SportsGrid’s MLB Power Rankings: New No. 1 After Hectic Week
Ben DiGiacomo
Host · Writer
1. Cleveland Guardians
Last Week’s Ranking: 4 (+3)
Upcoming Games: 3 vs. BAL, 3 vs. ARI
People have been waiting for the Cleveland Guardians to regress all season, but it’s clearly not going to happen this season. Their offense is deep and showing so much chemistry with the new addition, Lane Thomas. On the mound, the starting rotation keeps putting together reliable outings, and the bullpen has been downright wicked. Come playoff time, once the Guardians get to their bullpen, it’s hard to imagine how they lose any lead, which makes their current +1600 World Series odds extremely desirable. Get on the train before it’s too late!
Pennant Odds: +600
World Series Odds: +1600
10. Minnesota Twins
Last Week’s Ranking: 7 (-3)
Upcoming Games: 3 vs. CHW, 3 @ CHC
The Minnesota Twins continue to sit in a holding pattern as they wait to get fully healthy at the plate, but they still manage to hold a two-game lead on the AL’s final Wild Card spot by two games. When fully healthy, this lineup has proven to be dangerous, so if the starting rotation can continue to be reliable, they are just as formidable as anyone come playoff time. It would have been good to see the Twins add another arm at the trade deadline, but instead, they elected to stand pat. We’ll see if it was a wise move or not down the line.
Pennant Odds: +700
World Series Odds: +1800
9. Atlanta Braves
Last Week’s Ranking: Not Ranked
Upcoming Games: 3 @ MIA, 3 vs. MIL
The Atlanta Braves have won five of their last six games, and Chris Sale has jumped to become the frontrunner for the NL Cy Young Award honors. Their bats still have been far too inconsistent to believe they can muster up a serious postseason run, but the re-acquisition of 2021 World Series MVP Jorge Soler could have the team get hot at the right time like it did a few years ago.
Pennant Odds: +550
World Series Odds: +1200
8. Milwaukee Brewers
Last Week’s Ranking: 5 (-3)
Upcoming Games: 3 @ WAS, 3 @ ATL
The Milwaukee Brewers just dropped two of three to the Atlanta Braves at home, but I’m not ready by any means to drop the Brewers below the Braves in our rankings. The Brewers have proven more this season, have been more consistent at the plate, and have a deeper starting pitching staff and bullpen. The Brewers lack an elite starting pitcher to headline their rotation, but after acquiring Frankie Montas at the trade deadline, they seem all-in on the by-committee approach. It’s worked thus far, so why change it?
Pennant Odds: +1100
World Series Odds: +2700
7. San Diego Padres
Last Week’s Ranking: Not Ranked
Upcoming Games: 3 vs. COL, 3 @ PIT
I don’t mean to get ahead of myself, but start putting some futures on the San Diego Padres. This team is legit. They handled the Los Angeles Dodgers in a mini two-game series this week as they now sit just 4.5 games back of the NL West lead entering Friday’s action. At the trade deadline, the Padres went all-in on improving their pitching staff as they acquired Martin Perez to add depth to the rotation, but more notably, they built a super-bullpen by landing Jason Adam, Bryan Hoeing, and Tanner Scott to pair with Robert Suarez. Come playoff time, it will be nearly impossible to score on the Padres in the back half of games. If this offense doesn’t slow down, look out.
Pennant Odds: +1200
World Series Odds: +2700
6. Kansas City Royals
Last Week’s Ranking: 8 (+2)
Upcoming Games: 3 @ DET, 3 vs. BOS
Instead of ranking the Kansas City Royals sixth on this list, we should just rank Bobby Witt Jr. sixth, as he has put the Royals on his back in epic fashion. After batting .489 in July, he kicked off August with a bang, going 2-4 at the plate with a home run and a double, continuing to build to his AL MVP case even though it may be hard to overtake Aaron Judge in the public eye. Around Witt Jr. though, the starting rotation continues to perform, setting up nicely for a potential postseason series. With the AL Wild Card race tightening, don’t discount the Royals to be serious threats!
Pennant Odds: +1900
World Series Odds: +5500
5. Los Angeles Dodgers
Last Week’s Ranking: 2 (-3)
Upcoming Games: 3 @ OAK, 3 vs. PHI
It hasn’t been a good week for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who’ve lost five of their last seven games. Luckily, the Philadelphia Phillies have been even worse than the Dodgers during that span, allowing the Dodgers to gain a little bit of ground on the Phillies. They went all-in at the trade deadline by adding several depth bats and Jack Flaherty to the starting rotation, so we look forward to seeing everything on display next week as the Phillies and Dodgers square off in Southern California.
Pennant Odds: +160
World Series Odds: +330
4. Baltimore Orioles
Last Week’s Ranking: 3 (-1)
Upcoming Games: 3 @ CLE, 3 @ TOR
After both the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles endured rough patches simultaneously, all the pressure was on the Orioles as the Yankees picked up steam and became healthy. Baltimore added quite a bit to their pitching staff at the trade deadline in the form of two starters and two relievers, but everything in Birdland comes down to the bats, which also appear to be getting hot after Colton Cowser was moved to the leadoff spot.
Pennant Odds: +280
World Series Odds: +600
3. Philadelphia Phillies
Last Week’s Ranking: 1 (-2)
Upcoming Games: 3 @ SEA, 3 @ LAD
Out of the All-Star break, it’s been nothing short of a disaster for the Philadelphia Phillies. Their starting pitching has struggled, their bats are collectively ice-cold, and their usual best bullpen arms have had implosions. We know this team is ultra-talented and should remain one of the World Series favorites, but it’s hard to watch these Phillies right now. They’ll need to get their act together quickly as they’ll begin a road trip with stops to face the Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Pennant Odds: +240
World Series Odds: +490
2. New York Yankees
Last Week’s Ranking: 6 (+4)
Upcoming Games: 3 vs. LAA, 3 vs. TOR
The New York Yankees are seeing their trade deadline acquisition of Jazz Chisholm Jr. pay off as he belted four home runs across his first four games with the club, helping the Yankees pull off a sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies for the high point of their season. Giancarlo Stanton also returned from the Injured List, giving the once scarce Yankees’ lineup much more depth as they enter a brutal stretch run for the AL East crown. If Gerrit Cole can return to his Cy Young form, they’ll be grooving.
Pennant Odds: +240
World Series Odds: +550
1. Cleveland Guardians
Last Week’s Ranking: 4 (+3)
Upcoming Games: 3 vs. BAL, 3 vs. ARI
People have been waiting for the Cleveland Guardians to regress all season, but it’s clearly not going to happen this season. Their offense is deep and showing so much chemistry with the new addition, Lane Thomas. On the mound, the starting rotation keeps putting together reliable outings, and the bullpen has been downright wicked. Come playoff time, once the Guardians get to their bullpen, it’s hard to imagine how they lose any lead, which makes their current +1600 World Series odds extremely desirable. Get on the train before it’s too late!
Pennant Odds: +600
World Series Odds: +1600
10. Minnesota Twins
Last Week’s Ranking: 7 (-3)
Upcoming Games: 3 vs. CHW, 3 @ CHC
The Minnesota Twins continue to sit in a holding pattern as they wait to get fully healthy at the plate, but they still manage to hold a two-game lead on the AL’s final Wild Card spot by two games. When fully healthy, this lineup has proven to be dangerous, so if the starting rotation can continue to be reliable, they are just as formidable as anyone come playoff time. It would have been good to see the Twins add another arm at the trade deadline, but instead, they elected to stand pat. We’ll see if it was a wise move or not down the line.
Pennant Odds: +700
World Series Odds: +1800
