MLB Power Rankings: Where All 30 Teams Stand at the 3-Quarter Mark
We have reached the three-quarter mark of the 2015 MLB season, and pennant races are heating up around the league.
Getting hot at the right time can go a long way in August and September, and even with so many games already in the books, teams continue to shuffle up and down in these rankings on a weekly basis.
So let's take an updated look at how all 30 teams currently stack up.
When putting together this list, we considered the following factors:
- Last week's record
- Quality of opponent
- Key injuries/trades
- Recent performance beyond the last week
The goal, as always, is to be as objective as possible. But a certain amount of subjectivity will always come into play with something like this.
Just remember: This is a fluid process. Teams will rise and fall on a weekly basis relative to where they ranked previously. If you keep winning, you keep climbing—it's as simple as that.
30. Miami Marlins (44-68, Previous: 29)
1 of 30
Last Week: 1-6
With two more series losses last week, the Miami Marlins are now 6-17 since the All-Star break, and as a result, they have officially slipped behind the Philadelphia Phillies and into last place in the NL East.
One of the few bright spots in what's essentially been a lost season has been the strong return of Jose Fernandez from Tommy John surgery, but even that took a hit over the weekend when he was diagnosed with a right biceps strain. That will likely lead to a disabled list stint, per ESPN.com, and could end his season.
"We won't put him out there until we know he is 100 percent," manager Dan Jennings said. "There is no need to push it or rush it."
Hitter of the Week
- LF Christian Yelich (12-for-31, 4 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R, 4 SB)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Brad Hand (W, ND, 11.0 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K)
29. Philadelphia Phillies (45-67, Previous: 30)
2 of 30
Last Week: 4-2
It's taken a few weeks, but the Philadelphia Phillies have finally managed to climb out of the No. 30 spot in these rankings as they continue to play surprisingly well.
After sweeping the San Diego Padres over the weekend, the team is now 16-5 in the second half and an even 19-19 since manager Ryne Sandberg stepped down.
We've already seen the arrival of top prospects Maikel Franco and Aaron Nola, who are arguably the two best players on the roster right now, and shortstop J.P. Crawford could join them when rosters expand in September.
Hitter of the Week
- CF Odubel Herrera (10-for-26, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 7 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Adam Morgan (W, 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K)
28. Cincinnati Reds (49-60, Previous: 26)
3 of 30
Last Week: 2-4
The remainder of the 2015 season will be about talent evaluation for the Cincinnati Reds. They especially have some decisions to make in the starting rotation.
A total of 12 different pitchers have started a game this year, and only Anthony DeSclafani and Michael Lorenzen have made double-digit starts among the pitchers still on the roster.
Rookie Raisel Iglesias turned in one of the better starts of his career last time out, and he's currently joined in the rotation by David Holmberg and Keyvius Sampson, who have both thrown the ball well. Top prospect Robert Stephenson could also get a look before the season comes to a close.
Hitter of the Week
- SS Eugenio Suarez (8-for-24, 3 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Raisel Iglesias (L, 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K)
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27. Colorado Rockies (47-62, Previous: 28)
4 of 30
Last Week: 3-3
The Colorado Rockies picked up an impressive series win on the road against the Washington Nationals over the weekend, and they'll look to continue playing the role of spoiler in their upcoming four-game set with the New York Mets.
Carlos Gonzalez continued his recent offensive tear with another big week, and he's now hitting .368/.430/.895 with 12 home runs and 27 RBI in 20 games since the All-Star break.
Top prospect Jon Gray made his debut on Tuesday, allowing five hits and three runs (two earned) in four innings of work, walking two and striking out four. He'll take the ball again on Monday, looking for better results against the Mets.
Hitter of the Week
- RF Carlos Gonzalez (8-for-25, 1 2B, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 5 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Jorge De La Rosa (ND, 6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K)
26. Milwaukee Brewers (48-65, Previous: 27)
5 of 30
Last Week: 4-3
Quick, who is leading the 2015 Milwaukee Brewers in WAR?
There's a good chance you'd go through at least a few names before landing on rookie right-hander Taylor Jungmann, but he's in fact leading all rookie pitchers and is tied for 12th among NL starters with a 2.7 WAR on the year.
The No. 12 pick in the 2011 draft, Jungmann has gone 6-3 with a 2.26 ERA (2.89 FIP), 1.074 WHIP and 61 strikeouts in 71.2 innings of work over 11 starts.
