Here are my MLB power rankings. Stay tuned for an Orioles column later this week.
1. Atlanta Braves (75-42, No. 1 last week): The Braves hold on to the No. 1 spot with two series wins against the Pirates and Mets. They still appear to be the best team in baseball, but in order to get back to a World Series, they’ll have one major obstacle to clear in the Dodgers.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (71-46, No. 4): The Dodgers have won 12 of their last 13. With Julio Urías rounding into form, Clayton Kershaw coming back without missing a beat and Lance Lynn pitching at a high level since coming over from Chicago, the rotation looks good enough to compete at the highest level. They have an interesting week ahead with three-game series against the Brewers and Marlins at Dodger Stadium.
3. Baltimore Orioles (73-45, No. 2): The Orioles drop a spot due to the Dodgers’ immaculate week. But after losing two of three to the Astros and the opening game in Seattle, the O’s showed some gumption by winning final two against a red-hot Mariners squad. Ryan Mountcastle is on a monster run.
4. Texas Rangers (70-48, No. 3): The wrist injury to rookie third baseman Josh Jung is a bummer. Luckily, if there is one team that can withstand the loss of a young star in the making, it’s the Rangers. We’ll get a better idea of Max Scherzer’s real ability this week when he pitches against a team that isn’t the Oakland Athletics.
5. Houston Astros (68-51, No. 5): Not a very complicated story here. The Astros just added Justin Verlander for the stretch run and welcomed José Urquidy back from a shoulder injury that cost him much of his season. The lineup is nowhere as relentless as it was back in 2019, but man, it seems like José Altuve, Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez are always up at the plate. Manager Dusty Baker uses his bullpen like a maestro.
6. Philadelphia Phillies (65-54, No. 7): What a perfect series to start the week, as the Phillies head to Toronto for two games. In a way, these two teams are mirror images of one another, with a ton of high-profile players underperforming. The no-hitter by recent addition Michael Lorenzen gave the team a lift. The Phillies play the Nationals on next week’s Little League World Series extravaganza from Williamsport, Pa.
7. Toronto Blue Jays (66-54, No. 8): Bo Bichette hasn’t played for the Jays in August due to right patella tendinitis. The initial optimism that he could play by this past weekend has given way to the reality that the one of the best players in the league could be down for a while longer. It’s hard to get a hot streak going while missing a key piece.
8. Milwaukee Brewers (65-54, No. 11): The Brewers are coming off a strong 5-1 week, but the competition gets much tougher this week with road series against the Dodgers and Rangers. The offense got a shot in the arm from rookie outfielder Sal Frelick, but any optimism about the Brewers making a run is contingent upon the once-great Christian Yelich remaining in the very-good range.
9. Seattle Mariners (63-54, No. 10): The Mariners had won 15 of 19 and eight in a row following Fridays night’s victory over the Orioles. As so often has been the case in ’23, the Mariners seem to build up a head of steam only to see it come screeching to a halt. This week they travel into Kansas City for four games before going to Houston. The early returns on the deadline roster shuffle is that GM Jerry Dipoto has given skipper Scott Servais a team with many more left-handed hitting options: Cade Marlowe, Dominic Canzone and Josh Rojas.
10. Tampa Bay Rays (71-49, No. 6): The Rays’ rotation has faced perhaps the most unimaginable losses throughout any season. First, it was Jeffrey Springs. Shortly after that, it was Drew Rasmussen. Now, it’s Shane McClanahan. Most recently, allegations of shortstop Wander Franco having an inappropriate relationship with a minor surfaced on social media. This hardly looks like a team capable of even making it to the playoffs.
11. Minnesota Twins (62-58, No. 12)
12. Boston Red Sox (62-56, No. 14)
13. San Francisco Giants (63-55, No. 9)
14. Miami Marlins (62-57, No. 16)
15. Cincinnati Reds (62-58, No. 13)
16. Chicago Cubs (61-57, No. 15)
17. Arizona Diamondbacks (59-59, No. 17)
18. New York Yankees (60-58, No. 18)
19. Los Angeles Angels (59-60, No. 19)
20. Cleveland Guardians (57-62, No. 21)
21. San Diego Padres (56-62, No. 20)
22. Detroit Tigers (53-65, No. 22)
23. Washington Nationals (53-66, No. 24)
24. Pittsburgh Pirates (53-65, No. 25)
25. New York Mets (53-65, No. 23)
26. St. Louis Cardinals (52-66, No. 26)
27. Chicago White Sox (47-72, No. 28)
28. Colorado Rockies (45-73, No. 27)
29. Kansas City Royals (38-81, No. 29)
30. Oakland Athletics (33-85, No. 30)