MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers Rise to No. 1, Yankees Drop Out of Top 3
Welcome to the stretch run of the 2022 MLB season.
With less than two months to go, there are still 17 teams within five games of a postseason spot, thanks in large part to the addition of a third wild card in each league.
Meanwhile, a red-hot St. Louis Cardinals team is playing its way into the top tier of teams, while the New York Yankees are trending in the opposite direction.
If last week is any indication, expect plenty more shuffling to come in our weekly MLB power rankings.
If a team is winning, it will climb the rankings. If a team is losing, a slide is inevitable. The beauty of this exercise is that it's a fluid process, and things will continue to change.
Note: Statistics and analysis reflect action through Monday's games. Records include Tuesday's results.
Nos. 30-26
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30. Washington Nationals (36-75)
Previous Rank: 30
Since moving to Washington, D.C., in 2005, the Nationals have only reached 100 losses twice, doing so in back-to-back seasons in 2008 (59-102) and 2009 (59-103). After getting swept by the Philadelphia Phillies in a four-game series over the weekend, they are now on pace for 109 losses.
29. Detroit Tigers (43-67)
Previous Rank: 29
The big story of the week for the Tigers was the announcement that future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera intends to return for the final year of his contract in 2023 before calling it a career. Buckle up for the Miggy retirement tour next year, Tigers fans. He's one of the most respected players in baseball, and he will no doubt be honored all season.
28. Oakland Athletics (41-69)
Previous Rank: 26
There may be no team in baseball more lacking in star power than the Athletics after Frankie Montas was traded to the New York Yankees. Left-hander Cole Irvin (19 GS, 3.04 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 115.1 IP, 2.8 WAR) and catcher Sean Murphy (121 OPS+, 26 2B, 13 HR, 48 RBI, 2.3 WAR) are currently the team leaders in WAR.
27. Chicago Cubs (44-64)
Previous Rank: 25
Rather than rallying around the fact that Willson Contreras and Ian Happ stayed put at the trade deadline, the Cubs were promptly swept by the rival St. Louis Cardinals and outscored 17-5 in the three-game series. They did rebound to take two of three from the Miami Marlins at home, though they lucked out and missed Sandy Alcantara.
26. Kansas City Royals (44-65)
Previous Rank: 27
The Royals took three of four from the Boston Red Sox over the weekend for their first series win since July 24. Rookie MJ Melendez is hitting .283/.324/.550 in 68 plate appearances batting leadoff, and he has taken over as the primary guy in that spot following the Whit Merrifield trade.
Nos. 25-21
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25. Los Angeles Angels (47-63)
Previous Rank: 24
Going back to the start of their season-altering 14-game losing streak on May 25, the Angels have an MLB-worst 19-46 record. They have not had a winning streak longer than two games since June 19 and have scored one or zero runs a staggering 27 times on the year.
24. Pittsburgh Pirates (44-65)
Previous Rank: 23
The Pirates swept a three-game series from the Milwaukee Brewers last week to snap a seven-game losing streak but dropped two of three against the Baltimore Orioles over the weekend. Rookie Oneil Cruz has three home runs in six games in August.
23. Cincinnati Reds (44-64)
Previous Rank: 28
The Reds responded to trading away half their roster at the deadline by picking up series wins over the Miami Marlins and Milwaukee Brewers on the road last week. Right-hander Graham Ashcraft tossed a career-high 8.1 innings last Tuesday and has a 3.94 ERA in 14 starts.
22. Colorado Rockies (48-63)
Previous Rank: 21
With a 30-27 record at Coors Field, the Rockies will continue to be a thorn in the side of teams that have to play them in Denver. The other side of that is an ugly 18-36 record on the road, and their recent 2-6 showing against the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks continued that trend.
