The Yankees are sizzling, the Padres are skidding, and the MLB playoff picture looks quite different as we sit here this Monday morning(8/23/21), presenting to you the
latest MLB power rankings.
1. LOS ANGELES DODGERS(78-47) (1)
For weeks I’ve been saying the Dodgers will eventually get on an astonishing roll, and maybe this week's nine-game win streak was the beginning of that. After coming home from NY, they swept the last-place Pirates(2-1, 4-3, 9-0), and took care of business against the Mets by taking three of four(4-1,3-2,4-3,2-7), winning the season series 6-1 in a potential playoff preview. Although the nine-game win streak ended they gained two games on the Giants in the NL West race, and now are just 2.5 games out(Three games back) of first overall seed as well.
2. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS(80-44) (2)
The Giants are experts at “Winning Series”, and did it once more this week, taking two of three from the Mets(7-5,3-2, 2-6), and their California rivals in the Oakland Athletics(1-4,6-5,3-2) to become the first team to reach 80 wins this season, while also ensuring they head into another week atop the MLB standings.
3. TAMPA BAY RAYS (77-48) (5)
The Rays handled the Baltimore Orioles like a Little League team, keeping their losing streak alive with the four-game sweep this week at the Trop(9-2, 10-0, 8-4,7-2). Tampa Bay then followed that up by taking two of three from the Chicago White Sox, in a battle of the AL's two best teams record-wise(5-7,8-4,9-0) despite losing Chris Archer and Ji Man Choi to injury in the series finale. The Rays begin the week still four games ahead of the suddenly surging Yankees in the AL East.
4. HOUSTON ASTROS(73-51) (3)
One bad week will not knock this bunch out of the top five. Although losing three of four in Kansas City to the lowly Royals this week was a bit surprising(7-6,3-1,3-2, 3-6), Houston still showed us to not get rattled, by blasting the playoff-contenting Seattle Mariners 12-3, and 15-1upon returning home, making the 6-2 loss on Sunday not significantly affect their movement in the Power Rankings. It should also be noted that despite the 3-4 stretch, Houston didn’t lose any ground in the race for the AL West, as they still lead the A’s by 3.5 games(Four in the loss column) for the division crown.
5. Milwaukee Brewers(76-49) (4)
The Brew Crew improved to 10-3 over their last 13 games with series wins over the St Louis Cardinals(2-0, 6-4,4-8), and the Washington Nationals(1-4, 9-6,7-3). The question of can this team win in the regular season has been answered. But it now will soon officially turn to the postseason where sluggers such as Christian Yelich(Who went deep twice this weekend, including a grand slam), Willy Adames (263 BA, 22HR, 65RBI), Kolten Wong(Who had a clutch HR in ST Louis against his former team this week), trade-deadline acquisition Eduardo Escobar, and veteran Lorenzo Cain(Two-run bomb on Sunday) to set the tone for an offense that doesn't need to do a whole lot with one of the best rotations in the game. As for the pitching, Corbin Burnes, Freddy Peralta, Brandon Woodruff, Adrian Houser, and Hunter Strickland have been rock solid throughout this season, leading the NL-Central leading Brewers throughout the 2021 campaign.
6. NEW YORK YANKEES(72-52) (10)
The Bronx Bombers are back in business just as we used to know them. They had a 7-0 homestand this week, fending off the pesky Angels(2-1), sweeping the rival Red Sox in a clash for temporary Wild Card supremacy(5-3, 2-0,5-2), and took care of the hapless Twins once again(7-5,10-2, 7-1)running their win streak up to nine games at the most opportune time, with Boston and Oakland slowing down. Entering Monday, the scorching Yankees sit atop the AL Wild card, leading both the A’s and bosox by 2.5 games (Three in the loss column) for the first of the two non-divisional slots available. This 16-3 stretch, (26-9since the All-star break) has allowed the Bombers to pull to within four games of the AL-best Rays in the division race. They will look to keep the momentum going against the “Hotlanta Braves”, who have also won nine straight coming into Monday’s clash at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. It will be the first time since 1901 that two teams with winning streaks of nine or more meet up to see which one will reach double-digits.
