MLB Power Rankings: An Updated Look at Where All 30 Teams Stand
With the calendar set to turn over to September, the stretch run of the 2015 MLB season has arrived, and it promises to be an exciting final month.
The Kansas City Royals are currently the only team with a division lead larger than 5.5 games, and 19 of the 30 teams around the league are currently within eight games of a playoff spot.
That being said, let's take an updated look at how all 30 clubs 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 (52-79, Previous: 28)
1 of 30
Last Week: 2-5
After series losses to the Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals last week, the Miami Marlins are now officially tied for last place in the NL East, a division many expected them to be in contention for this season.
A hand injury to star Giancarlo Stanton is among the many reasons the team has struggled this year, but he could return to the lineup as early as Friday, according to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com.
Despite the fact that he has not played since June 26, Stanton still ranks fifth in the National League with 27 home runs on the season.
Hitter of the Week
- 3B Martin Prado (9-for-27, 1 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 5 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Justin Nicolino (L, 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 1 K)
29. Cincinnati Reds (53-76, Previous: 29)
2 of 30
Last Week: 2-5
The Cincinnati Reds remain in the NL Central cellar after series losses to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers last week, and the youth movement continues in the process.
The current starting rotation is made up of pitchers who are 25 years old or younger, and more young arms are on the way when rosters expand in the form of guys like Brandon Finnegan, David Holmberg and others.
Meanwhile, Todd Frazier enters the week with 39 doubles and 30 home runs on the year. With one more double, he'll become just the fourth player in franchise history with a 40/30 season, joining Frank Robinson (1962), Dave Parker (1985) and Jay Bruce (2013).
Hitter of the Week
- 1B Joey Votto (7-for-18, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 4 R, 12 BB)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Anthony DeSclafani (L, 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K)
28. Atlanta Braves (54-76, Previous: 25)
3 of 30
Last Week: 1-5
The No. 28 spot is a new low for the Atlanta Braves this season as they capped off a rough overall week with a 20-6 drubbing at the hands of the New York Yankees.
At this point, it's a three-way battle for third place in the NL East, or perhaps more accurately, a battle to avoid the cellar. At 1-12 in their last 13 games, the smart money right now has to be on the Braves to finish at the bottom.
On the plus side, that should give the September call-ups and other young players on the roster plenty of opportunities over the final month of the season. That includes third baseman Hector Olivera, who was the prize of the Braves' deadline blockbuster with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Hitter of the Week
- 3B Adonis Garcia (10-for-26, 1 2B, 3 HR, 3 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Matt Wisler (L, 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K)
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27. Philadelphia Phillies (52-79, Previous: 27)
4 of 30
Last Week: 2-5
The Philadelphia Phillies have at last played a respectable brand of baseball of late, going 12-15 (.444) so far in August after a 40-64 (.385) start to the season.
With six games each against the New York Mets and Washington Nationals remaining on the schedule, the Phillies still have a chance to play spoiler. It's worth mentioning, though, that after a four-game sweep last week, they are now just 1-12 against the Mets this year.
The team will reportedly keep its September call-ups to a minimum, according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com, so don't expect top prospects like J.P. Crawford, Jake Thompson or Nick Williams to get the call.
Hitter of the Week
- C Cameron Rupp (5-for-15, 1 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Aaron Nola (W, 7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K)
26. Colorado Rockies (52-76, Previous: 30)
5 of 30
Last Week: 3-3
A series win over the Atlanta Braves is enough to pull the Colorado Rockies out of the No. 30 spot in these rankings, but they still have a long way to go if they hope to climb out of the NL West cellar.
The NL home run race could come down to a pair of Rockies sluggers, as Carlos Gonzalez is currently tied for the league lead with 31 long balls, and Nolan Arenado is right behind him with 30. Arenado also trails Paul Goldschmidt (96 RBI) by just three RBI for the league lead in that category.
On the mound, the team has an MLB-worst 45 quality starts on the year, which accounts for just over 35 percent of its games played.
Hitter of the Week
- LF Brandon Barnes (6-for-14, 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Jorge De La Rosa (W, L, 13.0 IP, 13 H, 5 ER, 5 BB, 10 K)
25. Milwaukee Brewers (55-75, Previous: 26)
6 of 30
Last Week: 2-3
The Milwaukee Brewers managed to take two of three from the Cincinnati Reds over the weekend, and they now hold a 1.5-game lead over them for fourth place in the NL Central standings.
