MLB Power Rankings: Where Each Team Stands Heading into the Season's Final Month

With a little over a month remaining in the 2013 MLB season, there are still 16 teams legitimately in the running for a playoff spot, and the remainder of the season promises to be awfully fun to watch.

Even for teams not in the running for a postseason spot, the month of September is often a fun one, as roster expansion brings an influx of young talent, allowing a number of top prospects to get their first taste of big league action.

Before the calendar turns over to September, here is an updated look at where all 30 MLB teams currently stand. Be sure to check back here each Monday for the latest MLB power rankings from Bleacher Report.

30. Houston Astros (43-86, Previous: 30)

Last Week's Results: 2-4

at Texas Rangers (0-3)
vs. Toronto Blue Jays (2-1)

September Outlook

The Astros will have their work cut out for them in September if they hope to avoid finishing with the worst record in baseball for the second straight season, but at the same time, there will be plenty of reason for excitement surrounding the rebuilding franchise.

Two of the game's top prospects in George Springer (1.025 OPS, 37 HR, 105 RBI, 42 SB) and Jonathan Singleton (.758 OPS, 11 HR, 40 RBI) both appear to be in line for a September call-up, and that should give Astros fans a glimpse into what appears to be a bright future in Houston.

This Week's Opponents

at Chicago White Sox (3)
vs. Seattle Mariners (4)

29. Miami Marlins (49-80, Previous: 29)

Last Week's Results: 2-5

vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (1-3)
vs. Colorado Rockies (1-2)

September Outlook

Like the Astros, the Marlins have little to play for in September from a win-loss standpoint. They look like a safe bet to finish with the worst record in the National League.

Most of their big-name youngsters have already gotten the call this year, with 21-year-old ace Jose Fernandez and outfielders Christian Yelich and Jake Marisnick among the team's top prospects entering the year and already in Miami. The more experience they can gain, the better, as the team looks to push toward a return to contention with a potentially impressive young core in the years ahead.

This Week's Opponents

at Washington Nationals (3)
at Atlanta Braves (3)

28. Chicago Cubs (55-75, Previous: 27)

Last Week's Results: 2-5

vs. Washington Nationals (1-3)
at San Diego Padres (1-2)

September Outlook

Most Cubs fans have paid close attention to the team's minor league system this year, not only because the product on the field at the big league level has been less than impressive, but because the Cubs feature some of the best young talent in all of baseball.

Shortstop Javier Baez (.922 OPS, 34 HR, 101 RBI, 20 SB) has crushed Double-A pitching since a midseason promotion, and while he remains a raw talent at just 20 years old, he may well have played his way into a September call-up. Most of the Cubs' other top prospects are still in the low minors, so the final month will be used to get an extended look at fringe guys like Chris Rusin (8 GS, 2-3, 2.64 ERA) to see if they fit into the team's long-term plans.

This Week's Opponents

at Los Angeles Dodgers (3)
vs. Philadelphia Phillies (3)

27. Minnesota Twins (57-72, Previous: 28)

Last Week's Results: 3-4

vs. New York Mets (0-1)
at Detroit Tigers (2-1)
at Cleveland Indians (1-2)

September Outlook

The Twins managed to come away 3-3 on their brief road trip against AL Central contenders Detroit and Cleveland, and with 23 of their remaining 33 games against contenders, they'll have a chance to continue to play the role of spoiler. That includes a three-game series with Detroit and four-game series with Cleveland to close out the year.

As far as the Twins themselves are concerned, they're still a work in progress, and starting pitching remains the biggest issue. Samuel Deduno and Andrew Albers will look to prove they belong in 2014 plans, while top prospect Trevor May could get a chance to audition with a September call-up as well.

This Week's Opponents

vs. Kansas City Royals (3)
at Texas Rangers (3)

26. Los Angeles Angels (58-71, Previous: 24)

Last Week's Results: 3-3

vs. Cleveland Indians (0-3)
at Seattle Mariners (3-0)

September Outlook

Few teams in baseball will be more relieved to see 2013 come to an end than the Angels, as it's been nothing short of a miserable season for a team that looked poised to at the very least contend for a postseason spot this year.

Mike Trout continues to rake with a .357/.507/.589 line since the All-Star break, but the rest of the offense remains a disappointment, and strong finishes from Josh Hamilton and Mark Trumbo would give the team some hope for a turnaround next year.

Starting pitching will likely be what determines if the Angels can live up to expectations, though, as they will need to go back to the drawing board as far as spots No. 3 through No. 5 in their rotation are concerned.

