MLB Power Rankings 2012: Teams Heating Up as Summer Winds Down

With just over a month to play in baseball's regular season this year, teams are gunning down the stretch for a chance to make a run in the playoffs.

Some former contenders, like the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians, have sunk to new lows this season. 

Some contenders are just getting started, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, who now have Adrian Gonzalez to help their ailing offense.

Here's a look at teams who have heated up in August as we look ahead to the playoffs, complete with power rankings below.

Note: Compiled before night games on 8/27

3. Baltimore Orioles (69-57)

The Orioles find themselves in a battle with the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics for the two Wild Card spots in the American League.

Good thing they are climbing at just the right time.

The Orioles have gone 14-8 in August and they just won two straight against the ailing Toronto Blue Jays. They've done so while posting a 3.93 ERA (ranked 14th) and scoring 96 runs (22nd) in the month, more evidence that manager Buck Showalter has this team locked and loaded mentally in close games.

Not bad for a team that finished 69-93 last season, 28 games behind the New York Yankees in the AL East.

2. Detroit Tigers (69-58)

The Tigers rank eighth in team ERA (3.47) and runs this month (117) and have gone 15-8. That includes sweeping the Blue Jays and taking two of three against the Los Angeles Angels.

They still have a formidable lineup and the pitching rotation has done just enough behind Justin Verlander to come up with victories.

1. Chicago White Sox (71-55)

The White Sox have already had an impressive campaign this season, but they appear to be getting even stronger.

They rank 11th and 13th in runs and team ERA respectively in August while going 15-8 and they currently have a 2.5-game lead over the Tigers in the AL Central.

They've won six games in a row, sweeping the Yankees and the Seattle Mariners in the process. Four of those wins have been by one run. While not dominant, that's a sign that this team buckles down when the going gets tough.

MLB Power Rankings

Team	Record
1. Texas Rangers	75-52
2. Washington Nationals	77-50
3. Cincinnati Reds	77-52
4. New York Yankees	74-53
5. Atlanta Braves	73-55
6. Chicago White Sox	71-55
7. Tampa Bay Rays	70-57
8. St. Louis Cardinals	70-57
9. San Francisco Giants	71-57
10. Oakland Athletics	69-57
11. Detroit Tigers	69-58
12. Los Angeles Dodgers	69-59
13. Baltimore Orioles	69-57
14. Los Angeles Angels	66-62
15. Pittsburgh Pirates	68-59
16. Philadelphia Phillies	61-67
17. Arizona Diamondbacks	64-64
18. Boston Red Sox	62-67
19. Milwaukee Brewers	59-67
20. Seattle Mariners	61-67
21. San Diego Padres	59-70
22. New York Mets	59-69
23. Miami Marlins	58-71
24. Kansas City Royals	56-71
25. Toronto Blue Jays	56-70
26. Colorado Rockies	51-75
27. Minnesota Twins	52-75
28. Cleveland Indians	55-72
29. Chicago Cubs	49-77
30. Houston Astros	40-88

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