Our latest MLB power rankings make it feel like we are heading towards an Atlanta Braves-Los Angeles Dodgers showdown for the National League crown.
The Dodgers are on an eight-game winning streak while the Braves showed their old NL East rivals, the New York Mets, just how potent their offense can be by scoring 27 runs on Saturday to sweep a double-header with a statement.
In the American League, does the postseason run through the West or can the Tampa Bay Rays finish the season as strong as they started it?
Sure, it's just mid-August, but there are plenty of storylines to follow in this week's MLB power rankings.
MLB Power Rankings: 30. Oakland Athletics
The A's have been outscored this season by 284 runs. That includes a one-run loss to Washington on Sunday when the Nationals scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth to earn an 8-7 win and a series sweep. Losing a game when the other team scores its final four runs with two outs in the final frame feels like something that is just so Oakland this season, one of the many reasons why the A's are 33-85.
MLB Power Rankings: 29. Kansas City Royals
The only other team besides Oakland to lose 80 games already this season, Kansas City hosts Seattle for four games this week before heading to Wrigley Field to meet the Cubs for a weekend set. With both opponents in playoff-seeking mode, the Royals are simply trying to play spoiler for the rest of the season while its young core continues to grow. That includes Maikel Garcia, who left Friday's game with "left upper body discomfort" and has a 15-game hitting streak in place, tying David DeJesus for the longest franchise hit streak for a rookie.
MLB Power Rankings: 28. Colorado Rockies
Will this be the season the Rockies post their first 100-loss season in franchise history? Sitting at 45-73 after a four-game sweep at the hands of the Dodgers in Los Angeles that capped a 3-7 road trip through St. Louis, Milwaukee and the City of Angels, it's certainly possible. At least young players like Nolan Jones and Ezequiel Tovar are giving Rockies fans hope for the future.
MLB Power Rankings: 27. Washington Nationals
Talk about an up-and-down span of games for the Nationals. Washington swept Cincinnati at home in a three-game set, then lost three of four games in Philadelphia before coming back home to sweep Oakland. After an off day on Monday, Washington hosts Boston and the Phillies to close out the week. Can the Nationals keep that late-inning magic from Sunday going?
MLB Power Rankings: 26. Chicago White Sox
Swept at home by the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend, Chicago now hits the road for five games. Well, "road" if you include a pair of games on the North Side against the Cubs during the middle of the week before heading to Denver for a weekend set against the Rockies. With Tim Anderson appealing his suspension from last week's fight against the Cleveland Guardians, we will see what the week holds for both Anderson and his team.
MLB Power Rankings: 25. St. Louis Cardinals
If there ever was a week for the Cardinals to get right and look like something other than NL Central cellar-dwellers, this is it. Oakland visits Busch Stadium for three games starting on Monday night with the New York Mets coming in for a four-game set starting on Thursday. If St. Louis can't put together a winning week this week, it's proof that this season was cursed from the start.
MLB Power Rankings: 24. New York Mets
Putting together a win on Sunday Night Baseball over Atlanta was little consolation after a weekend series where the Braves had their way with Mets pitching. Just 3-7 over their last 10 games, New York enters Monday just a half-game ahead of Washington in the division standings. It's possible the Mets sink to the basement of the division this week, something that would have seemed absurd to say when the season began.
MLB Power Rankings: 23. Detroit Tigers
Yes, the Tigers still have a 1.0 percent chance of making the postseason per FanGraphs. It's wild to think Detroit is one of the shocking teams still alive for the postseason (albeit a very slim chance), but in the American League Central, it seems anything is possible. Road games against the two teams ahead of them in the division (Minnesota and Cleveland) this week will determine if Detroit's faint heartbeat keeps being heard or not.
MLB Power Rankings: 22. Pittsburgh Pirates
Well, the Pirates still have Bryan Reynolds as a piece of their future, and the All-Star outfielder bashed a pair of home runs that each traveled more than 400 feet on Sunday and rookie Jared Triolo hit his first career home run on Sunday as well to help the Pirates beat Cincinnati in the first game of a double-header. Flashes of power at PNC Park will at least give the Pirates faithful something to cheer about.
