MLB Power Rankings: Week 22
10 - Atlanta Braves (72-64)
(PR: 8)
The Braves did not have a good week, going 2-5 against the Dodgers and Rockies. On top of that, the Phillies have won 8 of 10 games and have gotten within 1.5 games of their lead in the NL East.
9 - San Diego Padres (73-64)
(PR: NR)
The Padres won both series last week against the Dbacks and Astros. Blake Snell has had an incredible second half which is something this team desperately needed. They are hanging on to the second Wild Card spot by 1 game over the Reds, who haven’t been helping their own cause going 3-7 over their last 10 games.
8 - Boston Red Sox (79-61)
(PR: 9)
The Red Sox are handling a bit of a Covid outbreak with 8 players sent into health and safety protocol over the last couple weeks. Despite that, they are playing well enough to hold on to the second Wild Card spot in the AL. For now.
7 - New York Yankees (78-59)
(PR: 6)
Man, what a difference a week can make. After rolling off 13 in a row and bursting back onto the postseason scene, the Yankees have lost 6 of their last 8 games, both against sub .500 teams. The AL Wild Card race is nothing to take for granted either. They’re gonna have to pick up the pace if they want to hold on to a postseason spot.
6 - Chicago White Sox (79-58)
(PR: 7)
The White Sox got the injury bug bad last week. They lost Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito, and Tim Anderson to the 10-Day IL and Carlos Rodon is also day-to-day with a shoulder injury...yikes. Those are huge names to go down this late in the season. Thankfully, they have a big division lead and should have no problem winning the division with those players out. They have a month to get healthy before a postseason run.
5 - Houston Astros (80-57)
(PR: 5)
This team had a tendency to play lazy and has struggled with consistency all season. That being said, they are a very good team with the second best run differential in baseball. With the A’s fading fast, the Astros don’t have a true challenger against them in the division. Meaningful games might be hard to come by until October.
4 - Milwaukee Brewers (84-55)
(PR: 4)
The Brewers proved they are a team to beat the National League by taking 3 of 4 from the Giants. They currently own the largest division lead in the league at 11 games. If they can stay healthy, this team is a legit contender.
3 - Tampa Bay Rays (87-51)
(PR: 3)
The Rays split a series with the Red Sox and took 2 of 3 from the Twins last week. They expanded their division lead to 8.5 games and are tied with the Astros for the second best run differential in the league (+175). Nelson Cruz became the oldest player ever to hit 30 home runs in a season.
2 - Los Angeles Dodgers (87-51)
(PR: 2)
The Dodgers looked ready to take over first place after sweeping the Braves at home. And they were in first place but for less than 24 hours after losing 2 of 3 to the Giants in San Francisco. They fell just short of taking over the top spot in the power rankings this week but the Dodgers are looking very good. Clayton Kershaw is set to rejoin the rotation either this weekend or early next week.
1 - San Francisco Giants (88-50)
(PR: 1)
The Giants did not start the week well, losing 3 straight to the Brewers and watching themselves fall out of first place for the first time since April. However, they quickly were able to retake the division lead after taking 2 of 3 from the Dodgers over the weekend. They find themselves with a 1-game lead with a little less than a month to play. The biggest surprise in baseball keeps rolling.