The Brewers have been using a four-man rotation but will need a fifth starter for this coming Saturday's game. Keep an eye on prospect and potential September call-up Zach Davies to fill that spot down the stretch.
Milwaukee acquired Davis, a Futures Game participant this year, from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Gerardo Parra. The 22-year-old has one of the best changeups in all of the minors, and he's gone 6-8 with a 3.30 ERA, 1.356 WHIP and 102 strikeouts in 128.1 innings in Triple-A this year.
Hitter of the Week
- C Jonathan Lucroy (9-for-18, 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 6 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Taylor Jungmann (W, 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K)
24. Detroit Tigers (60-70, Previous: 19)
7 of 30
Last Week: 1-6
The slide continues for a Detroit Tigers team that won't be continuing what was a streak of four consecutive AL Central division titles.
They are now just 1-9 in their last 10 games and 16-26 since the All-Star break after wrapping up the first half with a .500 record at 44-44. On the plus side, Justin Verlander has again looked like an ace of late, posting a 1.50 ERA, 0.833 WHIP and 9.0 K/9 in five starts this month.
Falling out of contention should mean plenty of playing time for guys like Buck Farmer, Matt Boyd, Tyler Collins and other young players down the stretch as the team assesses the roster ahead of what figures to be an important offseason.
Hitter of the Week
- RF J.D. Martinez (8-for-24, 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Justin Verlander (W, 9.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K)
23. Oakland Athletics (57-74, Previous: 24)
8 of 30
Last Week: 3-3
Little has gone right for the Oakland Athletics this season after a dramatic offseason roster overhaul, but there is plenty of reason for optimism looking to the future.
Sonny Gray is a bona fide ace, while young players like Brett Lawrie, Billy Burns, Mark Canha, Chris Bassitt and Aaron Brooks have all performed well of late. Plenty more young talent is on the way too, as the Double-A and Triple-A rosters are loaded with top prospects.
Despite being a non-contender, the A's may have pulled off the best move of the August waiver trade window when they claimed Danny Valencia. He's hit .295/.349/.538 with four doubles and five home runs in 19 games with Oakland, and he comes with two more years of team control.
Hitter of the Week
- C Stephen Vogt (9-for-23, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 5 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Aaron Brooks (ND, 6.0 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K)
22. Chicago White Sox (61-68, Previous: 21)
9 of 30
Last Week: 3-4
A seven-game winning streak leading up to the trade deadline convinced the Chicago White Sox not to sell, but they've gone just 12-18 in 30 games since.
Chris Sale gets most of the attention on the mound, and rightfully so, but highly regarded rookie Carlos Rodon has also flipped the switch of late. He's working on four consecutive quality starts, going 2-1 with a 1.61 ERA and walking just 11 hitters in 28 innings of work.
"I would like to see him keep going," manager Robin Ventura told David Just of the Chicago Sun-Times about the possibility of an innings limit. "As far as his first year and how he's getting through it, it's been great. His progression has been fine, too."
Hitter of the Week
- LF Melky Cabrera (12-for-30, 3 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Chris Sale (ND, 7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K)
21. Seattle Mariners (61-70, Previous: 23)
10 of 30
Last Week: 4-3
The Seattle Mariners picked up a series win over the Oakland Athletics before splitting a four-game set with the Chicago White Sox. Their postseason hopes continue to dwindle by the day, as they sit eight games out of the second wild-card spot.
Despite the fact that center fielder Austin Jackson cleared waivers and is a free agent at season's end, it appears Seattle will be unable to move him before the Aug. 31 deadline. He did generate some interest, according to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports, but the $1.7 million left on his contract may have been a sticking point.
There may not be any top prospects getting the call in September, but the continued development of Ketel Marte will be worth keeping an eye on. The 21-year-old is hitting .289/.355/.381 with seven doubles in 97 at-bats since taking over as the everyday shortstop and leadoff hitter.
Hitter of the Week
- 3B Kyle Seager (9-for-30, 1 2B, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Felix Hernandez (W, 8.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K)
20. Boston Red Sox (60-70, Previous: 22)
11 of 30
Last Week: 4-2
It's going to be a busy offseason for new Boston Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, but for the time being, the team will look to finish strong, and it looked good last week with series wins against the Chicago White Sox and New York Mets.