He now headlines a group of young starters that also includes Wily Peralta and Jimmy Nelson that the Brewers figure to build around as they begin retooling the roster.
Hitter of the Week
- LF Khris Davis (8-for-25, 1 2B, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 5 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Matt Garza (W, 7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K)
25. Oakland Athletics (51-62, Previous: 25)
6 of 30
Last Week: 4-3
In taking three of four from the Houston Astros to close out last week, the Oakland Athletics picked up just their second series win here in the second half.
With his third complete game of the year last week, Sonny Gray lowered his ERA to an AL-best 2.06 while also leading the league in WHIP (0.959), H/9 (6.4) and WAR among pitchers (6.4). That has to put him slightly ahead of Dallas Keuchel as the AL Cy Young front-runner as things currently stand.
In a move that didn't get a ton of attention, the team claimed Danny Valencia from the Toronto Blue Jays last Monday. He's gone 7-for-16 with two doubles and two home runs since joining the team, and he figures to be around next season with another year of team control remaining.
Hitter of the Week
- 3B Danny Valencia (7-for-16, 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Sonny Gray (W, 9.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K)
24. Atlanta Braves (51-61, Previous: 24)
7 of 30
Last Week: 4-3
Even after taking three of four from the Miami Marlins to wrap up last week, the Atlanta Braves are still the same distance from last place in the NL East standings as they are from second place.
After surprising some people early on and even still sitting at .500 about a month ago, when they were 42-42 and just four games back in the standings, they've now gone just 9-19 in their last 28 games.
More than a few people balked at the decision to give 31-year-old Nick Markakis a four-year, $44 million deal, but he has been one of the few bright spots offensively, hitting .300/.372/.377.
Markakis (15 games) and A.J. Pierzynski (13 games) both had their respective hitting streaks snapped on Sunday against Brad Hand and the Marlins.
Hitter of the Week
- RF Nick Markakis (13-for-32, 2 2B, 9 RBI, 2 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- RP Arodys Vizcaino (3 G, 2/2 SV, 2.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K)
23. Boston Red Sox (50-62, Previous: 22)
8 of 30
Last Week: 3-3
Pitching has been the big issue for the Boston Red Sox all season, and the final two months figure to be largely focused on evaluating a talented crop of young arms with an eye toward next year and beyond.
With Rick Porcello and Clay Buchholz both on the disabled list and Justin Masterson recently designated for assignment, the rotation currently features a pair of highly touted rookies in Henry Owens and Eduardo Rodriguez. It was 30-year-old Steven Wright who stole the show last week, though.
The knuckleballer has split his time between the rotation and bullpen this year, and after allowing just one run in eight innings his last time out, he's now 3-4 with a 3.99 ERA in eight starts.
Hitter of the Week
- DH David Ortiz (7-for-23, 1 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Steven Wright (W, 8.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K)
22. Seattle Mariners (52-60, Previous: 23)
9 of 30
Last Week: 4-2
This probably speaks more to how good the St. Louis Cardinals have been this year than anything else, but the Seattle Mariners are currently the same distance back in the division standings as the Chicago Cubs (62-48) at 8.5 games.
Nelson Cruz is in the midst of another impressive hot streak, and after his performance last week, he's now hitting .325/.391/.607 on the year with 33 home runs and 69 RBI.
He's currently tied for the AL home run lead with Mike Trout while sitting in a near dead heat with Jason Kipnis (.326) and Prince Fielder (.325) for the AL batting title. If nothing else, his play over the final two months should be fun to watch.
Hitter of the Week
- RF Nelson Cruz (11-for-24, 2 2B, 4 HR, 4 RBI, 7 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Hisashi Iwakuma (W, 7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K)
21. Cleveland Indians (51-59, Previous: 21)
10 of 30
Last Week: 3-3
The Cleveland Indians managed to take a series from the Minnesota Twins over the weekend, but a 17-29 record against fellow AL Central teams this season has been a big reason for their disappointing standing.
While they have not put together the strong second-half surge many expected, their starting pitching remains a serious weapon, and Carlos Carrasco stole the show once again last week with another lights-out performance.
After allowing seven hits and six runs in four innings for his worst start of the season on July 25, he's now thrown back-to-back complete games. He's allowed just three hits and one earned run in those two outings, walking two and striking out 14.