21. Texas Rangers (48-60)
Previous Rank: 20
Despite their early struggles, the high-priced middle-infield tandem of Marcus Semien and Corey Seager have worked their way back to being worth a combined 6.2 WAR in their first season with the Rangers. Extending Martin Perez should be a priority before the season comes to a close after they opted to hold on to the rental starter at the deadline.
Nos. 20-16
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20. Arizona Diamondbacks (49-59)
Previous Rank: 22
The D-backs are locked in a tight race to avoid finishing in the NL West cellar for the third consecutive season, and they helped their cause over the weekend by taking two of three from the Colorado Rockies. Right-hander Merrill Kelly has quietly gone 10-5 with a 2.86 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 109 strikeouts in 132.1 innings.
19. Miami Marlins (49-59)
Previous Rank: 19
The Marlins are 23-41 in games not started by Sandy Alcantara or Pablo Lopez entering play on Monday. They suffered series losses to the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs last week, and appear destined to finish fourth in the NL East standings with three contenders ahead of them and the worst team in baseball behind them.
18. San Francisco Giants (54-55)
Previous Rank: 16
The Giants were swept in a four-game series at home against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers last week, and they are now just 3-10 with a minus-29 run differential against them on the year. The decision not to sell off Carlos Rodon and Joc Pederson at the trade deadline could be one the front office regrets before the calendar even flips to September.
17. Boston Red Sox (54-56)
Previous Rank: 18
The Red Sox took two of three from the Astros in Houston to begin last week, only to follow that up by losing three of four to a Kansas City Royals team that is 21 games below .500 over the weekend. The rival New York Yankees come to town this weekend as the Red Sox look to climb back into the wild-card race.
16. Chicago White Sox (55-53)
Previous Rank: 15
With series against the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers, the upcoming week might be the White Sox's best opportunity to make a serious move in the AL Central standings. Eloy Jimenez is hitting .408/.423/.694 with four home runs in his last 13 games and he has given the offense a major boost out of the No. 3 spot in the lineup.
Nos. 15-11
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15. Milwaukee Brewers (58-50)
Previous Rank: 10
The Brewers went 1-5 against the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds last week, and in the process slipped from three games up in the NL Central standings to two games behind a surging St. Louis Cardinals team. Those two contenders will square off for a big three-game series in Milwaukee this coming weekend.
14. Baltimore Orioles (57-52)
Previous Rank: 17
After sweeping the Texas Rangers and taking two of three from the Pittsburgh Pirates last week, the Orioles entered play on Monday just two games behind the Seattle Mariners for the third AL wild-card spot. Catcher Adley Rutschman is making a late push in the AL Rookie of the Year race, hitting .389/.528/.593 with nine extra-base hits and more walks (15) than strikeouts (8) in his last 17 games.
13. Cleveland Guardians (56-52)
Previous Rank: 14
The Guardians cut ties with struggling slugger Franmil Reyes over the weekend, designating him for assignment just a year after he posted a 128 OPS+ with 30 home runs. Young players like Oscar Gonzalez and Nolan Jones will need to help pick up the slack offensively for a team that is still very much in the AL Central race.
12. Tampa Bay Rays (58-50)
Previous Rank: 13
The Rays split a two-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays and took three of four from the Detroit Tigers last week to remain staked to the No. 2 AL wild-card spot. With off days on Monday and Thursday they'll have a chance to catch their breath after having just one day off since the All-Star break. Newcomers David Peralta (7-for-25, 2 XBH) and Jose Siri (2-for-18, 12 K) are off to slow starts as part of a new-look outfield.
11. Minnesota Twins (57-51)
Previous Rank: 11
The Twins have been all alone atop the AL Central standings since June 25, but their division lead has never been more than 4.5 games during that time, and with a combined 17 games left against the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox the division crown is still very much up for grabs. Jose Miranda (59 PA, .377/.441/.585) and Nick Gordon (47 PA, .359/.426/.590) have emerged as key contributors since the All-Star break.
