rays are going for a 90-win season, but they should be proud of the way they’ve played no matter the result over their final four games.
13. Seattle Mariners (86-72) | Previous: 15 (+2)
Because they started out hot and finished slow, the Mariners are probably sour that their season won’t extend into October. Hopefully they can finish strong and build some momentum for 2019.
14. Pittsburgh Pirates (80-77) | Previous: 17 (+3)
The Pirates are finishing the season strong, as they’ve gone 14-6 in their last 20 games. They have a chance to knock the Cubs down a notch in the tight NL Central race tonight.
15. Washington Nationals (81-78) | Previous: 16 (+1)
Give the Nationals credit for playing well down the stretch despite being out of the NL East race. A truly disastrous end could have really hurt their chances of keeping Bryce Harper.
16. Arizona Diamondbacks (81-78) | Previous: 14 (-2)
The Diamondbacks have simply played very poorly the last few weeks, but at least they closed out their last home series with a series win against the Dodgers.
17. Los Angeles Angels (78-81) | Previous: 18 (+1)
Shohei Ohtani is officially getting Tommy John surgery, but thankfully we’ll get to see the Japanese superstar in the batter’s box in 2019.
18. Philadelphia Phillies (78-80) | Previous: 13 (-5)
The acquisition of a bunch of veterans clearly did not work out for the Phillies, who have had a dreadful end to the season. They had a chance to make the NL East a fight, but they’ve lost seven straight games.
19. New York Mets (74-84) | Previous: 19
What a season by Jacob deGrom, who appears to be a lock for NL Cy Young after his team finally gave him some support to help him get to double-digit wins and an above .500 record on the year.
20. Minnesota Twins (73-84) | Previous: 20
The Twins get to finish their season at home, where they’ve gone 44-32 this season, so they’ll look to build momentum heading into the offseason.
21. San Francisco Giants (73-86) | Previous: 21
At 5-15 in their last 20 games, the Giants are tied with the Phillies for the worst record in that span. Spoiling LA’s season would make them feel good to end the year.
22. Toronto Blue Jays (72-87) | Previous: 22
John Gibbons will not return as Toronto’s manager next year, and he should be a hot commodity for other teams. The managerial search will be key for a team that’ll look to get back into the playoff race next season.
23. Texas Rangers (66-92) | Previous: 24 (+1)
The Rangers ended their final home series on a high note with a win against the Mariners, and now their season will end with a four-game series in Seattle.
24. Cincinnati Reds (66-93) | Previous: 23 (-1)
The Reds are on a five-game losing streak, and the hot Pirates are coming to town to end the season. Hopefully they can stop the losing skid in the three-game series.
25. San Diego Padres (64-95) | Previous: 25
The Padres did have some impact late in the season with a win over the Dodgers last week, and that could help cause madness in the final weekend.
26. Detroit Tigers (64-94) | Previous: 26
The Tigers had a 3-3 stretch in the last week, and they finish a series against the Twins before taking on the Brewers in an interleague series with playoff implications for Milwaukee.
27. Chicago White Sox (62-96) | Previous: 27
The White Sox need to win one game in the next four to avoid a 100-loss season.
28. Miami Marlins (62-96) | Previous: 28
The Marlins cannot reach 100 losses because their makeup game against the Pirates scheduled for October 1 was canceled.
29. Kansas City Royals (56-102) | Previous: 29
Ned Yost’s squad continues to finish the season strong, which bodes well for them moving forward.
30. Baltimore Orioles (46-112) | Previous: 30
The Orioles have extended their franchise-worst season, and the attention after the year will turn to manager Buck Showalter’s status.
Sox Yankees playoff preview