(8/21) Teams that Matter: Mid-Week Power Rankings
Here we are again. After last weekend’s series conclusions and with the majority of the early week’s series wrapped up, let’s see where the top teams ended up.
Just a heads up, these rankings only contain what I consider to be the “teams that matter”, i.e. the teams that can make the playoffs. I apologized last week to all the fans of the below .500 teams so if you’re looking for that apology, check it out here. Also, to any Rangers’ fans, I’ll spare you the read and let you know that you have been regretfully kicked out of the “teams that matter” group. In all honesty, you barely made it last week and going 2-4 since then didn’t help your case (congrats on ending the Royals’ win streak, though).
Note: this is being composed on Thursday, 8/21 in the AM, so I will not be taking into account the series finales in the following matchups: ATH vs. MIN (obviously), TEX vs. KC, MIL vs. CHC, LAD vs. COL, NYM vs. WAS, and SFG vs. SDP. The reason I’m doing this is to get my rankings out before we begin the 4-game series between the Red Sox and Yankees at 6:15 central time tonight.
Last week’s rankings:
Brewers
Phillies
Dodgers
Padres
Cubs
Blue Jays
Astros
Mariners
Red Sox
Tigers
Yankees
Guardians
Mets
Reds
Rangers
So, without further ado, let’s see how the rankings shook up from last week:
Milwaukee Brewers - 79-48 (.622), 6-4, L3; No change
They’re coming down from their 14-game win streak. They’ve lost 3 of 4 to the Cubs and play the fifth game this afternoon. Sure, they’re not invincible, but they’re still the best team in baseball. But the top spot is far less secure than last week…
2. Philadelphia Phillies - 74-53 (.583), 6-4, W4; No change
Originally I wanted to put them lower after they split two with the Nats over the weekend, but watching how they absolutely dismantled the Mariners at home, I had to keep them at #2. Their 3 lefties shut down Seattle, and I think Trea Turner has a billion hits in his last 5 games.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers - 72-55 (.567), 4-6, L1; No change
We saw over the weekend how scary the Dodgers can be. We were high on San Diego coming to town and looking to increase their division lead and the Dodgers made quick and easy work of them. Kershaw, Snell, and Glasnow looked as scary as you can imagine. Mookie hit a big homer. But still, at this point they’ve lost 2 out of 3 to the Rockies ahead of today’s game and that can’t put you above MIL or PHI right now.
4. Chicago Cubs - 73-54 (.575), 6-4, W3; +3 spots from last week
Taking 3 out of 4 at home from the best team in baseball will cause you to jump a few spots. They look to take the 4th out of 5 this afternoon. Their starters have stifled the Brewers’ offense and they’ve had some timely hitting from players not named Kyle Tucker or PCA. When they have it clicking, they’re a tough matchup for anyone.
5. Detroit Tigers - 76-53 (.589), 8-2, W3; +5 spots from last week
They got 3 out of 4 from the Twins, and then swept the Astros at home, shutting them out for 21 straight innings. Skubal is still the bad man on the mound, and the Tigers’ lineup is interchangeable with all of their plug-and-play guys producing. They can win with any lineup they put out there (but they need to get Kerry Carpenter more ABs against lefties if they want him to make a difference in the playoffs).
6. Toronto Blue Jays - 74-54 (.578), 6-4, L1; No change
Toronto took care of business over the weekend against the Rangers, but then lost 2 of 3 in Pittsburgh (which, I guess the Pirates are 36-30 at home or something? Did not know that). Aside from being Tommy Pham’s new enemy #1, not much has changed with the Blue Jays, which is good. They’re in a perfect spot to compete for the World Series. Also, Shane Bieber is back in the rotation.
7. San Diego Padres - 71-56 (.559), 6-4, W2; -3 spots from last week
They got handled by the Dodgers over the weekend and I think that brought some of us back to earth. They dropped a few spots after that carried over to the first game in the Giants’ series, but they’ve taken the last 2 games so they might be back on track. Cease gets the start this afternoon looking for a bounce-back, but the Padres need to take today’s game. They host the Dodgers this weekend for a rematch and have a chance to rewrite what happened last week. Bonus: I think Mike Shildt has finally realized he can actually utilize his other left-handed power bat, by getting two Gavin Sheets homers instead of sitting him on the bench in favor of watching Arraez, Bogaerts, and Iglesias fight over who wants to go 0-4.