This Week's Opponents

at Tampa Bay Rays (3)
at Milwaukee Brewers (3)

25. San Francisco Giants (58-72, Previous: 23)

Last Week's Results: 3-4

vs. Boston Red Sox (1-2)
vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (2-2)

September Outlook

It's been a long season for the reigning champs, and they'll spend September trying to avoid a last-place finish in the NL West rather than contending for a postseason spot.

The offense has been subpar once again, but the falloff of the pitching staff has been the biggest reason for their less-than-stellar play this year. However, Matt Cain (7 GS, 3-2, 2.84 ERA) and Ryan Vogelsong (4 GS, 1-0, 2.55 ERA) have pitched significantly better since the All-Star break after abysmal first-half performances, and they'll look to keep it up.

This Week's Opponents

at Colorado Rockies (3)
at Arizona Diamondbacks (3)

24. New York Mets (58-70, Previous: 21)

Last Week's Results: 2-4

at Minnesota Twins (1-0)
vs. Atlanta Braves (1-1)
vs. Detroit Tigers (0-3)

September Outlook

With the contract of Johan Santana, among others, coming off the books, the Mets appear to be poised for a busy offseason that could see them be among the biggest spenders on the market.

For the time being, the biggest question surrounding the team is if and when ace Matt Harvey will be shut down and whether that will affect his chances of capping a phenomenal year with NL Cy Young honors.

This Week's Opponents

vs. Philadelphia Phillies (4)
at Washington Nationals (3)

23. Toronto Blue Jays (58-73, Previous: 18)

Last Week's Results: 1-6

at New York Yankees (0-4)
at Houston Astros (1-2)

September Outlook

The Blue Jays made a push toward contention with a strong first-half run, but they were unable to sustain that play and are now poised to finish last in the AL East, a division that many predicted them to win.

Despite the fact that they have struggled, they remain a team that's built to win now, and they'll likely look to add what they can to their roster in the offseason to gear up for another run. Strong finishes from R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle would go a long way toward easing concerns about their rotation.

This Week's Opponents

vs. New York Yankees (3)
vs. Kansas City Royals (3)

22. Milwaukee Brewers (57-73, Previous: 22)

Last Week's Results: 3-3

vs. St. Louis Cardinals (1-2)
at Cincinnati Reds (2-1)

September Outlook

The Brewers have once again struggled to find consistent performance in the starting rotation, as expected staff ace Yovani Gallardo has not pitched well all year, and the only real plus starter has been veteran free-agent signing Kyle Lohse.

As such, guys like Johnny Hellweg, Ariel Pena, Jimmy Nelson and Taylor Jungmann, among others, could all not only see a September call-up but also get a chance to make some starts and show they belong in 2014 plans. If nothing else, the emergence of Carlos Gomez and Jean Segura is a positive takeaway from what has been a lost season.

This Week's Opponents

at Pittsburgh Pirates (3)
vs. Los Angeles Angels (3)

21. Chicago White Sox (54-75, Previous: 26)

Last Week's Result: 5-1

at Kansas City Royals (3-0)
vs. Texas Rangers (2-1)

September Outlook

The White Sox appear to be in the early stages of a full-scale rebuild, with the Jake Peavy and Alex Rios trades perhaps just a preview of what could be a massive offseason overhaul of the roster.

As such, the final month of the year will likely be spent trying to figure out who, if anyone, fits alongside ace Chris Sale in the White Sox's long-term plans. With a thin farm system, they'll need to do whatever they can to add young talent, and that will likely mean taking another step backward next year before contending again.

This Week's Opponents

vs. Houston Astros (3)
at Boston Red Sox (3)

20. Seattle Mariners (59-70, Previous: 19)

Last Week's Results: 2-4

at Oakland Athletics (2-1)
vs. Los Angeles Angels (0-3)

September Outlook

Seattle has already seen an influx of young talent this season, and it has perhaps the most anticipated September call-up in all of baseball in right-hander Taijuan Walker. The 21-year-old has a 2.93 ERA and 160 strikeouts in 141.1 innings of work this year between Double-A and Triple-A.

The Mariners have a chance to be the surprise team of 2014 if everything falls into place, and a strong finish to this year with their young players leading the way would be a good step in that direction.