The big news of the week came when Cleveland managed to unload a pair of bad contracts in Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn in exchange for a third bad contract in Chris Johnson. It fills a hole of sorts at third base and saves the Indians money in the short term as they look to gear up for a run next season.
Hitter of the Week
- LF Michael Brantley (12-for-23, 3 2B, 5 RBI, 6 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Carlos Carrasco (W, 9.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K)
20. San Diego Padres (52-60, Previous: 16)
11 of 30
Last Week: 1-6
Remember when the San Diego Padres and GM A.J. Preller decided not to sell at the trade deadline because they believed the team still had a real chance at reaching the postseason?
After a 2-7 start to the month of August, including a sweep at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies last week, the team is now 10.5 games back in the NL West standings and 11 games out for the second NL wild-card spot.
In other words, San Diego is finished at this point. It figures to be another busy offseason for Preller as he looks to regroup.
Hitter of the Week
- LF Justin Upton (7-for-21, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 5 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Tyson Ross (W, L, 13.0 IP, 12 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 13 K)
19. Chicago White Sox (51-58, Previous: 17)
12 of 30
Last Week: 1-5
An impressive seven-game winning streak in the days leading up to the trade deadline pulled the Chicago White Sox to within one game of .500 on July 30, and that was enough to convince the team to hold on to Jeff Samardzija for a potential postseason push.
However, things have come crashing down since, as the White Sox are just 2-8 in their last 10 games and now 7.5 games removed from a playoff spot with six teams to pass in the AL wild-card standings.
At the very least, they'll be able to extend a qualifying offer to Samardzija, and they could even still make a play to re-sign him. It appears their surprise push back into the playoff picture was a fluke, however.
Hitter of the Week
- 1B Jose Abreu (6-for-24, 2 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Jose Quintana (2 ND, 12.2 IP, 15 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 11 K)
18. Minnesota Twins (55-56, Previous: 15)
13 of 30
Last Week: 1-6
On July 17, the Minnesota Twins wrapped up a 7-1 stretch of games to pull to 10 games over .500 on the year at 50-40 overall. That was good for the second-best record in the American League and gave them a 4.5-game lead in the wild-card standings.
Since then, they've gone an abysmal 5-16 with a minus-65 run differential, effectively slipping out of the playoff picture as a result.
The pitching staff that was so vastly improved during the first half of the season now has an MLB-worst 6.17 ERA since the All-Star break, more than a half-run higher than the next worst team. Meanwhile, the offense is hitting an MLB-worst .221 and averaging 3.73 runs during that same stretch.
Hitter of the Week
- RF Torii Hunter (4-for-16, 1 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- RP Trevor May (3 G, W, 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K)
17. Detroit Tigers (54-57, Previous: 20)
14 of 30
Last Week: 3-3
Despite trading David Price, Yoenis Cespedes and Joakim Soria and still being without Miguel Cabrera, the Detroit Tigers managed to pull off a series victory over the Kansas City Royals last week.
While they are still 12.5 games back in the AL Central standings, the second AL wild-card spot is within reach at 5.5 games.
Matt Boyd, one of the pitchers acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in the Price trade, made his Tigers debut on Wednesday and outdueled Johnny Cueto in a 2-1 victory.
Expect Detroit to trade or outright release upcoming free agent Alfredo Simon in the near future to open up another rotation spot, as Buck Farmer, Shane Greene and Kyle Ryan are all looking to prove they belong in the 2016 plans.
Hitter of the Week
- 2B Ian Kinsler (10-for-24, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 8 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Matt Boyd (W, 7.0 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K)
16. Arizona Diamondbacks (54-56, Previous: 19)
15 of 30
Last Week: 4-3
A four-game split with the Washington Nationals and a series win over the Cincinnati Reds pulled the Arizona Diamondbacks one game closer to the .500 mark, somewhere few expected them to be in what looked like a rebuilding year.
The team did some housecleaning this past week, trading a pair of veterans with expiring contracts in reliever Oliver Perez and utility man Cliff Pennington. Reliever Keith Hessler and infielder Jamie Roark took over their roster spots.
Lost in the shuffle a bit has been a really good season from Welington Castillo since he came over in a trade with the Seattle Mariners, as he's hitting .291/.375/.610 with 12 home runs and 25 RBI in 44 games. He's still just 28 years old and has two years of team control remaining.