Joe Kelly, who struggled to the point of being demoted to the minors in June, has quietly gone 6-0 with a 2.68 ERA in six August starts. He's the first Red Sox starter since Pedro Martinez in 1999 to win six games in a month, according to NESN.
"In my view, if we can figure out how to turn Joe Kelly into a No. 2 or 3 starter with all those great tools he has, it might look very good a few years from now," Red Sox senior baseball analyst Tom Tippett said in reference to last year's blockbuster trade that sent John Lackey to the St. Louis Cardinals (via Alex Speier of the Boston Globe).
Hitter of the Week
- CF Mookie Betts (8-for-28, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 5 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Joe Kelly (2 W, 14.2 IP, 10 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K)
19. Baltimore Orioles (63-67, Previous: 17)
12 of 30
Last Week: 1-6
The Baltimore Orioles capped off a four-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics on Aug. 17 and pulled into the second AL wild-card spot with a half-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels.
However, they've gone just 2-11 in their last 13 games, and as a result, they are now 5.5 games back in the wild-card standings with five teams to pass if they hope to claw back into that No. 2 spot.
A lack of consistency from the starting rotation has been the biggest issue all season, as it ranks 24th in the league with a 4.42 starters' ERA. With their best starter in Wei-Yin Chen (8-6, 3.17 ERA) headed for free agency, the Orioles will have some work to do in that department this coming offseason.
Hitter of the Week
- 1B Steve Pearce (5-for-22, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Wei-Yin Chen (W, 6.2 IP, 10 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K)
18. San Diego Padres (63-67, Previous: 16)
13 of 30
Last Week: 2-4
A five-game winning streak two weeks ago had the San Diego Padres within one game of the .500 mark, but they've gone 2-5 since and dropped a pair of series to the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies.
The farm system was undoubtedly depleted by the Padres' offseason wheelings and dealings, but there is still some quality talent in the organization, and one player to keep an eye on for a September call-up is outfielder Rymer Liriano.
The 24-year-old was once ranked as high as the No. 49 prospect in the league by Baseball America prior to the 2012 season. He's hit .281/.374/.429 with 28 doubles, 11 home runs and 17 stolen bases for Triple-A El Paso this season, and he should see plenty of playing time in the final month.
Hitter of the Week
- 2B Jedd Gyorko (6-for-21, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Ian Kennedy (L, 6.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 7 K)
17. Arizona Diamondbacks (63-67, Previous: 15)
14 of 30
Last Week: 1-6
It was a tough week for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who had been slowly climbing toward a winning record with a strong second half before being swept in four games by the St. Louis Cardinals and then dropping a series to the Oakland Athletics.
The bulk of their September call-ups figure to be on the pitching side of things, but the player to watch will be infielder Brandon Drury.
He's hit .305/.346/.415 with 40 doubles and five home runs between Double-A and Triple-A this season, on the heels of an .872 OPS and 23 home runs in 2014. The 23-year-old has a real chance of unseating Chris Owings for the starting second-base job next season, and he could get a long look down the stretch.
Hitter of the Week
- LF David Peralta (11-for-25, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Patrick Corbin (ND, 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K)
16. Los Angeles Angels (65-65, Previous: 18)
15 of 30
Last Week: 2-4
It's been a rough month of August to say the least for the Los Angeles Angels, as the team holds a 10-18 record with a minus-66 run differential and has scored just 2.89 runs per game.
That complete lack of offense comes after the Angels led all of baseball with 4.77 runs per game last year with largely the same group of players, minus Howie Kendrick.
After losing only 64 games all of last season on its way to the best record in the American League, the team officially tallied loss No. 65 on Sunday when the Cleveland Indians finished off a three-game sweep. As it stands, the Angels are now third in the AL West standings and 3.5 games back for the second wild card.
Hitter of the Week
- SS Erick Aybar (7-for-22, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 3 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Matt Shoemaker (W, 7.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K)
15. Tampa Bay Rays (64-66, Previous: 14)
16 of 30
Last Week: 2-4
The Tampa Bay Rays welcomed the top two teams in the AL Central to Tropicana Field last week in the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals, and they only managed to squeak out one win against each team.
That leaves them 4.5 games back for the second wild card and set to begin a nine-game road trip, though it's worth pointing out that they are one of five teams with a better record away from home this season at 31-31.
