The past week in Major League Baseball was headlined by the first three teams punching their tickets to the postseason.
Giants, Dodgers, Brewers all clinch playoff berths in the National League.
CLINCHED.#ResilientSF | #Postseason pic.twitter.com/JtyrQG9YWH
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) September 14, 2021
The first step to #RepeatLA. pic.twitter.com/bIMyAIBnXM
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 15, 2021
🎆 Postseason bound 🎆
For the 4th-straight season, the Milwaukee Brewers are headed to the playoffs!#ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/zYlXcEtZ48
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) September 19, 2021
Former NL MVP Ryan Braun has officially retired from baseball.
Today, more than 14 years after I first took the field as a Milwaukee Brewer, I’ve decided to retire. While it’s impossible to summarize my emotions, what I feel most is one, simple thing – gratitude.
I just wanted to take a moment to say ‘thank you’.
– Ryan Braun pic.twitter.com/pQxuW9qk1z
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) September 14, 2021
Braves slugger Eddie Rosario hit for the cycle (on just five pitches).
.@EddieRosario09 is the eighth player in #Braves franchise history to hit for the cycle!#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/01hQoqj5md
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 19, 2021
Cardinals sweep the Padres, take command of second wild-card spot in the NL. St. Louis is on an eight-game winning streak.
#THATSAWINNER 👏👏👏#THATSASWEEP 🧹🧹🧹 pic.twitter.com/P7wReVXi6e
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 19, 2021
Dodgers deadline acquisition Max Scherzer has not allowed a run in five consecutive starts. LA is 9-0 in his starts since acquiring him, and he is 7-0 with a 0.78 ERA.
0.78 ERA with 79 strikeouts and seven walks in nine Dodger starts? @Max_Scherzer is on fire. pic.twitter.com/5ZmPdP2Lyk
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 18, 2021
In return to the mound after battling arm soreness, Shohei Ohtani went eight innings (two runs) in Angels’ win over the A’s.
最高! pic.twitter.com/kt9y9p6buq
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) September 19, 2021
But AL MVP race heating up down the stretch, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. making his own statement.
Vlad Guerrero Jr. ties Joe DiMaggio for the 2nd-most HR (46) in a season by a player 22 or younger.
He only trails Eddie Mathews (47). pic.twitter.com/aKeuE3E3Ox
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) September 18, 2021
. . .
Power Rankings
1. San Francisco Giants (97-53) | PREV: 1
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (96-54) | PREV: 2
3. Milwaukee Brewers (91-58) | PREV: 3
4. Tampa Bay Rays (92-58) | PREV: 4
5. Houston Astros (88-61) | PREV: 5
6. Chicago White Sox (85-64) | PREV: 6
7. Boston Red Sox (86-65) | PREV: 9 (+2)
8. Toronto Blue Jays (84-65) | PREV: 7 (-1)
9. New York Yankees (83-67) | PREV: 11 (+2)
10. Atlanta Braves (77-70) | PREV: 8 (-2)
11. St. Louis Cardinals (79-69) | PREV: 14 (+3)
12. Oakland Athletics (82-67) | PREV: 10 (-2)
13. Seattle Mariners (80-69) | PREV: 12 (-1)
14. Philadelphia Phillies (76-73) | PREV: 17 (+3)
15. Cincinnati Reds (77-73) | PREV: 15
16. San Diego Padres (76-73) | PREV: 13 (-3)
17. New York Mets (73-77) | PREV: 16 (-1)
18. Cleveland Indians (73-74) | PREV: 19 (+1)
19. Los Angeles Angels (72-77) | PREV: 18 (-1)
20. Detroit Tigers (72-78) | PREV: 20
21. Colorado Rockies (70-79) | PREV: 21
22. Kansas City Royals (67-82) | PREV: 23 (+1)
23. Chicago Cubs (67-83) | PREV: 22 (-1)
24. Minnesota Twins (65-85) | PREV: 24
25. Miami Marlins (63-86) | PREV: 25
26. Pittsburgh Pirates (56-93) | PREV: 28 (+2)
27. Washington Nationals (61-88) | PREV: 26 (-1)
28. Texas Rangers (55-94) | PREV: 27 (-1)
29. Arizona Diamondbacks (48-101) | PREV: 30 (+1)
30. Baltimore Orioles (47-102) | PREV: 29 (-1)