At the outset, let me explain that today’s MLB power rankings will close the book on the regular season. I’ll be back in this space tomorrow with more detailed postseason power rankings. I’ll rank all 12 playoff teams and offer observations on those clubs.
That’s because we still have three teams that don’t know whether they’ll be involved in postseason play. A doubleheader between the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets at Truist Park on Sept. 30 will determine the final two wild-card spots in the National League.
The Arizona Diamondbacks, who for the better part of the second half were one of baseball’s best teams, labored to the wire at just 9-9 to finish 89-73.
The Mets also played extremely well in the second half and looked to have locked in a playoff spot with a 6-1 record in the second-to-last week of the season. However, they stumbled to a 1-3 record in the final week and are sitting at 88-72 through 160 games.
The Braves lost their best player Ronald Acuña Jr. after 49 games and their best starting pitcher Spencer Strider after just two starts. But they have gone 18-11 in their last 29 games and are tied with the Mets at 88-72.
This extra doubleheader was prompted by weather conditions brought on by the rapid advance and path that Hurricane Helene visited upon the state of Georgia this past week.
The Diamondbacks sit idly by and have zero control of their destiny. The two combatants at Truist Field control their destinies. Very simply put, if the two teams split the two games, both make it to the postseason and the Diamondbacks’ season comes to an end. However, if one team sweeps the doubleheader, the team that loses both games goes home and the Diamondbacks go to the playoffs.
Nothing much at stake here.
Both games will be telecast on ESPN2. Game 1 at 1:10 p.m. will feature Tylor Megill and Spencer Schwellenbach. Game 2 is at 4:40 p.m. The Mets have Luis Severino ready for Game 2 if they’re facing elimination, while the Braves have Chris Sale ready. Whichever team wins the first game can save its Game 2 starter for the wild-card round.
If the Braves get in via a split or sweep, they’ll travel to San Diego to face the Padres in the wild-card round. If the Mets split the doubleheader, they’ll travel to Milwaukee to face the Brewers. If the Mets sweep the doubleheader, they’ll go to San Diego.
Meanwhile, the Orioles earned the No. 4 seed in the American League and host the fifth-seeded Kansas City Royals for a best-of-three wild-card series. The Houston Astros will host the Detroit Tigers in the other AL wild-card series.
Without further ado, the final rankings for the 2024 season are as follows:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (98-64, No. 2 last week)
2. San Diego Padres (93-69)
3. Philadelphia Phillies (95-67)
4. New York Yankees (94-68)
5. Baltimore Orioles (91-71)
6. Milwaukee Brewers (93-69)
7. Cleveland Guardians (92-69)
8. Houston Astros (88-73)
9. Atlanta Braves (88-72 prior to doubleheader)
10. Detroit Tigers (86-76)
11. New York Mets (88-72 prior to doubleheader)
12. Kansas City Royals (86-76)
13. Arizona Diamondbacks (89-73)
14. Seattle Mariners (85-77)
15. Chicago Cubs (83-79)
16. St. Louis Cardinals (83-79)
17. Minnesota Twins (82-80)
18. Boston Red Sox (81-81)
19. San Francisco Giants (80-82)
20. Tampa Bay Rays (80-82)
21. Texas Rangers (78-84)
22. Cincinnati Reds (77-85)
23. Pittsburgh Pirates (76-86)
24. Toronto Blue Jays (74-88)
25. Washington Nationals (71-91)
26. Oakland Athletics (69-93)
27. Los Angeles Angels (63-99)
28. Miami Marlins (62-100)
29. Colorado Rockies 61-101)
30. Chicago White Sox (41-121, one game worse than the 1962 Mets for the worst record in modern baseball history)