Here are my latest MLB power rankings.
1. Philadelphia Phillies (85-58, No. 1 last week): It’s hard to imagine the Phillies are in any danger, but the injury to third baseman Alec Bohm could be a downer if his left hand doesn’t improve.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (86-57, No. 2): I refuse to rank the Dodgers No. 1 so long as Jack Flaherty is the only certainty in their rotation.
3. San Diego Padres (81-64, No. 5): It’s looking more and more like the Padres may be the real deal as far as having one of the best teams in all of baseball. The return of right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. is kind of like giving the lineup a can of Red Bull.
4. Baltimore Orioles (82-62, No. 3): After a season of angst regarding the bullpen and the rotation, who could have written this script? A once-potent Orioles lineup is looking toothless at the most inopportune point of the season.
5. New York Yankees (82-61, No. 6): For a team in need of a jolt, the Yankees got just what the doctor ordered with Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil returning to the starting rotation.
6. Milwaukee Brewers (82-61, No. 4): It’s inconceivable that the Brewers could lose the NL Central, but after three in San Francisco this week, they then have 10 in a row against Arizona and Philadelphia. Keep an eye on if they hold their own.
7. Cleveland Guardians (81-62, No. 9): After a tough 3-3 week against the Royals and Dodgers on the road, the Guardians visit Chicago for a three-game series against the hapless White Sox and then host the pesky Rays. Still, a 5-2 week is very possible, which could help them put the division to bed.
8. Houston Astros (77-66, No. 8): The Astros are still just 12 games over .500, but they have the Athletics and Angels next on the docket, so they might begin to approach a much more Astro-like stature in the standings. Not sure how much help Justin Verlander will be from here on out.
9. Kansas City Royals (79-65, No. 11): After losing seven straight, the Royals ended the week with four straight wins — one against the Guardians and three straight against the Twins. The Royals have quite a 1-2 punch atop the rotation with Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo. Hunter Harvey’s back injury sent JP Picollo hunting, and Lucas Erceg has now fully taken over the closer role.
10. Arizona Diamondbacks (80-64, No. 7): The D-Backs’ incredible momentum was slowed the past two weeks, with a 5-8 mark cutting their lead over the Mets and Braves to 1.5 games in the wild-card standings. The Snakes’ remaining schedule doesn’t make it a sure thing that they are playoff bound, but third baseman Eugenio Suarez’s hot bat sure helps.
11. New York Mets (78-65, No. 12)
12. Atlanta Braves (78-65, No. 10)
13. Chicago Cubs (73-70, No. 15)
14. Minnesota Twins (76-67, No. 13)
15. Seattle Mariners (73-71, No. 18)
16. St. Louis Cardinals (72-71, No. 14)
17. Detroit Tigers (73-71, No. 17)
18. Boston Red Sox (72-71, No. 16)
19. Tampa Bay Rays (71-72, No. 21)
20. Texas Rangers (70-74, No. 22)
21. San Francisco Giants (71-73, No. 20)
22. Toronto Blue Jays (68-76, No. 19)
23. Cincinnati Reds (69-75, No. 23)
24. Pittsburgh Pirates (67-76, No. 24)
25. Washington Nationals (64-79, No. 25)
26. Oakland Athletics (62-82, No. 26)
27. Los Angeles Angels (59-84, No. 27)
28. Miami Marlins (54-89, No. 28)
29. Colorado Rockies (54-90, No. 29)
30. Chicago White Sox (33-111, No. 30)