MLB Power Rankings: Week 20 Update

The National League wild-card race gets tighter by the day.

The Mets continue to free-fall in the third spot, opening space for the Reds, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, and Giants to attempt a push for the final spot. The true threat are the Reds, who at 64-59 are only half a game back, and the Giants (59-63), who have the pitching and talent to pull off a strong month and a half.

The Cubs are also struggling and are 3-7 in their last 10 games. Their spot in the second wild card is more comfortable, and with a four-and-a-half lead over the third spot, the Cubbies should be able to correct their course.

In the American League, the final wild-card spot looks like a three-team race between the Red Sox, Yankees, and Guardians. Cleveland has truly impressed after looking dead in the water, and an 11-4 stretch in their last 15 games has pulled them to one and a half games behind New York (AL) for the third spot.

1. Brewers

Apparently I called Milwaukee a state in my last update. I do in fact know the city of Milwaukee is in the state of Wisconsin, just like I know the Brewers have won 13 straight games.

This team is scary. They’ve got a blue-collar style of play, churn out runs 1980s style, and no deficit is too large to overcome. Just take Friday as an example. The Crew was down 8-1 in the second inning, and then ripped off nine unanswered runs to win 10-8.

They’re 33 games over .500 (77-44), have the largest run differential in the league (+161), and are six games better than the next best clubs record-wise in the Blue Jays and Tigers. This is the last team you want to run into in the playoffs, and they’ll likley have home-field advantage the entire playoffs. The entire state of Wisconsin should be ecstatic.

2. Padres

Not to quote Aaron Boone, but everything is right in front of the Padres. They’re tied for the division lead after losing to the Dodgers 3-2 Friday, and have the opportunity to take the NL West and run with it.

The only issue has been their head-to-head with the Dodgers. They’re 2-6 against their division rivals, and Friday, as previously stated, was no different. Yet, they’ve got the talent to win this division against the floundering, injured Dodgers. Especially with the addition on Ramón Laureano, who’s slashing .327/.389/.633 with three homers in 13 games with the Padres.

3. Mariners

After hitting a wall in Baltimore, the Mariners found their groove again in New York.

Friday saw a back-and-forth affair, in which the M’s came out victorious. They defeated the Mets 11-9, getting big homers from Cal Raleigh and Mitch Garver, plus a five-run seventh inning which grabbed the lead for good.

This team is deep. And even with a disappointing season from the rotation, the club is half a game back from the Astros for the AL West lead. Like the Brewers, the Mariners have a chance to get their first World Series trophy this season. They just need Eugenio Suárez to get going (.135/.193/.231 in 14 games).

4. Dodgers

The league has finally found the Dodgers’ kryptonite: The Angels.

No, seriously. They finished 0-6 against their crosstown “rivals,” proving why baseball is the best sport on the planet. Anyone can win any night. But seriously, that stretch has allowed the Padres to creep back into the NL West race, which features a series against San Diego this weekend.

The Dodgers took Game One with a vintage performance from Clayton Kershaw (6 IP, 1 ER) and a go-ahead homer from Teoscar Hernández in the seventh. If they continue to get clutch performances like this down the stretch, then everyone’s division parlays won’t miss.

5. Tigers

After a 1-12 stretch during July, the Tigers have finally returned to normalcy. (Yes, read that Mets fans, even the Tigers went on a 1-12 stretch. Positivity!)

They took the first two games against the Twins Thrusday and Friday, and are looking for three consecutive series wins since the beginning of June. They’ll need to keep racking up wins as well, as the Guardians continue to creep back into the AL Central race.

6. Phillies

After an 11-12 July, the Phillies have started August with a strong 9-5 record. Kyle Schwarber continues to make his MVP case, and had another big homer in Friday’s win over the Nationals.

Philadelphia looks bound for the NL East crown, and is getting serious help from the skydiving Mets. The only two factors that could prevent a division title are their seven games remaining against New York, and a potential serious injury to Jhoan Duran. The closer hadn’t allowed a run in four innings, but was carted off the field after being struck by a ball in Friday’s win.

7. Blue Jays

The Jays keep pushing on in the AL East, and after a 7-3 stretch in their last 1o games, find themselves with a healthy five-game lead over the Red Sox in the division.

The club is 72-51, tied for the best record in the AL with the Tigers. And on August 16, it’s time we highlight the resurgence of Bo Bichette. The 27-year-old is having a bounce-back contract year, leading the AL in hits (149) with 16 homers. It’ll be an interesting decision for the Jays whether or not they bring him back, but for now, he and the rest of the core continue to set their sights on October.

8. Astros

Houston has held down the fort atop the AL West despite the M’s making a late-season push.

They won back-to-back series against the Red Sox and Yanks, but ironically, almost found themselves on the wrong side of a perfect game by Brandon Young and the Orioles. Again, isn’t baseball the best?

Still, they hold a slim half-game lead over the Mariners, and the additions of Carlos Correa and a healthy Jeremy Peña have rejuvenated a stale offense.

Correa in particular keeps on raking. He’s slashing .340/.404/.511 with two homers in 12 games in his second stint with H-Town, and I have a strange feeling we’ll be seeing the Astros cause havoc again in October.

9. Cubs

Yeesh. That’s my evaluation of the Cubs right now.

After looking like one of the best teams in the majors in the first half, the Cubs have gone 11-14 to kick off the second half. They’re now nine games behind the Brewers, are 3-7 in their last 10 games, and look wild-card bound.

The regression has hit Pete Crow-Armstrong the most. The 23-year-old is slashing .226/.262/.435 over his 30 games, and hasn’t walked since July 29 against the Brewers.

10. Red Sox

It’s been a fun summer in Boston. And Friday was just another notch in that storyline this season.

With the bases loaded and nobody out, Trevor Story chopped a single past the second baseman to give the Sox a 2-1 in over the Marlins. It was the fifth walk-off in their Green Monster jerseys, which if I may say, is a candidate for the best jersey in baseball.

They’re only 5-5 in their last 10, but the Sox start a stretch where they finish this series against the Marlins, play the Orioles six times, visit the struggling Yanks, and then host the Pirates. The division is in reach, and the Sox still have three games left against the Blue Jays in September.

Rest of the Field

11. Guardians
12. Yankees
13. Reds
14. Mets
15. Rangers
16. Giants
17. Royals
18. Rays
19. Cardinals
20. Marlins
21. Angels
22. Twins
23. Diamondbacks
24. Braves
25. Pirates
26. Orioles
27. Athletics
28. White Sox
29. Rockies
30. Nationals

 

The post MLB Power Rankings: Week 20 Update appeared first on Metsmerized Online.