Hitter of the Week
- LF David Peralta (10-for-22, 2 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Chase Anderson (W, 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K)
15. Tampa Bay Rays (56-56, Previous: 18)
16 of 30
Last Week: 4-2
The Tampa Bay Rays are still hanging around after picking up series wins over the Chicago White Sox and New York Mets last week, leaving them six games back in the AL East and four back for a wild-card berth.
The Rays continue to find creative ways to improve their offense, as last week saw them claim outfielder Daniel Nava from the Boston Red Sox and promote prospect Richie Shaffer, who has gone 4-for-10 with two home runs in his first four games.
One player who hasn't provided a ton in the way of offense, outside of his AL-best 11 triples, is center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, but he's having a monster season in the field.
His 27 DRS and 42.6 UZR/150 lead all of baseball, and it's not even close in either category. That's helped him to a 4.4 WAR, by far the best on the team.
Hitter of the Week
- 3B Evan Longoria (11-for-25, 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Jake Odorizzi (ND, 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K)
14. Baltimore Orioles (56-54, Previous: 13)
17 of 30
Last Week: 3-3
Despite splitting their week against the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels, the Baltimore Orioles still managed to make up a game on the New York Yankees in the AL East standings. They are now five games back in the division and three back for a wild-card spot.
A resurgent Chris Davis (22 G, 1.114 OPS, 10 HR, 28 RBI) and a healthy Jonathan Schoop (22 G, .352 BA, .931 OPS) have led the offensive attack here in the second half, and Davis is seeing his free-agent value climb with each passing game.
It was a busy week from a roster standpoint, as Bud Norris was officially released, Travis Snider was designated for assignment and Chris Parmelee was outrighted to the minors.
The search for production in left field continues, with Nolan Reimold, David Lough and Junior Lake currently in the mix for at-bats.
Hitter of the Week
- 1B Chris Davis (7-for-22, 2 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 7 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Ubaldo Jimenez (W, 8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K)
13. Texas Rangers (55-55, Previous: 14)
18 of 30
Last Week: 4-2
Most viewed the Cole Hamels trade as a move geared toward 2016 and beyond for the Texas Rangers, but they've played good baseball since the second half started. They're still on the fringe of contention at 4.5 games back in the AL West and four games out for the second AL wild-card spot.
The team is 13-9 since the break and 5-3 in August, and that's with Hamels struggling through his first two starts with the team.
A relatively left-handed-heavy team with Rougned Odor, Shin-Soo Choo, Prince Fielder, Josh Hamilton and Mitch Moreland all in the everyday lineup, the team claimed Mike Napoli off waivers from the Boston Red Sox on Friday in an effort to provide some added balance.
His .205 average and .689 OPS are rough on the surface, but Napoli has hit a respectable .254/.356/.508 with seven doubles, three home runs and 10 RBI since the All-Star break.
Hitter of the Week
- 2B Rougned Odor (11-for-21, 1 2B, 1 3B, 5 RBI, 3 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Nick Martinez (W, 5.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K)
12. Washington Nationals (57-53, Previous: 10)
19 of 30
Last Week: 3-4
A loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday marked the first time since June 19 that the Washington Nationals didn't hold at least a share of the NL East lead, and they currently trail the New York Mets by 1.5 games heading into the week.
The division standings are significant because they currently sit fourth in the NL wild-card standings, a full five games behind the Chicago Cubs for the No. 2 spot.
That being said, there were certainly some positive takeaways from last week, starting with a strong return from the disabled list for Stephen Strasburg.
He's been battling to get right all season, and if he can pitch like an ace down the stretch, it would go a long way. A big week from Ryan Zimmerman was also good to see, as he is hitting just .227 with a .696 OPS on the year.
Hitter of the Week
- 1B Ryan Zimmerman (9-for-21, 3 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Stephen Strasburg (W, 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 12 K)
11. New York Yankees (61-49, Previous: 9)
20 of 30
Last Week: 2-4
If there was any doubt that the Toronto Blue Jays became the team to beat in the AL East with their deadline dealings, that fact was made abundantly clear with a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees over the weekend.
With Michael Pineda on the disabled list, the Yankees turned to top prospect Luis Severino to fill his spot in the rotation.
The 21-year-old allowed two hits and one earned run while striking out seven and walking none in five innings of work, though he was saddled with the tough-luck loss.
If he can provide the rotation with a spark and CC Sabathia can build off of a strong outing, the rotation will be in much better shape going forward.
