Here are my power rankings. To read my take on DL Hall’s debut, click here.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (79-34, No. 1 overall): The Dodgers are entitled to their current one-game losing streak after going 42-10 in their previous 52, an uber-impressive stretch. This could be a bit controversial to say, but this Dodgers team is impressive enough to win it all with or without Clayton Kershaw.
2. New York Mets (75-40, No. 2): This is a big week in the NL East, as Mets go to Atlanta for four and then take on a hot Phillies club for three. The Jacob deGrom-Max Scherzer duo may be as great a 1-2 pitching duo as we’ve ever seen when both are healthy. If that’s not enough, no. 3 starter Chris Bassitt has allowed no earned runs in his last three starts (20 innings).
3. Houston Astros (75-41, No. 4): Especially with the Yankees slumping so badly, it’s hard to imagine a World Series that doesn’t feature Justin Verlander pitching Game 1.
4. New York Yankees (72-43, No. 3): I watched the KayRod broadcast last night during the Yankees-Red Sox, and A-Rod said something interesting. He said the Yankees were a good team playing at an elite level earlier in the season, and as such, they needed to get better at the deadline. I don’t think they did. That might mean Brian Cashman’s days as Yankees GM could come to a close.
5. Atlanta Braves (70-46, No. 7): Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos sure has done it his way, bringing up two highly-touted prospects — outfielder Michael Harris II from and then infielder Vaughn Grissom — straight from Double-A. Both are making major contributions.
6. Philadelphia Phillies (63-51, No. 6): Huge week for Phillies to regain some momentum. They take on the last-place Reds before hosting Mets for three. If the Phillies don’t rise to the occasion, they could have a late-season fade. It still looks like they’ll battle with St. Louis and Milwaukee for last of three NL wild cards.
7. St. Louis Cardinals (63-51, No. 8): Since the All-Star break, the Cards are 13-7. They hold a 1.5-game lead over the Brewers. They probably need to win the NL Central to ensure a play-off spot — although having Reds, Pirates and Cubs in the division could spike the second-place Central team’s win total.
8. Seattle Mariners (62-54, No. 10): The Mariners appear poised to make the playoffs for the first time since 2001 and end the longest playoff drought in the majors. If they can get Robbie Ray on track, this might be the second-best team in AL.
9. San Diego Padres (65-52, No. 5): The Padres dropped from No. 5 in my rankings all based on the non-return of Fernando Tatis Jr. If you read my rankings regularly, you know I am not the biggest fan of GM AJ Preller. Now he comes out and says they can’t trust Tatis. Maybe he should reflect on why it was necessary to lock up Tatis on a $350 million contract way in advance of even his first crack at arbitration. It’s called “due diligence”, AJ
10. Toronto Blue Jays (61-52, No. 9): The Jays had a 1-4 week against the Orioles and Guardians, two teams the Jays should be beating. Seattle has passed Toronto for the No. 1 wild-card spot. If the Jays don’t get after it with more intensity, they could end up on the outside looking in on the playoffs. Remember, only one team wins the AL Central between the Guardians, Twins and White Sox. The Rays and O’s aren’t far behind, either. The Jays have played as if they have nothing to lose.
11. Milwaukee Brewers (61-52, No. 11)
12. Cleveland Guardians (61-53, No. 14)
13. Tampa Bay Rays (60-53, No. 12)
14. Minnesota Twins (58-55, No. 13)
15. Baltimore Orioles (59-55, No. 15)
16. Chicago White Sox (59-56, No. 16)
17. San Francisco Giants (57-57, No. 18)
18. Arizona Diamondbacks (53-61, No. 20)
19. Boston Red Sox (57-59, No. 17)
20. Los Angeles Angels (51-64, No. 23)
21. Colorado Rockies (51-66, No. 22)
22. Miami Marlins (50-65, No. 19)
23. Texas Rangers (51-63, No. 21)
24. Kansas City Royals (48-68, No. 25)
25. Chicago Cubs (47-66, No. 28)
26. Cincinnati Reds (45-68, No. 24)
27. Pittsburgh Pirates (45-70, No. 29)
28. Detroit Tigers (43-73, No. 26)
29. Oakland Athletics (41-74, No. 27)
30. Washington Nationals (38-78, No. 30)