MLB Power Rankings: 21. Los Angeles Angels
Just 3-7 in their last 10 games, the Angels are below .500 and looking up in the division standings at three other teams. They're also 6.5 games out of a Wild Card spot and, with Shohei Ohtani scheduled to miss his next start on the mound because of arm fatigue, things aren't looking promising in Anaheim. A three-game road series against the Texas Rangers followed by three at home against the Tampa Bay Rays could tell us if the Angels have a postseason run left in them.
MLB Power Rankings: 20. Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona finally snapped its 0-for-August streak by taking the final two games of a three-game weekend set against the San Diego Padres in Phoenix. The wins not only gave Arizona some hope it can recapture its first-half momentum, but was also a big blow to San Diego's chance of getting to the postseason. Arizona starts the week in Colorado. Can the Snakes continue to build some momentum at a mile high?
MLB Power Rankings: 19. Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians start the week 4.5 games out of the AL Central lead and 8.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. Whichever way you look at it, Cleveland has to put something together in a hurry if it's going to defend its division crown. Cleveland's run differential is exactly zero for the season, which seems fitting for a team that seems to be stuck in neutral.
MLB Power Rankings: 18. San Diego Padres
That pre-deadline run that convinced A.J. Preller that this team should be buyers seems like such a mirage now. After losing both games in Seattle and two of three games to Arizona, San Diego now heads back to Petco Park for what seems like a last stand for any postseason chances. Baltimore, Arizona and Miami all pay a visit to San Diego this homestand, which feels like one that San Diego must dominate to get back in the postseason chase.
MLB Power Rankings: 17. New York Yankees
Gerrit Cole was cooking on the mound and the New York offense was clicking as well on Sunday, staking the Yankees to a 7-1 lead over the Miami Marlins in south Florida. However, by the time the game ended, Miami had stormed back for an 8-7 win. It's a game the Yankees should not have lost, but disappointment has been a theme for New York all season. Look for the Yankees to be under the microscope plenty this week with three games at Atlanta and three in the Bronx against Boston.
MLB Power Rankings: 16. Boston Red Sox
Speaking of the Red Sox, an absolutely brutal schedule lies ahead as a 10-game road trip starts on Tuesday in Washington. Boston has road series against the Yankees and Astros before coming home to meet the Los Angeles Dodgers and Astros before the month concludes. Just 3.0 games back in the Wild Card, this stretch will determine if Boston is a serious postseason contender or not.
MLB Power Rankings: 15. Miami Marlins
Miami starts the week with the third NL Wild Card spot, just a half-game ahead of the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds in a very tight chase for those three NL Wild Card positions. Just 4-6 in their last 10, Miami welcomes the Houston Astros to south Florida for three games beginning on Monday before starting a six-game road swing to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers and San Diego.
MLB Power Rankings: 14. Cincinnati Reds
Just 3-7 over their last 10 games, Cincinnati gets both Cleveland and Toronto at home this week as it tries to shake off the August doldrums where the Reds have been just 3-9 in the month. Elly De La Cruz hit his 10th homer of the season on Sunday, but has 52 strikeouts in his last 122 at-bats. He'll have to make some adjustments to help the Reds right the ship.
MLB Power Rankings: 13. Minnesota Twins
Minnesota gets Detroit and Pittsburgh at home this week, in addition to a pair of off days. That sounds like a recipe for success in the Twin Cities, who is seeing Joey Gallo heat up in a big way. Over his last seven games, Gallo is slashing .385/.556/1.077 with three homers (giving him 20 on the season) and six RBI. Sure, he's struck out five times in his last 13 at-bats, but when he is making contact, he's being productive.
MLB Power Rankings: 12. San Francisco Giants
The good news for the Giants is that, despite a 4-6 record over their last 10 games, none of the other Wild Card contenders in the National League have done much to make solid gains on the Giants and their position. Watch the Giants this week as the Rays visit the Bay, then San Francisco heads east to take on the Braves and then Phillies. San Francisco has skated by with mediocre play recently, but that likely won't do the trick against a tough upcoming schedule.
MLB Power Rankings: 11. Toronto Blue Jays
Daulton Varsho put together a five-RBI day on Sunday as Toronto beat the Chicago Cubs. It's a good sign for Varsho, who was batting just .183 with a .497 OPS going back to games starting on Canada Day (July 1) before Sunday's breakout. Even with the big game on Sunday, Varsho is slashing just .208/.208/.375 over the past seven days. After an off day on Monday, can he keep it going against the Phillies in Toronto on Tuesday?