Hitter of the Week
- RF Carlos Beltran (5-for-17, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP CC Sabathia (ND, 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 K)
10. Houston Astros (61-52, Previous: 4)
21 of 30
Last Week: 1-6
It was a rough week for the Houston Astros, as they were swept by the Texas Rangers before dropping three of four to the Oakland Athletics.
They still hold a half-game lead in the AL West standings, but they'll need to quickly reverse their fortunes with the Los Angeles Angels playing very well of late.
The team decided to option rookie Lance McCullers to the minors after he was shelled for seven hits and six earned runs while recording just one out in his last start, but he still figures to be a key piece of the puzzle down the stretch.
With two days off this coming week, they'll have a chance to get some rest and recharge a bit.
Hitter of the Week
- 3B Luis Valbuena (8-for-20, 1 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Scott Feldman (ND, 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K)
9. San Francisco Giants (59-52, Previous: 5)
22 of 30
Last Week: 2-5
After an impressive 12-1 stretch of games pulled them to within a half-game of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, the San Francisco Giants have gone just 4-8 in their last 12 games.
That includes a rough four-game sweep by the Chicago Cubs over the weekend, as the North Siders turned a half-game deficit into a 3.5-game lead for the second NL wild-card spot.
Making matters worse, second baseman Joe Panik and newly acquired starter Mike Leake were both placed on the disabled list last week, and both guys will need to make a quick return to health.
The Giants have a rough stretch of games coming up, with their next 22 all against teams with a winning record, so they'll need to stop their current skid quickly or risk falling even further back in the playoff picture.
Hitter of the Week
- SS Brandon Crawford (7-for-24, 2 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Madison Bumgarner (W, 7.1 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K)
8. Los Angeles Dodgers (62-49, Previous: 6)
23 of 30
Last Week: 2-4
Despite going just 2-4 last week, the Los Angeles Dodgers actually gained a half-game in the NL West standings on the San Francisco Giants, as they now lead by three games.
So far, the decision to trade for Mat Latos (2 GS, 0-1, 6.30 ERA) and Alex Wood (2 GS, 0-1, 5.56 ERA) in an attempt to shore up the starting rotation has not worked out, though it's still obviously very early days as far as that deal is concerned.
The offense sorely misses Justin Turner, and he could be back as early as Tuesday, though the Dodgers have yet to nail down an exact return date, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.
They head home to face the Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds this coming week, and they've gone an impressive 37-18 at home this year.
Hitter of the Week
- 1B Adrian Gonzalez (10-for-27, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Brett Anderson (W, 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K)
7. New York Mets (59-52, Previous: 11)
24 of 30
Last Week: 4-2
The New York Mets have gone 11-4 in their last 15 games, and in the process they've turned a three-game deficit into a 1.5-game lead in the NL East standings.
Yoenis Cespedes has provided an undeniable spark offensively, and David Wright may join him in the not-too-distant future.
The face of the franchise has played just eight games this season because of spinal stenosis, but he is close to beginning a rehab assignment and could return within 10 days, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.
Juan Uribe has gone cold after a strong start to his time with the Mets, leaving third base as a hole once again, so Wright will be welcomed back with open arms whenever he's ready.
Hitter of the Week
- RF Curtis Granderson (9-for-28, 1 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Matt Harvey (W, 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K)
6. Los Angeles Angels (59-51, Previous: 8)
25 of 30
Last Week: 4-2
The Los Angeles Angels were mired in a 1-9 rough patch heading into last week, but they were able to turn things around with series wins over the Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles.
While the Shane Victorino (12 AB, .167 BA, .397 OPS) and David DeJesus (27 AB .074 BA, .212 OPS) acquisitions have not provided much so far, David Murphy is coming off of a strong performance last week, and he may be the answer in left field going forward.
On the mound, Jered Weaver returned to action on Sunday with his first start since June 20, allowing four hits and two runs in five innings.
With C.J. Wilson likely out for the year and the team somewhat thin in starting pitching depth, getting Weaver rounded into form would be big.
Hitter of the Week
- LF David Murphy (7-for-26, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 2 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Matt Shoemaker (ND, 6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 K)
5. Chicago Cubs (62-48, Previous: 12)
26 of 30
Last Week: 5-1
A few weeks back, the Chicago Cubs hit their worst rough patch of the year with a 2-5 week against the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies, putting them at a crossroads in their push back toward contention.