This Week's Opponents

vs. Texas Rangers (3)
at Houston Astros (4)

19. San Diego Padres (59-71, Previous: 20)

Last Week's Results: 3-3

vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (1-2)
vs. Chicago Cubs (2-1)

September Outlook

The Padres have a chance to improve on last year's 76-86 record and avoid a last-place finish if they can close out the season strong. The Padres are a team on the rise, and while it continues to be a slow rise, they could be in position to surprise in 2014.

Starting pitching will be what determines how quickly they can contend, and buy-low pickup Ian Kennedy will look to prove he can be the team's ace next year with a strong final month. Young hitters Jedd Gyorko and Yonder Alonso lead the young offensive core, and prospect Reymond Fuentes could get a look when rosters expand.

This Week's Opponents

at Arizona Diamondbacks (3)
at Los Angeles Dodgers (3)

18. Philadelphia Phillies (59-71, Previous: 25)

Last Week's Results: 5-2

vs. Colorado Rockies (3-1)
vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (2-1)

September Outlook

The return of Roy Halladay gave Phillies fans reason to cheer this past weekend, and the free-agent-to-be will spend September trying to prove he's worth taking a chance on this winter.

The Phillies may not be in contention themselves, but they're coming off of a solid week, and with new manager Ryne Sandberg at the helm, they could play the season's final month with some renewed energy in the role of spoiler. That will preface what looks to be a pivotal offseason for a team caught between contending and rebuilding.

This Week's Opponents

at New York Mets (4)
at Chicago Cubs (3)

17. Colorado Rockies (61-71, Previous: 17)

Last Week's Results: 3-4

at Philadelphia Phillies (1-3)
at Miami Marlins (2-1)

September Outlook

For a good portion of the first half, the Rockies were arguably the biggest surprise team of the 2013 season. While their pitching has dropped off since and the team has fallen out of contention as a result, it's been a step in the right direction nonetheless.

Jhoulys Chacin and Jorge De La Rosa have been solid, but the team needs to shore up the rest of its staff moving forward. Tyler Chatwood and Chad Bettis have a chance to be key pieces, while top prospect Eddie Butler could get a look this September as well.

This Week's Opponents

vs. San Francisco Giants (3)
vs. Cincinnati Reds (3)

16. Kansas City Royals (65-64, Previous: 15)

Last Week's Result: 1-5

vs. Chicago White Sox (0-3)
vs. Washington Nationals (1-2)

September Outlook

This spot in the rankings marks the beginning of the teams still falling under the category of contender at this point, though a 1-5 week has made what was already an uphill battle that much more difficult for the Royals.

An improved offense has helped the Royals turn things around, but it may be too little, too late at this point. Their vastly improved pitching staff has been the biggest reason for their overall improvement as a whole this year, and top prospect Yordano Ventura could join the staff come September as well.

This Week's Opponents

vs. Tampa Bay Rays (1)
at Minnesota Twins (3)
at Toronto Blue Jays (3)

15. Arizona Diamondbacks (66-63, Previous: 11)

Last Week's Results: 2-5

at Cincinnati Reds (1-3)
at Philadelphia Phillies (1-2)

September Outlook

The Diamondbacks continue to be among the most inconsistent teams in all of baseball, and a tough week last week leaves them seven games back of the second NL Wild Card spot.

Paul Goldschmidt (.944 OPS, 31 HR, 101 RBI) is having an MVP-caliber season, but the rest of the lineup has been up and down, and the starting rotation—behind breakout ace Patrick Corbin—needs to get hot for a sustained stretch if the Diamondbacks are going to overtake any of the top three teams in the NL Central.

This Week's Opponents

vs. San Diego Padres (3)
vs. San Francisco Giants (3)

14. Washington Nationals (65-65, Previous: 16)

Last Week's Results: 5-2

at Chicago Cubs (3-1)
at Kansas City Royals (2-1)

September Outlook

The Braves and Nationals were expected to battle it out for NL East supremacy this season, but the Nationals have fallen well short of expectations, and the Braves have essentially run away with the NL East title.

That said, the Nationals are playing good baseball right now and are winners of 11 of 16 games. That leaves them 8.5 games back of the NL Wild Card, but they'll need the offense to pick things up behind red-hot Jayson Werth and the starting rotation to pitch up to its potential if they are going to pull off the comeback.

This Week's Opponents

vs. Miami Marlins (3)
vs. New York Mets (3)

13. Baltimore Orioles (70-59, Previous: 13)

Last Week's Results: 3-3

vs. Tampa Bay Rays (1-2)
vs. Oakland Athletics (2-1)

September Outlook

The Orioles have relied on their offense to carry the load for much of the season, and while they have pitched better of late thanks to the pickups of Bud Norris and Scott Feldman in July, they remain on the outside looking in for a postseason spot at this point.