7. CHICAGO WHITE SOX(72-53) (7)
After their shocking series loss to the Yankees, the Chisox rebounded by taking three of four from the previously red-hot Oakland Athletics(5-2, 9-0, 3-2, 4-5), but then were steamrolled by the Tampa Bay Rays(5-7, 8-4,9-0) in the last couple of games over the weekend, as they were outclassed in every aspect of the game against a potential pennant foe, making it back to back weeks they have lost to AL East opponents. The term ”Overrated” has slowly started creeping in the south of Chicago.
8. ATLANTA BRAVES(68-56) (13)
Of the teams feeling themselves around the league right now as of late, the Braves are without a doubt the most astounding. I wouldn’t have been surprised if you told me at the beginning of the season they would currently lead the National League Eastern Division, but when you factor in the losses of their ace in Mike Soroka, stars in Marcell Ozuna and Travis D'arnaud for a stretch, before ultimately losing your superstar in Ronald Acuna JR before the all-star break, this 9-0run has come out of nowhere. Reigning MVP Freddie Freeman has been on an absolute tear as of late and is now batting .299 for the season with 27HR, and 70RBIs, and 92 runs scored, leading the NL. Also Noteworthy Is the toughness of Dansby Swanson who will appear in his 125th consecutive game when his team hosts the Yankees on Monday night. Sweeps over the Miami Marlins(12-2, 2-0, 11-9), and the punching bag that is the Baltimore Orioles(3-0, 5-4, 3-1) have upped this streak into” Cloud 9” territory. “Hotlanta” have also won13 straight road games, which is the longest streak in baseball since 2000.
9. CINCINNATI REDS(69-57) (11)
This 14-7 month of August combined with the 8-11 clip of the reeling San Diego Padres, have allowed the Reds to take over the second NLWildcard spot for the first time since late May. More of the baseball spotlight has been shining bright on ROY(Rookie of the year) favorite Jonathan India, who is hitting .283 over his last 30 games, with eight bombs, and 18RBIs, good for a total of .276/16/56 for the season. Also mashing the baseball has been Joey Votto, who has five homers, 15RBIs, and a 321 batting average in his last 15 games. When you also factor that in with the white-hot Tyler Naquin, who left the yard twice more in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Miami and is now batting .500 over his last seven contests, as well as the rise of starter Vladamir Gutierrez who sports a 5-1 record with a 2.95 ERA over his last seven starts, and the Cincy faithful can once again get excited about their favorite team. After a 5-2 homestand against the Cubs, and Marlins, the Reds will now face the first-place Milwaukee Brewers, for three games at American Family Field. This likely presents the last chance this squad has of putting serious pressure on the foe they currently trail by eight games entering Monday.
10. OAKLAND ATHLETICS(70-55)(7)
This week was a test for the A’s, and they failed. Losing three of four to the White Sox(5-2, 9-0, 3-2, 4-5), and two heartbreakers to the Giants(1-4, 6-5, 2-1)has exposed a team in need of bullpen help. The loss of their ace Chris Bassist due to injury, and slugger Ramon Laureano to an 80- game PED suspension now presents serious flaws within a team fighting for its playoff lives. But on the bright side, they can assert themselves over the Seattle Mariners who they face Monday night with a three-game lead and can catch the streaking Yankees when they arrive at the Coliseum over the weekend. Despite all that they’ve been through, the A’s still control their own destiny.
11. SEATTLE MARINERS(67-58) (12)
Despite it all, the Mariners have been steady and have given themselves an opportunity to make a dent in the Wildcard race, after sweeping the last-place Texas Rangers(3-1,2-1, 3-1), and winning the series finale in Houston on Sunday. They have been lurking in the power rankings for the last couple of weeks, and can now take the baseball world by storm in this upcoming series on the road against the A’s before they welcome the Kansas City Royals to T-Mobile Park back home.
12. BOSTON RED SOX(71-55) (6)
On the rivalry stage, the Red Sox were mastered by their bitter rivals, completing a stunning three-week turnaround, which saw the Yankees gain 13 games on a team that is struggling to find their identity that led the way early in the season. The offense went awry in the three game-sweep(5-3, 2-0,5-2) at Yankee Stadium, and the bullpen didn’t help either, by giving away game one with those three late New York runs. The Bosox may have rebounded by taking their three-game set from the last-place Rangers on a Travis Shaw grand slam in the 11th inning(6-0,1-10,8-4), but this 9-16 stretch has allowed teams like the young Seattle Mariners(Who just swept Texas themselves) to believe they can surpass the tumbling, skidding, and sliding Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card chase. The team will hope to steady the ship against the AL-Central in the Twins, and Indians this week. But the way things have gone lately, that’s anything but a guarantee or an easy ride.
13. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES(63-61) (14)
Despite having to face the wrath of the NL-worst yet “Sneaky” Arizona Diamondbacks getting embarrassingly swept this past week(3-2, 4-2, 6-2), the Phils’ rebounded extremely well with a series win over the San Diego Padres in California(4-1, 4-5, 7-4), putting themselves within striking distance of the Wildcard and the NL East, trailing by five in both categories, with the Diamondbacks coming to town over the weekend meaning Philly will have a shot at revenge, after the two-game series against Tampa Bay; who are the last team over .500 they will see for 10 straight games.
14. SAN DIEGO PADRES(67-58)(9)
The “SlamDiego” Padres were “Slammed” this week, falling to 2-8 in their last 10, 8-11 this month, and out of the current playoff picture after being swept by the lowly Rockies(6-5, 7-5), and losing the weekend series to Philadelphia(4-1, 4-5, 7-4). As a result, they're terribly underwhelming headed into Monday’s series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers for the beginning of a four-game set that may make or break their season, after seeing their 10 game lead over the Reds completely melt away.
15. TORONTO BLUE JAYS(64-58) (15)
Ever since taking three of four from the Red Sox a couple of weeks back, the Toronto Blue Jays have gone 4-8, dropping series this week to the lowly Washington Nationals(8-4,12-6), and the Detroit Tigers(4-1,0-3, 5-3). It doesn’t get much easier with the first-place White Sox crossing the border on Monday.
16. ST LOUIS CARDINALS (63-60) (16)
If the Cards want a Wildcard to be “In the Cards” In The future, they need to take care of business against the Tigers, and Pirates, who they just lost two of three too(4-0, 5-4, 0-3) this past weekend in St Louis.
17. NEW YORK METS (61-63) (17)
We knew this 13 game “gauntlet” through the Dodgers, and Giants would give the Mets trouble, and it has them being 2-8 on this swing with three games left against San Francisco his week at Citi Field. After that, the schedule will ease up, with games against the Nationals and Marlins for the Amazin's to potentially feast on, and save their season despite being seven games out of first in the NL East entering Monday.
18. INDIANS (61-61) (18)
Congrats on defeating the Angels 3-0 in the LittleLeague classic!
19. LOS ANGELES ANGELS(62-64)(19)
Shohei Otani went eight innings of one-run ball and went deep for his 40th HR of the season in a road win against the Detroit Tigers this week.
20. DETROIT TIGERS(60-660 (20)
Hats off to Miguel Cabrera for career bomb #500!
21. COLORADO ROCKIES(57-67) (22)
The Rox are 43-22 this season at home which is the second-best in baseball behind the rival Giants at 42-19.
22. KANSAS CITY ROYALS(55-68) (23)
You did Oakland a big favor this week by taking three of four from the Astros (7-6,3-1,3-2, 3-6), and followed that up with a weekend sweep of the Cubs(6-2,4-2,9-1). Time to sweep dance KC!!
23. WASHINGTON NATIONALS(53-70(24)
Will Juan Soto be the next man to join the 500 club? He’s at 89 bombs at just age 22!
Meanwhile, congrats on sweeping the Blue Jays Nats(And old Expos) fans(8-4, 12-6), and clinching a winning record on the week with a game one win over the Brew Crew.
24. MINNESOTA TWINS(54-70) (21)
25. MIAMI MARLINS (51-74) (25)
26. CHICAGO CUBS(54-72) (26)
27. PITTSBURGH PIRATES (44-80) (28)
28. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS(42-83) (29)
29. TEXAS RANGERS(43-81) (27)
30. BALTIMORE ORIOLES (38-85) (30)
The losing streak has hit 18 games, and major kudos to the part of O’s nation that continues to tune in every night to watch this pitiful team play baseball. I would also like to apologize on behalf of Yankees fans, and their stadium cat three weeks ago, because it’s the last time you have won a game. Coincidence?
In all seriousness, I hope this ends against the Halos from Anaheim this week. Good luck!
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