Here are my MLB power rankings:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (106-47, No. 1 last week): The Dodgers are about to break the franchise’s season-high win total mark of 106, which they reached in 2019 and 2021. No question they are baseball’s best team, but with a bullpen that gives Dodgers fans cause for alarm, they’ll need that potent offense to keep them away from close games very often.
2. Houston Astros (101-53, No. 2): Yes, the Astros are good — very good. That rotation they have is what can help them win it all.
3. New York Mets (97-57, No. 3): The Mets have held off a relentless pursuit by the Braves. Now, it looks like it’ll all come down to the last weekend in Atlanta, even though everyone will have to play three more games to get to 162. While so much of the focus has been on Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom, Chris Bassitt has quietly had a terrific season. He got off to an amazing seven-game start to the season, posting a 2.34 ERA before it ballooned to 4.48 on June 8. Since then, he has recorded a 2.52 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 110.2 innings (17 starts). He has allowed just seven homers during that stretch.
4. New York Yankees (94-58, No. 6): This marked the Yankees’ first blemish-free week (6-0) since the end of May. I have to admit at the height of their season I was a believer. But now when I look at the lineup, I don’t see a very dangerous team. Perhaps the worst failing they now have is that Gerrit Cole doesn’t look remotely like the ace GM Brian Cashman decided he had to have at $324 million total ($36 million AAV). Cole isn’t in José Berríos territory, but this is as a real a problem as you could conjure up.
5. Atlanta Braves (95-58, No. 4): If the Braves are to upend the Mets, they’ll have to do it without rookie sensation Spencer Strider, who just when on the injured list with a left oblique strain. He will not pitch in the regular season again, but depending upon the severity of the strain, could be back at some point during the postseason.
6. St. Louis Cardinals (88-64, No. 5): It’ll be interesting to watch Albert Pujols now that he has reached his personal goal of 700 homers. If he can sustain this level of slugging, that would be an enormous boost in the postseason for a very good team.
7. Cleveland Guardians (86-67, No. 9): The Guardians’ 7-0 week highlights how well they have been playing. What this team really does well is pitch. Starters Shane Bieber, Triston McKenzie, Cal Quantrill and now even Aaron Civale give this team a chance. And if they are in front late, the tag team of James Karinchak and Emmanuel Clase makes the games short.
8. Toronto Blue Jays (86-67, No. 7): The Jays beat up on the Orioles recently, winning three of four and then two of three, but they just don’t strike me as all that dangerous. José Berríos has been pretty much a master of inconsistency.
9. Seattle Mariners (83-69, No. 8): Wow, the Mariners had a huge lead over the Royals on Sept. 25 but allowed the Royals to score 10 runs in the bottom of sixth and overcome an 11-2 deficit. The M’s had a 99.7 percent win probability in this game and lost. They lead the Orioles by four games for the last wild-card spot. The M’s have yet to take advantage of a schedule that is seeing them close out with their last 20 regular-season games against sub-.500 teams. They are 3-7 in the first 10 of those games (against the Angels, Athletics and Royals). If they keep this up, they could blow their spot in the dance.
10. Philadelphia Phillies (83-69, No. 11): The Phillies have been better since former manager Joe Girardi was let go, posting two 6-1 weeks and two 5-1 weeks. However they are 4-11 in their last 15 against the Mets and Braves. The Phillies are a fun team that can score in bunches, but they won’t be dangerous in the postseason if they make it.
11. Tampa Bay Rays (84-69, No. 10)
12. San Diego Padres (85-68, No. 12)
13. Baltimore Orioles (79-73, No. 15)
14. Milwaukee Brewers (82-71, No. 13)
15. San Francisco Giants (75-78, No. 18)
16. Chicago White Sox (76-77, No. 14)
17. Minnesota Twins (74-79, No. 16)
18. Boston Red Sox (72-80, No. 19)
19. Chicago Cubs (66-87, No. 21)
20. Arizona Diamondbacks (70-83, No. 17)
21. Los Angeles Angels (67-86, No. 23)
22. Texas Rangers (65-87, No. 22)
23. Colorado Rockies (65-88, No. 20)
24. Kansas City Royals (63-90, No. 26)
25. Miami Marlins (63-90, No. 24)
26. Detroit Tigers (60-92, No. 27)
27. Cincinnati Reds (60-93, No. 25)
28. Pittsburgh Pirates (56-97, No. 28)
29. Oakland Athletics (56-97, No. 29)
30. Washington Nationals (53-99, No. 30)