If the offense can return to its previously elite level of production and the starting staff can keep up its strong play, they still have a very real chance at just two games back in the AL Wild Card race. Their upcoming nine-game road trip against the Red Sox, Yankees and Indians may very well be the turning point in their season.

This Week's Opponents

at Boston Red Sox (3)
at New York Yankees (3)

12. New York Yankees (69-61, Previous: 12)

Last Week's Results: 5-2

vs. Toronto Blue Jays (4-0)
at Tampa Bay Rays (1-2)

September Outlook

The pickup of Alfonso Soriano (28 G, .854 OPS, 9 HR, 29 RBI) has given the Yankees offense a boost, but they still have holes up and down the roster and remain a long shot to reach the playoffs.

Hiroki Kuroda and Ivan Nova have been a solid one-two punch, but the rest of the starting rotation has been inconsistent at best. It will be interesting to see what the Yankees do this offseason outside of their efforts to re-sign Robinson Cano, but it's clear that some major changes need to be made.

This Week's Opponents

at Toronto Blue Jays (3)
vs. Baltimore Orioles (3)

11. Oakland Athletics (72-57, Previous: 10)

Last Week's Results: 2-4

vs. Seattle Mariners (1-2)
at Baltimore Orioles (1-2)

September Outlook

Though the A's currently hold the second wild-card spot in the AL, the Indians are closing the gap quickly. The A's have no easy task ahead of them, as they face two of the AL's top teams in the Tigers and Rays this coming week.

Outside of Jarrod Parker, the starting rotation struggled greatly last week, and veteran ace Bartolo Colon can't return soon enough. They still have the balanced offensive attack and dominant bullpen to make some noise in October, but the starting pitching has to get back on track soon.

This Week's Opponents

at Detroit Tigers (4)
vs. Tampa Bay Rays (3)

10. Cleveland Indians (71-59, Previous: 14)

Last Week's Results: 5-1

at Los Angeles Angels (3-0)
vs. Minnesota Twins (2-1)

September Outlook

The Indians have used a 9-4 stretch to pull right back into the AL wild-card picture, but they have a tough week ahead of them with six games on the road against two of baseball's best teams.

The starting rotation is pitching great right now from top to bottom, and their offense remains one of the more powerful in baseball, even if it's somewhat inconsistent. How they fare this coming week will go a long way in determining whether or not they make the postseason, as they have a relatively easy schedule the rest of the way.

This Week's Opponents

at Atlanta Braves (3)
at Detroit Tigers (3)

9. Texas Rangers (75-55, Previous: 5)

Last Week's Results: 4-2

vs. Houston Astros (3-0)
at Chicago White Sox (1-2)

September Outlook

The Rangers currently lead the A's by 2.5 games in the AL West, and they'll have a chance to extend that lead this coming week with a pair of very winnable series against the Mariners and Twins.

Yu Darvish and Derek Holland continue to anchor the staff, but the rest of the rotation needs to pick things up, especially deadline prize Matt Garza, who has gone 3-2 with a 4.44 ERA in seven starts with the Rangers. Adrian Beltre has stepped his game up in the second half, but the offense is still not what it was.

This Week's Opponents

at Seattle Mariners (3)
vs. Minnesota Twins (3)

8. Cincinnati Reds (74-57, Previous: 7)

Last Week's Results: 4-3

vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (3-1)
vs. Milwaukee Brewers (1-2)

September Outlook

The Reds have trailed the Cardinals and Pirates in the NL Central virtually all season, but they are just 2.5 games back of both, and with seven games left against the Cardinals and six against the Pirates, they are in a good position to make a run.

Their offense is loaded, and their pitching staff has managed to overcome the loss of Johnny Cueto thanks to the emergence of rookie Tony Cingrani. Winning the division and avoiding the NL Wild Card Game would be ideal, but either way, they look to be in a good position to make the postseason.

This Week's Opponents

at St. Louis Cardinals (3)
at Colorado Rockies (3)

7. Pittsburgh Pirates (76-54, Previous: 6)

Last Week's Results: 4-3

at San Diego Padres (2-1)
at San Francisco Giants (2-2)

September Outlook

The Pirates are just six wins from posting their first winning season since 1992, but they have their sights set on far more than a winning record this year as they look to best the Cardinals and Reds in an extremely competitive NL Central race.

