MLB Power Rankings: Week 23
With the playoffs barreling down on us, our power rankings have taken more of a record-based approach. Some teams look poised to make a run down the stretch. Others look ready to fall apart due to tougher schedules. In an installment with quite a bit of movement, we have a new number one in our power rankings. Teams are still partially ranked on rest-of-season projections, but now playoff impact is also taken into consideration. Let’s dig in.
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| Team | Previous | Record | Last 10 | |
| 1. Los Angeles Dodgers | 3 | 89-50 | 4-6 | The Dodgers have faltered a bit lately as they seem to be looking ahead to the playoffs. They are expected to rest multiple players down the stretch to keep their starters fresh. This is also a display of their tremendous organizational depth. |
| 2. Houston Astros | 1 | 89-49 | 8-2 | Houston remains the favorite to win the American League. Their starting pitching is outstanding. However, they have shown some offensive vulnerability is recent weeks. |
| 3. New York Yankees | 2 | 90-48 | 7-3 | New York has been terrific all season. They lead the majors with 90 wins. However, they have lost four of seven to the Astros this season. |
| 4. Minnesota Twins | 6 | 84-52 | 7-3 | Still on a historic home run pace, the Twins are one of the best teams in baseball. Their 26-31 record against teams at or above .500 suggests they will not have much success in the playoffs. |
| 5. Cleveland Indians | 4 | 79-58 | 5-5 | Cleveland has lost three straight games. Due to this they have all but eliminated themselves from competing for the AL Central crown. |
| 6. Atlanta Braves | 8 | 84-54 | 8-2 | No team in baseball has more wins against teams .500 or above. They are firmly in control of their own destiny in the NL East. |
| 7. Washington Nationals | 7 | 77-58 | 9-1 | One of the best teams in the National League, the Washington Nationals are surging. Winners of four straight, and nine of their last 10, the Nationals are being propelled by some significant momentum. |
| 8. Tampa Bay Rays | 5 | 80-58 | 6-4 | The Rays continue to look like a one and done playoff team. Being chased by both the Indians and Athletics in the wild card race, they may not even make the postseason. |
| 9. Oakland Athletics | 10 | 78-58 | 5-5 | Oakland has fought their way into the the AL wild card hunt and it seems like they are not going away. The Athletics have been one of the more impressive teams in baseball this season. |
| 10. Milwaukee Brewers | 9 | 70-66 | 6-4 | Milwaukee looks like they can make some noise in the postseason. However, they will have to get there first. They are in the thick of a five team race for the final NL wild card spot. |
| 11. Chicago Cubs | 12 | 73-63 | 5-5 | In the pole position for the second wild card spot, Chicago has impressed this season. They are sixth in the league in terms of runs allowed per game. |
| 12. Boston Red Sox | 11 | 74-63 | 5-4 | It is all but official. The defending World Series champions will not have a chance to defend. While they have been stronger over the last 80 games, they have proved that their early season struggles was no fluke. The Red Sox will have to go back to the drawing board. |
| 13. New York Mets | 19 | 69-67 | 3-7 | The Mets are still in the wild card hunt but need to turn on the jets. Their performance since the trade deadline has been one of the better stories in baseball. |
| 14. Philadelphia Phillies | 13 | 70-65 | 5-5 | Philadelphia is one of only two teams in baseball with a negative run differential despite a winning record. They are still in the wild card hunt but are not expected to make the playoffs. |
| 15. Arizona Diamondbacks | 18 | 70-67 | 6-4 | Arizona has some momentum and still appears to have a punchers chance to take hold of the final NL wild card slot. They have been one of the more impressive teams this season relative to expectations. |
| 16. St. Louis Cardinals | 14 | 76-60 | 8-2 | The Cardinals are in the midst of an exciting season. They are now fighting for their playoff lives and lead the NL Central. Their poor road record indicates they may have trouble in the postseason. |
| 17. Texas Rangers | 15 | 67-71 | 4-6 | The Rangers are top-12 in the league in runs scored per game. However, only seven teams in baseball have surrendered more runs per game. |
| 18. San Francisco Giants | 17 | 66-70 | 3-7 | The Giants impressed with their push for a playoff spot but have fallen back to earth. They are expected to become a true contender if they can make an impact addition or two in the offseason. |
| 19. Los Angeles Angels | 16 | 65-73 | 2-8 | The Angels continue to waste Mike Trout’s prime. Jo Adell has been ready but the Angels are more interested in the service time concerns than competing. |
| 20. Cincinnati Reds | 20 | 67-73 | 4-6 | The Reds have flashed at times this season. They have an excellent home record but will need to improve on the road if they truly plan on becoming a contender in 2020. |
| 21. Chicago White Sox | 23 | 60-76 | 3-7 | Chicago has some talent but lack consistency. 2020 will be an exciting season that may see the White Sox turn the corner. |
| 22. San Diego Padres | 21 | 64-72 | 5-5 | The Padres are another team high on talent, but low on consistency. They will need improve both their offense and pitching to compete next season. |
| 23. Colorado Rockies | 22 | 59-79 | 1-9 | The Rockies have fallen apart. They have dropped nine of their last 10 and have made their .500 ball days from earlier this season seem like a dream. |
| 24. Pittsburgh Pirates | 26 | 60-77 | 8-2 | The Pirates have somehow won eight of their last 10 contests. In doing so they have made a mini climb up our rankings. They are the new gateway team between the horrible and the teams that are simply not competitive. |
| 25. Seattle Mariners | 27 | 55-80 | 4-6 | The Mariners could compete if they could address their pitching issues. They have scored more runs per game than teams like Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Tampa Bay and the New York Mets. |
| 26. Toronto Blue Jays | 24 | 55-83 | 3-7 | The Jays have a couple bright spots on their roster but remain committed to mediocrity. Only an upper level management change can save the Jays from themselves. |
| 27. Miami Marlins | 25 | 48-88 | 3-7 | Miami is one of only two teams scoring under four runs per game. The future is looking bright for Miami. Unfortunately, that future may still be two years away. |
| 28. Kansas City Royals | 28 | 49-89 | 4-6 | One of only four teams surrendering more than five runs per game, the Royals are one of baseball’s worst. |
| 29. Baltimore Orioles | 29 | 45-91 | 5-5 | Baltimore is one of the absolute worst teams in baseball. They have allowed a league worst 5.68 runs per contest. |
| 30. Detroit Tigers | 30 | 40-94 | 2-8 | The Tigers horrendous season continues. The worst team in baseball, the Tigers can make the Baltimore Orioles blush. They have scored a league worst 3.64 runs per game and are one of only four teams allowing more than five runs per game. |
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Raju Byfield is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Raju, check out his archive, and follow him @FantasyContext.