MLB power rankings: The Yankees are back and the playoff picture is taking shape
It feels like the baseball season just began, and yet, the Dodgers have already clinched a postseason spot. Such is the reality of baseball’s 60-game season: It just started but there are only two weeks left in the regular season.
The Dodgers are No. 1 — and clearly — but after that, the rest of the list is still quite fun. For this week’s power rankings, we’re tiering the teams by playoff likelihood and outlook. Some teams are sure things. Some teams are middle-of-the-pack in the rankings, but could very well be postseason teams. Such is baseball in 2020.
An important part of this week: The Yankees are back. They’ve gotten hot and have given us a reminder that whatever happens in 60 games doesn’t really matter once October hits. Same goes for the Dodgers, though, who won’t be judged by how quickly they clinched a postseason spot but whether they can finally win in October.
Here’s how I see all 30 teams this week:
WE’RE THE BEST OF THE BEST
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (35-15; last week: 1) — Congrats to the Dodgers, who are the first team to clinch a postseason spot. Of course, with the Dodgers, the only thing that matters is October, which means now the pressure is on.
2. Chicago White Sox (32-17; last week: 5) — The White Sox, after winning 10 out of 12 in the past two weeks, have taken over the throne in the AL. And it’s not smoke and mirrors: They’re fourth in runs scored and third in ERA.
3. San Diego Padres (32-19; last week: 3) — The juggernaut that is the San Diego Padres remains the No. 2 team in the NL. We know they can hit, but did you know their pitchers are fourth in strikeouts this season?
4. Tampa Bay Rays (31-18; last week: 2) — The Rays are a pedestrian 6-7 so far in September, but after going 21-7 in August, they’ve established themselves as a team to beat.
5. Oakland A’s (31-19; last week: 4) — Make no mistake, the A’s losing their MVP Matt Chapman will hurt, but it was their strong pitching that led the way. If they can still pitch in October, they can hang with almost anyone.
6. Minnesota Twins (31-20; last week: 8) — The Twins swept the Indians last weekend, establishing themselves as the No. 2 AL Central team. Then they got a reality check by losing two of three to the White Sox.
WE’RE GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS
7. New York Yankees (28-21; last week: 13) — The Yankees have won seven straight, shaking off that funk they were in. They’re all but a lock for October, which means that we’re back to this: If the Yanks are healthy in October, it doesn’t matter how messy the first 60 games were, they can beat anyone.
8. Chicago Cubs (30-20; last week: 9) — In the ongoing debate — I know I’m having it every week, dunno if you are — about who’s better, the Cubs or Braves, I’m picking the Cubs this week. They’re winners of four straight.
9. Atlanta Braves (29-21; last week: 7) — The Braves have scored the most runs in MLB (they’re tied with the Padres). But the pitching is still quite a concern. Just for the sake of illustration here: The Braves’ run differential is +44, while the other top run-scoring teams look like this: Dodgers (+102), Padres (+79) and White Sox (+79).
10. Toronto Blue Jays (26-22; last week: 10) — Speaking of run differential: Are the Blue Jays a little bit of a mirage? Could be, if you look at run differential. Their -17 is closer to the Royals (-23) than any of the AL elite.
WE’RE PROBABLY GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS
11. Cleveland Indians (26-23; last week: 6) — The Indians have lost eight in a row in what would appear to be some challenge to play themselves out of a playoff spot. They’re still there, clinging to the final AL wild-card spot, and I’d imagine they still get in since the next closest teams are the Orioles and Mariners.
12. Philadelphia Phillies (24-24; last week: 11) — The Phillies and Giants are tied for the two NL wild-card spots, but there’s a lot more competition on the NL side as the Cardinals, Brewers, Rockies and Mets are all within striking distance. The Phillies are the most talented team out of that group, but as has been the case the past few years, now they need to show it.
IS THIS REAL LIFE?
Not only do we have the Marlins ranked above the Astros in mid-September, but the Marlins are above .500 and the Astros aren’t. This might be the weirdest 2020 standings thing right now — weirder than the White Sox being the best AL team and the Nats being bad. Both Miami and Houston, however, would be in the postseason right now as second-place teams.
13. Miami Marlins (25-22; last week: 16)
14. Houston Astros (24-25; last week: 12)
WE’RE NOT GREAT, BUT WE’RE IN THE PLAYOFF HUNT
One of the storylines to watch for in the next couple of weeks is whether a sub-.500 team makes it into the postseason. Chances are, yes. The aforementioned Astros would right now and there’s a good chance an NL team slides in sub.-500. As of now, the Reds would be in and .500 Giants would too.
15. San Francisco Giants (24-24; last week: 14)
16. Cincinnati Reds (25-26; last week: 21)
17. St. Louis Cardinals (22-23; Last week: 15)
18. Milwaukee Brewers (23-26; last week: 18)
19. New York Mets (22-27; last week: 19):
20. Colorado Rockies (22-26; last week: 17)
21. Seattle Mariners (22-27; last week: 23)
WE’RE *NOT* GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS
In a year in which more than half the league is going to the postseason and another handful of teams are still alive, there aren’t many that teams that don’t really have a chance. But this is them. It’s about what you expect, with the glaring exception of the Nats (woof). Some positives down here: The Royals have won seven of eight. For the Orioles, a power rankings cellar-dweller in recent years, this is the first time in 2020 they’ve fallen to our lowest tier. That’s a win, right?
22. Baltimore Orioles (22-27; last week: 20)
23. Detroit Tigers (21-27; last week: 22)
24. Kansas City Royals (21-29; last week: 26)
25. Los Angeles Angels (20-30; last week: 24)
26. Washington Nationals (18-29; last week: 25)
27. Texas Rangers (18-31; last week: 27)
28. Arizona Diamondbacks (19-31; last week: 28)
29. Boston Red Sox (18-32; last week: 29)
30. Pittsburgh Pirates (14-34; last week: 30)
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