A .261/.295/.420 line is easy to overlook, but Kevin Kiermaier deserves far more attention than he's received this season on the strength of his glove work alone. His 33 defensive runs saved and 41.6 UZR/150 both lead all of baseball, regardless of position, according to FanGraphs.
Hitter of the Week
- CF Kevin Kiermaier (10-for-22, 1 3B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Chris Archer (L, 6.0 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 12 K)
14. Cleveland Indians (63-66, Previous: 20)
17 of 30
Last Week: 5-1
At 8-2 in their last 10 games, the Cleveland Indians are finally stringing together wins—as many expected them to. But is it too little, too late?
They currently sit three games under .500, but in the wide-open race for the second wild card, they are just five games behind the Texas Rangers with four teams to pass.
A tough three-game series in Toronto awaits them to begin this coming week, but after that, their schedule is relatively favorable. They have seven games each against the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals, but they will have 18 of their final 30 overall at home.
Hitter of the Week
- LF Michael Brantley (11-for-22, 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 8 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Trevor Bauer (W, 8.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K)
13. Minnesota Twins (67-63, Previous: 13)
18 of 30
Last Week: 4-2
Despite a struggling rotation, the Minnesota Twins kept pace in the hunt for a playoff spot last week, and they remain 1.5 games back for the second wild card.
That leaves them with a tough decision to make about 21-year-old Jose Berrios, who has gone 12-5 with a 2.96 ERA, 1.069 WHIP and 165 strikeouts in 155.1 innings this year. That already represents a career high in innings for one of the top pitching prospects in the league, so they may not want to push him, but he'd also be an immediate spark for a staff that desperately needs one.
Phil Mackey of 1500ESPN.com offered up his opinion on what looks like the biggest September call-up decision in the league:
"If they don't call him up - citing, say, an innings limit, service time, which would never actually be talked about publicly, or the hardly-believable notion that Berrios simply isn't ready - the Twins will effectively be telling a pitching staff ranked bottom-five in almost every key measurable category that significant help isn't coming for the September stretch run.
If they do call Berrios up, the Twins will potentially forego five months of service time down the road. ...
... In this writer's opinion, the Twins should have pounced on a call-up weeks ago, when a previously-overachieving pitching staff was in the midst of a post-All-Star break nosedive, and when the service time gap wouldn't have been so wide.
"
Hear, hear, Phil.
Hitter of the Week
- SS Eduardo Escobar (8-for-21, 3 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 8 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Kyle Gibson (W, 5.2 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K)
12. Washington Nationals (66-63, Previous: 12)
19 of 30
Last Week: 4-2
It has been talked about often that the Washington Nationals have an incredibly favorable schedule down the stretch, and they've taken full advantage so far.
Since being swept by the San Francisco Giants on Aug. 16, the team has faced four straight non-contenders and has four series victories to its credit, pulling to within 5.5 games of the New York Mets and eight games of the second NL wild card in the process.
A three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals awaits them to begin this coming week, but after that the Nationals' only remaining games against a contender are two series with the New York Mets. That's 24 games against sub-.500 teams and a golden opportunity for an underachieving team to salvage its season.
Hitter of the Week
- SS Ian Desmond (8-for-20, 1 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Joe Ross (W, 6.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K)
11. San Francisco Giants (69-61, Previous: 10)
20 of 30
Last Week: 3-3
The San Francisco Giants made up some ground in the wild-card standings last week, thanks in part to taking two of three from the team they're chasing in the Chicago Cubs, but they remain 5.5 games back with the Washington Nationals just 2.5 games behind them.
The starting rotation outside of Madison Bumgarner remains hit-and-miss, and a rough return from the minors by Chris Heston (3.2 IP, 9 H, 5 ER) was not a promising sign.
After dealing with injuries to the pitching staff during the first half of the season, it's the lineup that has been hit hard of late, with Joe Panik, Angel Pagan and Hunter Pence all currently on the disabled list.
Props to the front office for being proactive and acquiring Marlon Byrd on waivers, and he's been huge so far, going 10-for-36 with three doubles, three home runs and 14 RBI in nine games.
Hitter of the Week
- LF Marlon Byrd (7-for-22, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Madison Bumgarner (W, 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 12 K)
10. Houston Astros (72-59, Previous: 7)
21 of 30
Last Week: 3-3
With the offensively challenged Los Angeles Angles in a free fall, it's now the Texas Rangers whom the Houston Astros will need to hold off if they hope to put a bow on their surprise season with an AL West division title.
