The Yankees fall out of the top four of the MLB power rankings for the first time in months.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (79-34) | Last week: 1
The Dodgers were shutout by the Royals yesterday, but it came on the heels of a 12-game winning streak for Los Angeles. The National League is looking formidable right now, but the Dodgers are the undoubted top team.
2. New York Mets (75-40) | Last week: 2
After dropping the series opener at Citi Field in crushing fashion, the Mets bounced back and won on Saturday and Sunday to continue their stellar 2022 versus the rival Phillies. Jacob deGrom and Mets pitching limited Philadelphia to just two runs in three games (two shutouts, and with one of the runs coming in extra innings).
3. Houston Astros (75-41) | Last week: 3
The Astros had another excellent week overall, but the highlight came from Alex Bregman hitting a home run for a young Uvalde fan yesterday.
4. Atlanta Braves (70-46) | Last week: 5 (+1)
The Braves responded as well as possible in their rough series versus the Mets, winning six consecutive games last week to remain in position to push for the division lead. 5.5 games back, Atlanta will now host New York for four games.
5. New York Yankees (72-43) | Last week: 4 (-1)
The struggles for the Yankees have worsened, capped by a weekend series loss at Fenway. New York is still comfortably ahead in the AL East, but we’ll see if the Rays and Jays can exert some pressure on the Yanks this week.
6. St. Louis Cardinals (63-51) | Last week: 6
The Cardinals won two-of-three against the Brewers to retain a 1.5-game lead in the NL Central, and Albert Pujols was huge yesterday, hitting two homers in a 6-3 victory:
PUJOLS' SECOND HOME RUN OF THE GAME WENT 443 FEET‼️ pic.twitter.com/6mNT5EtUHB
— ESPN (@espn) August 14, 2022
7. San Diego Padres (65-52) | Last week: 9 (+2)
Just as he appeared to be getting close to his 2022 debut, star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. is done for the season because of PED use, which comes with an 80-game suspension. The good news for the Padres is that teammates appear to be using Tatis’ carelessness as a chip on their shoulder, and the Juan Soto acquisition was really key now.
8. Philadelphia Phillies (63-51) | Last week: 7 (-1)
The offense going dead silent on Saturday and Sunday shows that the Phillies probably need Bryce Harper if they are going to make noise in October. The reigning NL MVP is set to take batting practice today. Before the Mets series, Philadelphia was red-hot.
9. Cleveland Guardians (61-53) | Last week: 14 (+5)
The Guardians have claimed first-place in the AL Central, and the final several weeks between Cleveland, Minnesota, and Chicago should be highly entertaining.
10. Toronto Blue Jays (61-52) | Last week: 8 (-2)
This spot could have gone to a few teams over the skidding Jays, but Toronto will look to get back on track with another matchup with the Orioles before facing the Yankees. The Rays come in at No. 11, and Drew Rasmussen deserves mention for taking a perfect game into the ninth inning on Sunday.
11. Tampa Bay Rays (60-53) | Last week: 11
12. Seattle Mariners (62-54) | Last week: 13 (+1)
13. Baltimore Orioles (59-55) | Last week: 12 (-1)
14. Minnesota Twins (58-55) | Last week: 10 (-4)
15. Chicago White Sox (59-56) | Last week: 15
16. Milwaukee Brewers (61-52) | Last week: 16
17. San Francisco Giants (57-57) | Last week: 17
18. Boston Red Sox (57-59) | Last week: 18
19. Arizona Diamondbacks (53-61) | Last week: 21 (+2)
20. Los Angeles Angels (51-64) | Last week: 24 (+4)
21. Texas Rangers (51-63) | Last week: 20 (-1)
22. Colorado Rockies (51-66) | Last week: 22
23. Miami Marlins (50-65) | Last week: 19 (-4)
24. Chicago Cubs (47-66) | Last week: 27 (+3)
25. Kansas City Royals (48-68) | Last week: 25
26. Cincinnati Reds (45-68) | Last week: 23 (-3)
27. Pittsburgh Pirates (45-70) | Last week: 26 (-1)
28. Detroit Tigers (43-73) | Last week: 28
29. Oakland Athletics (41-74) | Last week: 29
30. Washington Nationals (38-78) | Last week: 30