MLB Power Rankings: 10. Milwaukee Brewers
OK, Brewers, let's see how this week treats you, with a trip to Los Angeles for three games against the Dodgers followed by three games in Texas against the Rangers. Milwaukee is 7-3 over their last 10 games, but that was against Pittsburgh, Colorado and the Chicago White Sox. This week will be a step up in competition for sure as Milwaukee tries to keep its 3.5-game lead in the NL Central.
MLB Power Rankings: 9. Chicago Cubs
One of the teams chasing the Brewers is the Cubs, a team that is looking ahead on its schedule to matchups against the Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates before ending the month with three games at Wrigley against Milwaukee. Jeimer Candelario seems to be fitting in just fine in Chicago, slashing .320/.393/.520 over his last seven games.
MLB Power Rankings: 8. Seattle Mariners
Baltimore won the final two games of their series with the Mariners in the Pacific Northwest, snapping Seattle's eight-game winning streak. The Orioles have been one of the few teams lately that have been able to cool off the surging Mariners, with Ty France being one of the key offensive contributors, slashing .310/.420/.524 over his past 13 games. A 10-game road trip, including three in Houston against the Astros, begins on Monday in Kansas City.
MLB Power Rankings: 7. Philadelphia Phillies
With Trea Turner turning the boos into cheers in Philadelphia by slashing .317/.359/.533 over his past 15 games, things are seemingly going Philadelphia's way. Throw in a no-hitter from Michael Lorenzen in his first home start since being traded from Detroit and is it any wonder why Philly fans are starting to believe there could be another magical postseason run coming?
MLB Power Rankings: 6. Tampa Bay Rays
Just 5-5 in their last 10 games, the Rays feel like a team that needs a spark to get back to their early-season dominance. Over his last 12 games, Wander Franco has slashed .388/.444/.735 and driven in 10 runs, but being out of the lineup on Sunday while some rumors swirled about him wasn't comforting for Rays fans. Manager Kevin Cash downplayed things, but will the Rays start their West Coast road swing with questions looming about one of their stars?
MLB Power Rankings: 5. Houston Astros
The defending World Champions just keep lurking, don't they? A trip to south Florida to meet the Marlins and a big AL West home battle with the Mariners is on tap for the week. However, with Jose Altuve slashing .442/.540/.635 over his past 13 games and Justin Verlander back to add depth to a rotation that needed yet another arm, it seems the Astros are doing exactly what they need to do to get back to the postseason.
MLB Power Rankings: 4. Texas Rangers
Going 8-2 over their last 10 games, the Rangers gained two games over the Astros in the AL West standings this week. Texas stays home this week, welcoming the Angels and Brewers to Arlington, and hopes to keep its offensive surge going. Texas still leads lead AL teams with a plus-181 run differential, thanks in part to Marcus Semien slashing .333/.424/.588 with three homers over his last 13 games.
MLB Power Rankings: 3. Los Angeles Dodgers
There's no MLB team hotter right now, with the Dodgers going 9-1 over their last 10 games. That run started by taking three of four games against the San Diego Padres, sending a message to their Interstate 5 rivals. The Dodgers have won eight in a row since the Padres took a decision from them on August 5, and now host the Milwaukee Brewers and Miami Marlins for six games after an off day on Monday. Things are looking good in L.A.
MLB Power Rankings: 2. Baltimore Orioles
It was tempting to put Los Angeles in this spot, but the Orioles winning the final two games in Seattle this weekend kept them here .., for now. Baltimore keeps its West Coast swing going with three games in San Diego followed by three in Oakland. If Ryan Mountcastle keeps swinging the bat like he has over his last 15 games (.442/.500/.692 slash line), the Orioles will be fine, wherever they are playing.
MLB Power Rankings: 1. Atlanta Braves
Absolutely, the Braves haven't looked like MLB's best team in recent games, going 5-5 over their last 10. However, there are reasons to not panic over Atlanta's recent pitching problems and Atlanta's offense is stacked enough to overcome any issues on the mound it seems. Matt Olson has 24 RBI over his last 15 games while slashing .396/.529/1.000. He leads all of baseball with 43 homers on the season and will look to keep the power going as Atlanta starts a nine-game homestand against the two New York teams and the San Francisco Giants.