The lead currently stands at three games, and they will have a good chance to extend that this coming week with home series against the Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins (who are 27-38 on the road this year).
Injured outfielder George Springer officially began a rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday, and while there is still no clear-cut timetable for him to return from a fractured wrist, he's certainly a major X-factor in the stretch run.
Hitter of the Week
- DH Evan Gattis (7-for-22, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Scott Feldman (ND, 8.0 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K)
9. Texas Rangers (68-61, Previous: 9)
22 of 30
Last Week: 4-2
A 21-5 loss to the New York Yankees on July 28 looked like the end for the Texas Rangers.
At that point, they were 7-14 in the month of July and 47-52 overall, which left them eight games back in the AL West and five games back with six teams to pass for the second wild-card spot.
Since then, they've gone 21-9 to pull within three games of the Houston Astros for the AL West lead, and they currently hold a 1.5-game lead for the second wild-card slot.
In just his fourth start of the season and third start back after missing over four months with a shoulder injury, Derek Holland threw an absolute gem Sunday when he allowed just three hits while striking out 11 in a complete-game shutout.
Hitter of the Week
- LF Delino DeShields Jr. (10-for-23, 2 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 5 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Derek Holland (W, ND, 15.0 IP, 10 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 14 K)
8. New York Yankees (72-57, Previous: 8)
23 of 30
Last Week: 4-2
When the Toronto Blue Jays rattled off an 11-game winning streak coming out of a busy trade deadline, it looked like they would simply blow past the New York Yankees for the AL East title, but the Yankees have refused to roll over.
After a three-game sweep of the Atlanta Braves over the weekend, they are just 1.5 games behind the Blue Jays in the division, and they have the benefit of a four-game cushion for the No. 1 wild-card spot.
The team was ridiculed for not adding another starting pitcher at the trade deadline, but an improved Nathan Eovaldi and the emergence of rookie Luis Severino (5 GS, 2-2, 2.17 ERA) have actually turned the rotation into a strength.
It's the offense that has struggled, but perhaps its 20-run, 21-hit outburst Sunday can be a jumping-off point for the rest of the season.
Hitter of the Week
- SS Didi Gregorius (10-for-22, 1 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Luis Severino (W, 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K)
7. Chicago Cubs (74-55, Previous: 4)
24 of 30
Last Week: 3-4
A rough week for the Chicago Cubs ended in epic fashion when Jake Arrieta twirled the sixth no-hitter of the season on Sunday Night Baseball.
With his latest gem, Arrieta is now 6-0 with a 0.43 ERA, 0.685 WHIP and a .130 opponent batting average in six August starts. That brings him to 17-6 with a 2.11 ERA and 190 strikeouts in 183 innings on the year, as he looks poised to make a serious run at Zack Greinke for NL Cy Young honors.
The big story this coming week will be the return of Javier Baez, who is expected to be among the first wave of Chicago's September call-ups. Since returning from a broken finger, he's hit .333/.383/.518 with five home runs and 32 RBI in 33 games for Triple-A Iowa.
Hitter of the Week
- 3B Kris Bryant (7-for-27, 1 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Jake Arrieta (2 W, 15.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 20 K)
6. Los Angeles Dodgers (72-57, Previous: 11)
25 of 30
Last Week: 5-1
An 0-5 week two weeks ago slid the Los Angeles Dodgers out of the top 10 in these rankings, but they shoot back up to the No. 6 spot after sweeping the Cincinnati Reds and taking two of three from the Chicago Cubs.
For as much star power as there is on the roster, serious questions remain about the back of the starting rotation and the bullpen.
Alex Wood threw the ball well Sunday, but he's been hit-and-miss, and Mat Latos (4 GS, 0-2, 6.05 ERA) has been terrible. Meanwhile, the pen ranks 23rd in the league with a 4.04 ERA.
Fast-rising right-hander Jharel Cotton (92.2 IP, 2.14 ERA, 10.9 K/9) is a name to watch for among the September call-ups, as he could make a serious impact in the late innings.
Hitter of the Week
- UT Kike Hernandez (8-for-19, 1 2B, 3 RBI)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Zack Greinke (W, 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K)
5. New York Mets (72-58, Previous: 6)
26 of 30
Last Week: 5-2
It's been a good month for the New York Mets, as they've gone 19-8 with a plus-59 run differential and seized the NL East lead in the process after ending July trailing the Washington Nationals by two games.
