Photo courtesy Washington Nationals
One week. That’s all that remains until the final month of the season. Rosters expand, teams that are out of it start playing prospect-filled lineups begging to be devoured and teams in the hunt look for some much-needed easy wins from said teams. Labor Day will bring about the unofficial end of Summer and soon fall ball will be upon us.
You may not be able to win a pennant in April but you certainly are these days.
Which is why you should be paying even more attention to these Power Rankings. Starting with these rankings and continuing until the end of the season, the ten teams currently seated in playoff spots will automatically hold the top ten positions, with standing division leaders holding the Top 6. After all, these rankings are about determining the top team. And that team, the one that wins the World Series, will obviously be affected by the difficulty of the road laid out before him. So who do we like to win it all if the Divisional Series began today? Well, let’s get started:
MLB POWER RANKINGS – AUGUST 25TH
1. Los Angeles Angels | 77-52 (41-23 Home, 36-29 Road) [Change From Last Ranking: + 2]
One of two great AL West teams will be in a one-game playoff, and that really sucks.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers | 74-58 (34-32 Home, 40-26 Road) [+ 2]
The ultimate road warriors are winning the NL West the hard way. Nothing’s ever easy in Hollywood.
3. Washington Nationals | 75-54 (43-25 Home, 32-29 Road) [+ 4]
Winners of 12 of 13, the Nats are white-hot right now. And finally – finally – unveiling their potential.
4. Baltimore Orioles | 73-55 (34-26 Home, 39-29 Road) [- 2]
Back the Buck Truck up again, The O’s seem to be comfortably in the playoffs. For now.
5. Milwaukee Brewers | 72-58 (36-31 Home, 36-27 Road) [± 0]
The longer they let the Cards breathe down their neck, the more likely they are to pay dearly for it.
6. Kansas City Royals | 72-57 (33-28 Home, 39-29 Road) [+ 4]
What on earth is going on in the Central? The Royals can’t really win the pennant, can they?
7. Oakland Athletics | 76-53 (43-23 Home, 33-30 Road) [- 6]
Like I said, this team should be ranked higher. But if they play a one-game playoff, anything can happen.
8. St. Louis Cardinals | 70-59 (39-26 Home, 31-33 Road) [± 0]
It seems almost certain they’ll be in the postseason, but will it be as division champs or a wild card?
9. San Francisco Giants | 68-61 (32-32 Home, 36-29 Road) [+ 2]
The terrible earthquake may make them the underdogs the nation roots for.
10. Seattle Mariners | 71-58 (34-32 Home, 37-26 Road) [+ 3]
Right now, the Mariners are into October and the Tigers are out. Just think about that for a second.
11. Detroit Tigers | 70-59 (33-29 Home, 37-30 Road) [- 5]
They probably should’ve held onto Austin Jackson. The Price wasn’t right. Get it? Do you get it?
12. Atlanta Braves | 68-63 (37-28 Home, 31-35 Road) [+ 3]
They’ve actually played really well in mid-August. No one noticed, though, because of the Nationals.
13. Pittsburgh Pirates | 67-63 (40-26 Home, 27-37 Road) [- 4]
They picked a really, really, really bad time to hit a cold streak. It might cost them the postseason.
14. New York Yankees | 67-61 (33-31 Home, 34-30 Road) [± 0]
Jeter’s career is going to end not with a roar but with a whimper. Most likely, anyway.
15. Toronto Blue Jays | 66-64 (34-28 Home, 32-36 Road) [- 3]
They, as well as everyone else in the East, are just watching Baltimore run away.
16. Cleveland Indians | 66-63 (39-25 Home, 27-38 Road) [+ 1]
Unfortunately I think there’s only room for one surprise team from the AL Central this year.
17. Miami Marlins | 64-65 (37-31 Home, 27-34 Road) [+ 1]
A losing record and only four games out of the wild card. Nothing’s ever normal in Miami.
18. Tampa Bay Rays | 64-66 (29-36 Home, 35-30 Road) [+ 1]
I seriously wonder what might’ve happened here had they held onto Price.
19. Cincinnati Reds | 63-68 (34-31 Home, 29-37 Road) [- 3]
Dusty Baker’s Reds looked like World Series champs compared to these guys.
20. San Diego Padres | 60-69 (34-27 Home, 26-42 Road) [+ 1]
Their play at home means they’re going to prime candidates to play spoiler down the stretch.
21. New York Mets | 61-70 (30-32 Home, 31-38 Road) [- 1]
They’re eight games out of the wild card. I guess to some Mets fans that means there’s a chance.
22. Philadelphia Phillies | 58-72 (30-38 Home, 28-34 Road) [+ 1]
They’re playing with about as much of an edge as their bubble-letter jersey numbers.
23. Chicago Cubs | 58-72 (32-33 Home, 26-39 Road) [+ 4]
Say what you want about the Cubbies, they’re committed to rebuilding the right way.
24. Chicago White Sox | 59-71 (31-32 Home, 28-39 Road) [- 2]
It’s been a gong show on stilts as far as their play away from Chicago is concerned.
25. Minnesota Twins | 58-72 (29-37 Home, 29-35 Road) [± 0]
With the way the Sox are playing, they may not finish last in the Central. So, that’s a plus, I guess.
26. Boston Red Sox | 56-74 (29-40 Home, 27-34 Road) [- 2]
Nearly 20 games under .500. This might be the worst title defense in recent memory.
27. Houston Astros | 55-76 (29-36 Home, 26-40 Road) [+ 1]
Can George Springer come back? We – I – miss him dearly.
28. Arizona Diamondbacks | 55-76 (27-40 Home, 28-36 Road) [- 2]
They sure looked wonderful getting absolutely rolled by Washington.
29. Colorado Rockies | 52-77 (34-33 Home, 18-44 Road) [± 0]
Not even 20 wins on the road. Not even 20! At least San Diego has 26!
30. Texas Rangers | 50-79 (24-40 Home, 26-39 Road) [± 0]
Here’s the real question: could the mighty Rangers really lose 100 games?
