Here are my MLB power rankings.
1. Atlanta Braves (93-49, No. 1 last week): We all know that since Bobby Cox returned to the dugout in 1990, the Braves have often looked to be much the best team in the game. Yet, they have only won two World Series (1995 and 2021). Can anyone knock off the best team in baseball?
2. Baltimore Orioles (90-52, No. 3): The fan base is becoming obsessed with what the postseason roster will be, and they have every right to dream. The Orioles just completed two nine-game road trips (both of which started out West) and went a combined 13-5. While Jack Flaherty has been a big disappointment, much of the staff is stepping up. They’ve gone 10-4 since they lost Félix Bautista.
3. Tampa Bay Rays (88-56, No. 4): There is an old expression that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. That sure seems to fit what Kevin Cash has done of late, with his team going through an unfair rash of injuries and the legal woes of Wander Franco.
4. Los Angeles Dodgers (87-55, No. 2): Walker Buehler has been shut down for the season as part of his recovery from Tommy John surgery. Julio Urías is under investigation for domestic abuse, which puts his Dodgers future in grave doubt. As such, the Dodgers’ Big Three in the rotation consists of Clayton Kershaw, Lance Lynn and Bobby Miller. The top two would have formed a dynamic combo eight years ago, but this is 2023. Hard to see a deep run.
5. Houston Astros (82-62, No. 7): Want some amazing José Altuve factoids? When he is ahead in the count this season, he is batting .375/.589/.819 in 112 plate appearances. In a recent sweep of the rival Rangers, Altuve homered in four consecutive innings across two games. He became the first player in the expansion era (beginning in 1961) to do so.
6. Milwaukee Brewers (79-63, No. 9): While the Dodgers have been a more solid club through much of the season, it’s not hard to envision the Brewers having a big series against the Braves sometime in mid-October given LA’s pitching issues.
7. Seattle Mariners (79-64, No. 5): I loved the Mariners for much of the second half, especially during the 14-4 run in mid-to-late August, but they’re just 5-8 the past two weeks. A 1-3 mark against the Rays is one thing, but 4-5 against the Athletics, Mets and Reds is another thing altogether. Did the M’s peak too soon?
8. Philadelphia Phillies (78-64, No. 8): I am still a believer, but they sure seem to lose their share of games that they seemed to have in hand.
9. Chicago Cubs (77-67, No. 11): After the first three second-half games, the Cubs stood 43-49 and were No. 22 in my power rankings. Since then, they have gone 34-18. The surprise has been how productive the offense has been.
10. Toronto Blue Jays (80-63, No. 10): The Jays are 9-3 across the past two weeks but hardly picked up any ground in their division. The Rangers’ recent collapse has allowed them to poke their noses ahead of Texas with 19 games to go.
11. Minnesota Twins (75-68, No. 12)
12. Texas Rangers (78-64, No. 6)
13. Arizona Diamondbacks (75-69, No. 15)
14. Miami Marlins (74-69, No. 13)
15. San Francisco Giants (73-70, No. 14)
16. Cincinnati Reds (74-71, No. 16)
17. Boston Red Sox (73-70, No. 17)
18. New York Yankees (71-72, No. 19)
19. Cleveland Guardians (68-76, No. 18)
20. San Diego Padres (67-77, No. 20)
21. Los Angeles Angels (67-77, No. 21)
22. Pittsburgh Pirates (66-77, No. 24)
23. Detroit Tigers (66-77, No. 23)
24. St. Louis Cardinals (63-80, No. 26)
25. New York Mets (65-77, No. 25)
26. Washington Nationals (64-79, No. 22)
27. Chicago White Sox (55-88, No. 27)
28. Colorado Rockies (51-91, No. 28)
29. Oakland Athletics (44-99, No. 29)
30. Kansas City Royals (44-100, No. 30)