MLB Power Rankings: Week 24
10 - St. Louis Cardinals (80-69)
(PR: NR)
The Cardinals have won 8 straight and 10 of 11 games to burst their way onto the power rankings this week. They swept the Padres over the weekend to give themselves a 3 game lead for the second NL wild card spot. Just 2 weeks ago, they had a 2.7% chance of making the postseason, now their chances are up to 74.3%.
9 - Atlanta Braves (78-70)
(PR: 10)
The Braves have a rough time beating the Rockies but they still have held onto their 3 game lead in the NL East. Bryce Harper and the Phillies will make this race interesting but Atlanta, at the moment, have the pieces in place to close it out.
8 - Boston Red Sox (86-65)
(PR: 8)
The Red Sox finished the week with a 5-game winning streak and have taken over the top wild card spot. Anything can happen with two weeks remaining but Boston has been so consistent that I feel like they should end up making the postseason.
7 - Toronto Blue Jays (84-66)
(PR: 7)
The Blue Jays continue to play great baseball as of late and they will be holding on for a wild card spot. A lot of the talk goes to Vald Jr, which is definitely earned but I gotta give some love to Marcus Semien, who is having almost an equally great season.
6 - Chicago White Sox (85-65)
(PR: 6)
The White Sox haven’t looked bad but also not that great heading into the final two weeks. Luckily for them, they play in a bad division and they should be able to clinch the AL Central this week.
5 - Houston Astros (89-61)
(PR: 5)
The Astros padded their division lead with easy wins over the Rangers and Diamondbacks. Like a few other teams on these rankings, they won’t be playing for much down the stretch.
4 - Milwaukee Brewers (91-59)
(PR: 3)
The Brewers clinched a postseason spot last week, even though they got swept by the Tigers in a two-game set. The Brewers will be in cruise control over the next two weeks as they pretty much have the division won and they won’t be catching the Dodgers or Giants for best record in the NL.
3 - Tampa Bay Rays (93-58)
(PR: 4)
Not the greatest week for the Rays but they have built up plenty of insurance with their play all season. They should be the fourth team to clinch a postseason spot this week as they battle the Blue Jays and Marlins at home.
2 - Los Angeles Dodgers (96-54)
(PR: 2)
The Dodgers have won 8 of their last 9 games, yet they still find themselves looking up at the Giants. They are on the road this week in Colorado and Arizona before finishing the season at home with the Padres and Brewers. Cody Bellinger went on the IL with a rib fracture and AJ Pollock is expected to return this week...a huge win for the Dodgers.
1 - San Francisco Giants (97-53)
(PR: 1)
The Giants split a 4 game series with the Padres and won 2 of 3 against the Braves last week. They enter this week with a 1-game lead in the NL West division. With 2 weeks remaining, you have to appreciate the spectacle the Giants are putting on.