Andrew McCutchen is making his case for NL MVP, hitting .368/.456/.602 since the All-Star break, and with a balanced offense backing one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, the Pirates could do some serious damage once the postseason rolls around, even with their lack of experience.

This Week's Opponents

vs. Milwaukee Brewers (3)
vs. St. Louis Cardinals (3)

6. Detroit Tigers (77-53, Previous: 3)

Last Week's Results: 4-2

vs. Minnesota Twins (1-2)
at New York Mets (3-0)

September Outlook

There may be no two players in the league having better seasons than Miguel Cabrera (.360/.450/.685, 42 HR, 128 RBI) and Max Scherzer (19-1, 2.73 ERA, 196 K), but they are far from the only major contributors in Detroit this year.

The Indians continue to hang around, as six games currently separate the two teams, but the Tigers should find their way into the postseason, where they will have a very real chance of returning to the World Series with a roster built for postseason success.

This Week's Opponents

vs. Oakland Athletics (4)
vs. Cleveland Indians (3)

5. Tampa Bay Rays (74-54, Previous: 9)

Last Week's Results: 4-2

at Baltimore Orioles (2-1)
vs. New York Yankees (2-1)

September Outlook

With a good week against a pair of division foes vying for a playoff spot, the Rays now trail the Red Sox by just one game in the AL East standings. The Red Sox are playing very good baseball as well right now, and that race could come down to the wire.

The pitching staff will get a boost once Matt Moore returns, but with David Price pitching like an ace once again and Alex Cobb healthy, this is a formidable group nonetheless. That pitching, along with an improved offensive attack, makes the Rays legitimate title contenders at this point in the season.

This Week's Opponents

at Kansas City Royals (1)
vs. Los Angeles Angels (3)
at Oakland Athletics (3)

4. Atlanta Braves (78-52, Previous: 1)

Last Week's Results: 2-4

at New York Mets (1-1)
at St. Louis Cardinals (1-3)

September Outlook

The Braves had a poor week, seemingly for the first time in months, but they still have the best record in all of baseball and a comfortable lead in the NL East.

Losing Jason Heyward to a fractured jaw was a big blow, and they may have their work cut out for them to hold on to the best record in the National League as a result. When they're hot, there may be no better team in the majors, but they have been prone to ups and downs as a group this year.

This Week's Opponents

vs. Cleveland Indians (3)
vs. Miami Marlins (3)

3. Los Angeles Dodgers (76-54, Previous: 2)

Last Week's Results: 4-3

at Miami Marlins (3-1)
vs. Boston Red Sox (1-2)

September Outlook

In dropping two of three to the Red Sox over the weekend, the Dodgers lost their first series since all the way back in June, but they are in a good position to get back on track with series against the Cubs and Padres this week.

Despite their early-season struggles and the hole they dug themselves, they are still very much in the running for the best record in the NL. With a rotation led by a pair of former Cy Young winners and a talented lineup, all the pieces are there for the Dodgers to make some serious noise this October.

This Week's Opponents

vs. Chicago Cubs (3)
vs. San Diego Padres (3)

2. Boston Red Sox (77-55, Previous: 8)

Last Week's Results: 4-2

at San Francisco Giants (2-1)
at Los Angeles Dodgers (2-1)

September Outlook

The Red Sox made the most of their trip to the NL West last week, closing things out with a series win over the streaking Dodgers. With that, they proved they belong in the conversation for best team in the MLB.

With Clay Buchholz on the mend, their pitching staff could get a boost heading into the postseason, and the veteran trio of Jon Lester, Jake Peavy and John Lackey gives them a formidable staff to begin with. That, combined with their veteran lineup, has to make the Red Sox one of the favorites in the AL alongside Detroit and Tampa Bay.

This Week's Opponents

vs. Baltimore Orioles (3)
vs. Chicago White Sox (3)

1. St. Louis Cardinals (76-54, Previous: 4)

Last Week's Results: 5-2

at Milwaukee Brewers (2-1)
vs. Atlanta Braves (3-1)

September Outlook

After suffering through a rough patch with catcher Yadier Molina sidelined, the Cardinals have gotten back on track and are once again among the best teams in all of baseball heading into September.

The starting rotation behind Adam Wainwright is a young and relatively inexperienced group, and that could be an issue in the postseason. However, their offense ranks as one of the best in all of baseball and their bullpen has been fantastic, so the Cardinals should be able to overcome a shaky start here and there.

  

This Week's Opponents

vs. Cincinnati Reds (3)
at Pittsburgh Pirates (3)