Here are my MLB power rankings:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (101-44, No. 1 last week): We tend to always give the Dodgers the benefit of the doubt that they’ll figure their problems out. That comes with being so successful, but they are about to enter a postseason without a bonafide closer. All that’s at stake is winning another World Series.
2. Houston Astros (96-51, No. 2): The only thing that would have been better than Justin Verlander’s performance in coming back from that strained calf is the sounds of trash cans banging again at Minute Maid. Seriously, the more I watch, the more I am almost certain they make the World Series.
3. New York Mets (93-55, No. 3): Max Scherzer is scheduled to start for the Mets on Sept. 19 as they open a big series with the Brewers in Milwaukee. The problem with coming back from an oblique injury at the age of 38 is that you are 38. He is vital to the Mets’ hopes of a deep October run.
4. Atlanta Braves (91-55, No. 4): Ozzie Albies spent three months on the injured list with a broken left foot, only to suffer a fractured right pinky finger in just his second game back since the June 13 injury. He could possibly make it back if the Braves go deep into the playoffs. But look at it this way, the Braves might be better off. Rookie Vaughn Grissom gets reinserted into the second base job he held down with Albies out. Grissom is hitting .302/.357/.474 with five homers.
5. St. Louis Cardinals (87-61, No. 6): This is a tremendous character team with veterans Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright. And not that it’s causing folks to overlook the Cards’ fine season, but Albert Pujols has made the most of his nostalgic feel-good return to St. Louis. That angle has been washed away by Pujols’ mighty push for No. 700.
6. New York Yankees (88-58, No. 5): The Bombers were 64-28 at the All-Star break. Since then, they are just 24-28. There’s lots of blame to go around, but longtime GM Brian Cashman may very well take the fall for poor decisions on trades and building a team with an awful lot of age to it. And look at two of his biggest misfires — the trade for Giancarlo Stanton and the supersized signing of Gerrit Cole, who is looking … well, overpaid.
7. Toronto Blue Jays (83-64, No. 9): The Jays are 22-10 in their past 32 games, fueled in great part by Bo Bichette. Get a load of these numbers during those 32 games: .369/.423/.654 with 22 extra-base hits. He raised his average from .259 to .283. It’s too late for any serious MVP consideration, but if he can continue playing like this, Toronto becomes a more serious player in the upcoming postseason.
8. Seattle Mariners (80-65, No. 7): Even though the Mariners slipped behind the Rays and Jays this past weekend in the wild-card standings after getting swept by the Angels, I still have them ranked higher than one of those teams. Remember this: Seattle has zero games remaining against winning teams.
9. Cleveland Guardians (79-67, No. 11): In Terry Francona, the Guardians have one of the game’s true maestros in their dugout. Franmil Reyes crumbling was a major setback and left the offense scrambling, but they figured it out enough to be on the verge of winning the AL Central. They have the pitching to be more than division champs.
10. Tampa Bay Rays (82-64, No. 8): Manager Kevin Cash’s crew always has a puncher’s chance.
11. Philadelphia Phillies (80-66, No. 10)
12. San Diego Padres (81-66, No. 13)
13. Milwaukee Brewers (78-68, No. 15)
14. Chicago White Sox (76-71, No. 12)
15. Baltimore Orioles (76-69, No. 14)
16. Minnesota Twins (73-73, No. 16)
17. Boston Red Sox (71-75, No. 18)
18. Arizona Diamondbacks (68-78, No. 17)
19. San Francisco Giants (69-77, No. 19)
20. Colorado Rockies (64-82, No. 20)
21. Chicago Cubs (62-84, No. 23)
22. Texas Rangers (63-83, No. 22)
23. Los Angeles Angels (64-82, No. 21)
24. Miami Marlins (60-87, No. 24)
25. Cincinnati Reds (58-89, No. 25)
26. Kansas City Royals (58-89, No. 27)
27. Detroit Tigers (55-91, No. 26)
28. Pittsburgh Pirates (55-92, No. 28)
29. Oakland Athletics (53-94, No. 29)
30. Washington Nationals (51-95, No. 30)