Nos. 10-6
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10. Seattle Mariners (59-52)
Previous Rank: 8
The Mariners are not going away, and a series win over the New York Yankees on the road last week helped further emphasize that point. After wrapping up their current three-game series at home against the Yankees they'll play just 15 more games against teams with a winning record.
9. Philadelphia Phillies (60-48)
Previous Rank: 9
With a 10-1 record in their last 11 games and a five-game winning streak following a sweep of the Washington Nationals, the Phillies are playing their best baseball of the season right now. They have gone just 3-9 against the New York Mets this season, and they'll look to change that narrative when they head to Citi Field for a three-game series this weekend.
8. Atlanta Braves (64-46)
Previous Rank: 7
The Braves slipped to 6.5 games back in the NL East standings after dropping four of five against the New York Mets last week, but they still sit comfortably in the No. 1 wild-card position. Veteran utility man Ehire Adrianza received the start at second base on Saturday and Sunday, and he could be the stopgap until Ozzie Albies returns.
7. Toronto Blue Jays (60-49)
Previous Rank: 6
The Blue Jays went 3-3 on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins last week, and for a team playing sub-.500 baseball away from the Rogers Centre that's a decent showing. First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is hitting .400/.463/.667 with 10 extra-base hits in 15 games since the All-Star break.
6. San Diego Padres (61-51)
Previous Rank: 4
The Padres were outscored 20-4 in a three-game sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend, erasing any doubt about who the current top dog is in the NL West despite San Diego's busy trade deadline. This weekend's three-game series against the Nationals in D.C. should be a fun one.
Nos. 5-1
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5. St. Louis Cardinals (60-48)
Previous Rank: 12
The Cardinals climbed seven spots after sweeping the rival Chicago Cubs and the New York Yankees last week, and they are now 9-1 in their last 10 games with a plus-30 run differential during that stretch. Shortstop Paul DeJong has a 1.095 OPS with three doubles, three home runs and 10 RBI in eight games since returning from a lengthy demotion to the minors.
4. New York Yankees (71-39)
Previous Rank: 1
With a 12-9 loss on Sunday, the Yankees' losing streak reached a season-high five games, and they have been playing sub-.500 baseball since July 1. The loss on Sunday shrank their lead in the AL East standings to single-digit games for the first time since June 15, and now it's time to flip the switch after coasting for the past month.
3. Houston Astros (70-40)
Previous Rank: 2
With a series loss to the Boston Red Sox and a four-game split against the Cleveland Guardians, the Astros are now 6-8 in their last 14 games, but they still have the largest division lead in the American League. The offense has a .673 OPS with only 25 runs scored in seven games in August.
2. New York Mets (71-39)
Previous Rank: 5
With Jacob deGrom back in the rotation, under-the-radar additions Dan Vogelbach and Tyler Naquin both swinging a hot bat and a dominant showing against the Atlanta Braves in picking up four wins in a five-game series, the Mets are rolling right now. They were 12-2 in their last 14 games entering play on Monday.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (75-33)
Previous Rank: 3
The Dodgers should have been No. 1 in last week's rankings. I'll own up to overreacting to their lack of activity at the trade deadline. Truth be told, they didn't need to make a splash to be considered the best team in baseball. They've gone a ridiculous 30-5 record since June 29, and they are now on pace for 112 wins. Apologies, Dodgers fans.
Complete Rankings
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Complete Rankings
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. New York Mets
3. Houston Astros
4. New York Yankees
5. St. Louis Cardinals
6. San Diego Padres
7. Toronto Blue Jays
8. Atlanta Braves
9. Philadelphia Phillies
10. Seattle Mariners
11. Minnesota Twins
12. Tampa Bay Rays
13. Cleveland Guardians
14. Baltimore Orioles
15. Milwaukee Brewers
16. Chicago White Sox
17. Boston Red Sox
18. San Francisco Giants
19. Miami Marlins
20. Arizona Diamondbacks
21. Texas Rangers
22. Colorado Rockies
23. Cincinnati Reds
24. Pittsburgh Pirates
25. Los Angeles Angels
26. Kansas City Royals
27. Chicago Cubs
28. Oakland Athletics
29. Detroit Tigers
30. Washington Nationals
Highlight of the Week: Another Complete Game for Sandy Alcantara
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The last time a pitcher had more than three complete games in a season was 2017 when Corey Kluber (CLE) and Ervin Santana (MIN) both twirled five of them.