They've responded better than anyone could have hoped, going 11-2 in their last 13 games.
That included a four-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants over the weekend that gives them a 3.5-game lead for the second NL wild-card spot.
Jon Lester may be the big name, and he's pitched much better of late. But there is little question Jake Arrieta is the best pitcher on the Cubs right now. He's gone 7-1 with a 1.23 ERA and 0.80 WHIP in his last 10 starts.
Hitter of the Week
- LF Kyle Schwarber (7-for-19, 2 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 8 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Jake Arrieta (2 W, 14.2 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 5 BB, 11 K)
4. Toronto Blue Jays (61-52, Previous: 7)
27 of 30
Last Week: 7-0
Remember how everyone kept saying how scary the Toronto Blue Jays would be if they had some pitching to back their juggernaut of an offense?
Yeah, they're pretty scary.
Since acquiring David Price at the deadline, the team has an MLB-best 1.87 ERA here in August. Pair that with 5.22 runs per game from the offense during the same span, and Toronto looks borderline unstoppable.
There were some who wondered if they could catch the New York Yankees in the AL East, even with a vastly improved roster. Nine days into August and a three-game sweep of the Yankees later, the Blue Jays trail them by just 1.5 games in the standings.
Look out, Kansas City Royals. You may not be top dogs among the American League teams for much longer.
Hitter of the Week
- 3B Josh Donaldson (10-for-26, 2 2B, 5 HR, 8 RBI, 9 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP David Price (2 W, 15.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 18 K)
3. Kansas City Royals (66-44, Previous: 2)
28 of 30
Last Week: 4-1
Even after trading away three key players and essentially packing it in on the 2015 season, the Detroit Tigers are still a thorn in the Kansas City Royals' side, as they took two of three from the division leaders last week.
That said, the Royals currently boast the biggest division lead in baseball at 11.5 games over the Minnesota Twins and 12.5 games over the aforementioned Tigers.
Eric Hosmer has been on fire since the All-Star break, hitting .404/.459/.607 with 16 RBI in 24 games, while Mike Moustakas (.189 BA, .617 OPS) has gone in the other direction.
Starting pitching is still the big question mark, as Jeremy Guthrie and Yordano Ventura continue to struggle to string together quality starts.
Hitter of the Week
- DH Kendrys Morales (9-for-23, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Edinson Volquez (W, 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K)
2. Pittsburgh Pirates (65-44, Previous: 3)
29 of 30
Last Week: 4-1
Even with a rough performance from their usually steady starting rotation last week, the Pittsburgh Pirates still managed to walk away with a two-game split with the Chicago Cubs and a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The starters combined to go 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA last week, with only Gerrit Cole turning in a quality start.
However, the bullpen managed to pick them up with Antonio Bastardo (two wins), Joe Blanton (one win), Arquimedes Caminero (one win), Joakim Soria and Tony Watson combining for 16.2 scoreless innings.
Offensively, Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer are both on the mend and set to begin rehab assignments, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune-Review. Their return, coupled with the additions of Aramis Ramirez and Michael Morse, should give the team plenty of depth down the stretch.
Hitter of the Week
- CF Andrew McCutchen (9-for-16, 2 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 7 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Gerrit Cole (ND, 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 K)
1. St. Louis Cardinals (71-40, Previous: 1)
30 of 30
Last Week: 4-2
What can you say that hasn't already been said at this point?
The 2015 St. Louis Cardinals have been the class of the league for much of the year, and they aren't showing any signs of slowing down, as they are on pace to win 104 games.
Matt Carpenter has found his power stroke and already set a new career high with 17 long balls, and for a team lacking a prototypical slugger, that's not an insignificant development this year.
Randal Grichuk (14 HR) and Jhonny Peralta (16 HR) also have a shot at reaching 20 home runs, and if they do so, it would be the first time since 2012 the Cardinals had three players reach that mark.
Meanwhile, the pitching staff still ranks first by a wide margin with a 2.60 ERA, putting it in historically great territory if it can keep it up.
Hitter of the Week
- 3B Matt Carpenter (8-for-23, 3 2B, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 7 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Jaime Garcia (W, 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 5 K)
All standard and advanced stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted. Hitter and pitcher of the week stats reflect games played from Monday, Aug. 3, through Sunday, Aug. 9.
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