8. New York Yankees - 69-57 (.548), 8-2, W5; +3 spots from last week
The bad men are coming. They’ve won 5 in a row after sweeping both the Cardinals and the Rays on the road and cannot stop hitting homers. Devin Williams succeeded in a high-leverage situation and it’s looking like they’re getting their groove back. They host a 4 game series against the Red Sox which everyone will have their eyes on. Big playoff implications are due to come from the rivalry this weekend.
9. Boston Red Sox - 68-59 (.535), 3-7, L3; No change
Ever since the disaster Isaiah Campbell relief outing in game 2 of the Marlins’ series, the Red Sox have crumbled. They got swept in the 2-game series at home against the Orioles, even with golden opportunities to take that second game. Jarren Duran is yelling at fans again (which I’m totally cool with) and the Red Sox are not in a place they want to be in right before hosting the red-hot Yankees for a 4-game set to determine playoff seeding.
10. New York Mets - 67-59 (.532), 4-6, L1; +3 spots from last week
They stopped their skid by taking 2 out of 3 at home from the Mariners and look to take the series against the Nationals today. They called up their stud pitching prospect Nolan McLean and he shoved in his debut. They’re a game up on the Reds for the last wild card spot and host the Braves this weekend to (hopefully) create some more separation.
11. Houston Astros - 69-58 (.543), 4-6, L4; -4 spots from last week
It was between them and the Mariners for this spot, and I gave it to Houston since they’ve been the Mariners’ boogeyman forever and I’d take them in a playoff series between the two teams. But things have been bleak for the Astros over the past 4 games. They were shutout for 32(?) straight innings! Baltimore gave them the business and then the Tigers bullied them again. The Astros need to figure out their offense, but they’re still the Astros and they’ll find a way.
12. Seattle Mariners - 68-60 (.531), 3-7, L5; -4 spots from last week
The Mariners got WORKED by the Phillies. I watched all three of those games and the Mariners didn’t look like they belonged on the same field as the Phillies. Logan Gilbert gave up 9 hits and 6 ERs. Bryce Miller gave up 4 hits and 4 ERs. Luis Castillo gave up 10 hits and 6 ERs. Arozarena, Raleigh, Rodriguez, Suarez, and Naylor were a combined 12-56 (.214) with 6 RBIs in the series. They got bodied by the Phillies lefties. We’ve seen the lineup on paper, but now we need to see it work.
13. Cincinnati Reds - 67-61 (.523), 6-4, L1; +1 spot from last week
They stopped the Brewers’ win streak, and if you look at how that series played out, they could have swept the Brewers. They had some bad luck and the Brewers had some magic, but the Reds are feisty. They took 2 out of 3 from the Angels and go to the desert to face the Diamondbacks this weekend. If they take 2 out of 3 there, and things fall apart for the Mets, we could see the Reds in the final wild card spot come Monday morning.
14. Kansas City Royals - 65-62 (.512), 7-3, L1; New to the rankings this week
Welcome to the party, Kansas City! They went on a 5 game win streak, sweeping the White Sox and taking 2 out of 3 (so far…they finish up the 4-game set this afternoon) from the Rangers. They sit 2.5 games out of the final wild card spot and go to Detroit for a real matchup this weekend as they look to prove they’re a real playoff contender. The Tigers still have a 10-game lead on them in the division, but the Royals have to show out this weekend.
15. Cleveland Guardians - 64-62 (.508), 3-7, L2; -3 spots from last week
I feel the same way about the Guardians this week as I felt about the Rangers last week. I don’t like this team and I don’t think they should be taken too seriously here. They got swept at home vs the Braves and lost 2 out of 3 in Arizona. They do face the Rangers this weekend and then the Rays after that, so we may be in a similar situation with them in next week’s power rankings, where they’re just hanging on at 3-4 games out of the final wild card spot.
That’ll do it for this week’s report. Give me a follow on X or Instagram and let me know where I went wrong.