Here are my MLB power rankings.
1. Atlanta Braves (90-46, No. 1 last week): The Braves are cruising, but they cared enough to punch the Dodgers in the mouth by taking three of four in LA this past weekend. Ronald Acuña Jr. looks like he wants to win this NL MVP battle.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (84-52, No. 2): With nothing to play for other than a psychological edge entering the postseason, the Braves took three of four. Are the Dodgers wounded by losing three of four?
3. Baltimore Orioles (85-51, No. 3): After losing ace closer Félix Bautista, the Orioles fortified a potential weak link with the promotion of DL Hall and the clever claim of former ace closer Jorge López.
4. Tampa Bay Rays (83-54, No. 6): The injury bug just won’t quit on the Rays, who placed valuable bullpen arm Jason Adam on the injured list with an oblique strain. You never know how much time that injury will cost a player.
5. Seattle Mariners (77-59, No. 4): With 26 games left in their regular season, the Mariners have 20 against above-.500 teams and six against sub-.500 teams.
6. Texas Rangers (76-60, No. 7): Of the Rangers’ remaining 26 games, 17 are against above-.500 teams. They go head-to-head with the Blue Jays four times.
7. Houston Astros (77-61, No. 5): Half of the Astros’ remaining 24 games are against sub-.500 teams.
8. Philadelphia Phillies (75-61, No. 8): The Phillies would be the top NL wild card if the season ended today, but they still have six against the Braves and three against the Marlins. The rest of their remaining 26 games are against sub-.500 clubs.
9. Milwaukee Brewers (76-60, No. 9): The Brewers are still in a pitched battle with the resurgent Cubs for the NL Central crown, but their top four of Corbin Burnes, Freddy Peralta, Wade Miley and Brandon Woodruff is very tough.
10. Toronto Blue Jays (75-62, No. 10): With just 25 games left in regular season, the Jays are clearly on the outside looking in for a position in the playoffs.
11. Chicago Cubs (73-64, No. 15)
12. Minnesota Twins (71-66, No. 11)
13. Miami Marlins (70-67, No. 17)
14. San Francisco Giants (70-67, No. 16)
15. Arizona Diamondbacks (70-67, No. 12)
16. Cincinnati Reds (71-68, No. 14)
17. Boston Red Sox (71-66, No. 13)
18. Cleveland Guardians (66-71, No. 18)
19. New York Yankees (68-69, No. 20)
20. San Diego Padres (65-73, No. 22)
21. Los Angeles Angels (64-73, No. 19)
22. Washington Nationals (62-76, No. 21)
23. Detroit Tigers (63-74, No. 23)
24. Pittsburgh Pirates (63-74, No. 24)
25. New York Mets (63-72, No. 25)
26. St. Louis Cardinals (59-78, No. 26)
27. Chicago White Sox (53-84, No. 27)
28. Colorado Rockies (50-86, No. 28)
29. Oakland Athletics (42-95, No. 30)
30. Kansas City Royals (42-96, No. 29)