Sandy Alcantara will have roughly two months to put an end to that drought.
The NL Cy Young front-runner threw a six-hit shutout against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday for his third complete game of the 2022 season, improving to 10-4 with a 1.88 ERA in an MLB-high 158.1 innings.
He has actually gone nine innings four times this season, but his nine scoreless frames against the Washington Nationals on June 8 don't count as a complete game since the contest went to extras and he did not return for the 10th inning.
With scheduled off days last Thursday and this Monday, Alcantara will have six days rest before his next scheduled start against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. What will he do for an encore?
Team of the Week
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C Sean Murphy, OAK
(9-for-19, 2 2B, HR, 7 RBI)
1B Pete Alonso, NYM
(11-for-30, 2 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI)
2B Jeff McNeil, NYM
(12-for-30, 4 2B, HR, 4 RBI)
3B Nolan Arenado, STL
(10-for-21, 2 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI)
SS Jorge Mateo, BAL
(7-for-20, 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI)
OF Mookie Betts, LAD
(12-for-32, 4 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI)
OF Brandon Nimmo, NYM
(13-for-32, 3 2B, RBI)
OF Nick Gordon, MIN
(10-for-24, 3 2B, HR, 5 RBI)
DH Eloy Jimenez, CWS
(12-for-27, 2B, HR, 6 RBI)
SP Sandy Alcantara, MIA
(1 GS, W, 9.0 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K)
SP Kevin Gausman, TOR
(2 GS, W, ND, 14.0 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 15 K)
SP Max Scherzer, NYM
(2 GS, 2 W, 13.2 IP, 10 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 16 K)
SP Graham Ashcraft, CIN
(2 GS, W, ND, 14.0 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K)
SP Dane Dunning, TEX
(1 GS, W, 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K)
RP Edwin Diaz, NYM
(3 G, 3/3 SV, 3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K)
Award Rankings
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AL MVP
1. Aaron Judge, NYY
2. Yordan Alvarez, HOU
3. Rafael Devers, BOS
4. Shohei Ohtani, LAA
5. Jose Ramirez, CLE
6. Xander Bogaerts, BOS
7. Julio Rodriguez, SEA
8. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., TOR
9. Jose Abreu, CWS
10. DJ LeMahieu, NYY
NL MVP
1. Paul Goldschmidt, STL
2. Freddie Freeman, LAD
3. Austin Riley, ATL
4. Nolan Arenado, STL
5. Pete Alonso, NYM
6. Mookie Betts, LAD
7. Manny Machado, SD
8. Sandy Alcantara, MIA
9. Dansby Swanson, ATL
10. Juan Soto, SD
AL Cy Young
1. Justin Verlander, HOU
2. Dylan Cease, CWS
3. Shane McClanahan, TB
4. Alek Manoah, TOR
5. Shohei Ohtani, LAA
NL Cy Young
1. Sandy Alcantara, MIA
2. Corbin Burnes, MIL
3. Max Scherzer, NYM
4. Max Fried, ATL
5. Tony Gonsolin, LAD
AL Rookie of the Year
1. Julio Rodriguez, SEA
2. Jeremy Pena, HOU
3. Adley Rutschman, BAL
NL Rookie of the Year
1. Spencer Strider, ATL
2. Michael Harris II, ATL
3. Christopher Morel, CHC
Stats courtesy of MLB.com and Baseball Reference unless otherwise noted.