The offense that looked like a major concern for much of the season has been on fire, averaging 6.11 runs per game, and that's a scary proposition for the rest of the league when it's backed by the starting rotation.
Questions remain about just how far New York will push Matt Harvey (160.0 IP) and Noah Syndergaard (152.0 IP), but the team has given no clear indication that either will be shut down, and the return of Steven Matz and a six-man rotation should help.
Hitter of the Week
- LF Michael Cuddyer (11-for-19, 3 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Matt Harvey (ND, 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K)
4. Toronto Blue Jays (74-56, Previous: 5)
27 of 30
Last Week: 5-1
Just when opposing pitchers find a way to at least keep Josh Donaldson and Jose Bautista under control for a week, Edwin Encarnacion explodes for six home runs and 17 RBI in his last six games.
And so it goes with the juggernaut that is the Toronto Blue Jays offense.
The bigger story, or at least the bigger surprise, has been how well the team has performed on the mound this month, as it ranks third in all of baseball with a 2.82 ERA here in August.
The potential return of Marcus Stroman in a bullpen/spot-starter role in September is just one more weapon for a team that certainly appears to have all the pieces to be a legitimate title contender.
Hitter of the Week
- 1B Edwin Encarnacion (9-for-23, 2 2B, 6 HR, 17 RBI, 7 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Drew Hutchison (W, 7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K)
3. Kansas City Royals (80-50, Previous: 3)
28 of 30
Last Week: 5-2
The Kansas City Royals just keep rolling. They wrapped up the month of August at 19-9 and with just one series loss when they dropped two of three to the Detroit Tigers from Aug. 4-6.
After averaging a solid 4.61 runs per game in August, the offense could be even better down the stretch, as the team is set to welcome back Alex Gordon, who has been sidelined since July 8 with a groin strain.
According to Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star, Gordon could rejoin the team as early as Tuesday when rosters expand. He was hitting .279/.394/.457 and playing his usual terrific defense at the time of the injury.
That will likely mean Ben Zobrist moves to second base and Omar Infante is bumped to a utility role, which is an undeniable upgrade.
Hitter of the Week
- 3B Mike Moustakas (11-for-26, 4 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 3 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP Yordano Ventura (W, 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 11 K)
2. Pittsburgh Pirates (79-50, Previous: 2)
29 of 30
Last Week: 5-2
Since July 10, the first of what would be three straight wins for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the St. Louis Cardinals heading into the All-Star break, the Pirates actually have a better record than the reigning NL Central champs.
During that span, the Pirates have gone an NL-best 29-15, but the Cardinals have refused to give up any ground at 28-16 over the same 44-game stretch.
Those two teams meet this coming weekend in St. Louis for what promises to be a fantastic three-game series, which wraps up on Sunday Night Baseball with Gerrit Cole facing off against John Lackey.
The Pirates will be one of the more interesting teams to watch when it comes to September call-ups, as they have a number of high-profile prospects (Tyler Glasnow, Alen Hanson, Josh Bell) currently playing in Triple-A.
Hitter of the Week
- CF Andrew McCutchen (12-for-26, 3 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP J.A. Happ (2 W, 11.2 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K)
1. St. Louis Cardinals (84-46, Previous: 1)
30 of 30
Last Week: 6-1
The St. Louis Cardinals finally managed to gain a game in the standings on the Pittsburgh Pirates last week, as they swept a four-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks before taking two of three from the San Francisco Giants over the weekend.
Despite having the best record in baseball and being on pace to win 105 games, the Cardinals' lead over the Pirates stands at just 4.5 games, and that Pirates team isn't going anywhere.
This week begins a huge nine-game homestand for the Cardinals, as they are set to welcome the Washington Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs to Busch Stadium.
With an MLB-best 46-19 record at home, they will have a chance to really flex their muscles as the top team in the National League and put some distance between themselves and the field for the best record in the league.
At the same time, a stumble could really close the gap in the NL Central race and make things interesting down the stretch when they have three games each against the Pirates and Cubs on the road.
Hitter of the Week
- LF Stephen Piscotty (10-for-24, 2 2B, 1 3B, 5 RBI, 4 R)
Pitcher of the Week
- SP John Lackey (W, 7.0 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K)
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted. Hitter and pitcher of the week stats reflect the week from Monday, Aug. 24 to Sunday, Aug. 30.
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