MLB Power Rankings: Where All 10 Remaining Teams Stand Entering Postseason

With the 2015 MLB regular season officially wrapped up and the 10-team playoff field now set, this week's power rankings are going to be a little bit different than what you may be used to.

Looking at last week's performance is not necessarily the best indicator of which direction each of these teams is headed, as some of them clinched prior to last week and were resting guys and setting up their playoff rotation, while others were battling just to make it in.

As a result, the criteria for this week's rankings has changed and is more projection- and outlook-based than recent-performance based.

The following factors were taken into account this time around:

• Postseason Outlook: How a team is lining up for playoff success was the No. 1 factor in these rankings, so things like projected postseason rotation and overall team health played a much bigger role than normal.

• Wild Card Round Disadvantage: Having to play in a one-game, do-or-die situation is a clear disadvantage to the four teams that will be playing in the Wild Card Round. As a result, you'll see they occupy the No. 7-10 spots in the rankings. That doesn't mean those are the four worst teams of the 10 playoff participants, but the odds are stacked against them from the get-go.

• Final Month Performance: While last week's record may not be a good indicator, how a team has played in the past month (or in its last 30 games, in this case) can give a good idea of what direction it is trending.

Along with a postseason outlook for each team, a full breakdown of team leaders in notable stat categories was included for a quick overview of the top performers of 2015.

So here is a pre-postseason look at where this year's 10 playoff-bound teams stand as we get set for what should be another exciting October.

Note: Season leaders reflect players who had at least 400 plate appearances for BA and OPS or 100 innings pitched in the case of ERA and WHIP.

10. Houston Astros (86-76, No. 2 AL Wild Card)

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Dallas Keuchel

Last 30 Games: 13-17

Postseason Outlook

The Houston Astros made things interesting with an 11-16 month of September, but they managed to finish one game ahead of the Los Angeles Angels for the second AL wild-card spot.

They'll head to New York to take on the Yankees in Tuesday's AL Wild Card Game, where AL Cy Young candidate Dallas Keuchel will be taking the ball on just three days rest.

Keuchel owned the Yankees in his two starts against them this season, allowing just nine hits in 16 scoreless innings of work. This will be his first time pitching on three days rest, though, so this is uncharted territory.

The big question from a health standpoint is center fielder Carlos Gomez, who missed 14 games while battling an intercostal strain before returning Wednesday. He then sat the rest of the way, so his status for Tuesday is still unclear. 

Season Leaders

Category	Hitters	Total
BA	Jose Altuve	.313
OPS	Carlos Correa	.857
H	Jose Altuve	200
2B	Jose Altuve	40
HR	Evan Gattis	27
RBI	Evan Gattis	88
R	Jose Altuve	86
SB	Jose Altuve	38
WAR	Jose Altuve	4.5
Category	Pitchers	Total
W	Dallas Keuchel	20
SV	Luke Gregerson	31/36
HLD	Pat Neshek	28
ERA	Dallas Keuchel	2.48
WHIP	Dallas Keuchel	1.017
K	Dallas Keuchel	216
IP	Dallas Keuchel	232.0
WAR	Dallas Keuchel	7.2

9. New York Yankees (87-75, No. 1 AL Wild Card)

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Carlos Beltran

Last 30 Games: 13-17

Postseason Outlook

The New York Yankees were unable to catch the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East standings, but they will be hosting the Wild Card Game against the Houston Astros.

Masahiro Tanaka will get the start for the Yankees, despite battling a hamstring injury in September and then allowing five hits and four earned runs in five innings in his final start of the season on Wednesday.

The Yankees were 3-4 against the Astros during the regular season, with Tanaka getting touched up for seven hits and six earned runs in five innings in his lone start against them back on June 27.

If they are able to advance beyond the Wild Card Round, the Yankees will be counting on their veteran offense and the dangerous trio of Justin Wilson, Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller at the back of the bullpen to lead the way, as their starting rotation is shaky at best.

Season Leaders

Category	Hitters	Total
BA	Carlos Beltran	.276
OPS	Mark Teixeira	.906
H	Chase Headley	150
2B	Carlos Beltran	34
HR	Alex Rodriguez	33
RBI	Brian McCann	94
R	Brett Gardner	94
SB	Jacoby Ellsbury	21
WAR	Mark Teixeira	3.8
Category	Pitchers	Total
W	Nathan Eovaldi	14
SV	Andrew Miller	36/38
HLD	Justin Wilson/Dellin Betances	29
ERA	Adam Warren	3.29
WHIP	Masahiro Tanaka	0.994
K	Michael Pineda	156
IP	CC Sabathia	167.1
WAR	Dellin Betances	3.8

8. Pittsburgh Pirates (98-64, No. 1 NL Wild Card)

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Gerrit Cole

Last 30 Games: 19-11

Postseason Outlook

For the third straight season, the Pittsburgh Pirates find themselves hosting the NL Wild Card Game. They will be looking for a different result than last year, when they lost 8-0 behind a four-hit shutout from Madison Bumgarner.

The Pirates have been playing as well as anyone in the second half of the season, and with good depth in the lineup and a strong rotation anchored by Gerrit Cole and Francisco Liriano, they have the pieces to make a deep run in the playoffs.

However, they will first need to get past Jake Arrieta and the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night, and that will be no easy task considering Arrieta has been historically good in the second half and is 3-1 with an 0.75 ERA in five starts against the Pirates this year.

That said, the Pirates counter with Gerrit Cole, who is no slouch himself as one of the best young arms in the game. He too has had success in the head-to-head matchups this year, going 2-1 with a 2.13 ERA in four starts against the Cubs this year, and he is 7-1 with a 2.88 ERA in nine career starts against them.

Season Leaders

Category	Hitters	Total
BA	Francisco Cervelli	.295
OPS	Andrew McCutchen	.889
H	Starling Marte	166
2B	Andrew McCutchen	36
HR	Pedro Alvarez	27
RBI	Andrew McCutchen	96
R	Andrew McCutchen	91
SB	Starling Marte	30
WAR	Starling Marte	5.3
Category	Pitchers	Total
W	Gerrit Cole	19
SV	Mark Melancon	51/53
HLD	Tony Watson	41
ERA	Gerrit Cole	2.60
WHIP	Gerrit Cole	1.091
K	Francisco Liriano	205
IP	Gerrit Cole	208.0
WAR	Gerrit Cole	4.5

7. Chicago Cubs (97-65, No. 2 NL Wild Card)

Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Anthony Rizzo

Last 30 Games: 22-8

Postseason Outlook

What a difference a year can make, as the Chicago Cubs managed a staggering 24-win improvement over their 2014 finish to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

Jake Arrieta takes the ball in the do-or-die NL Wild Card Game, and no one has been better in the second half...ever.

In 15 starts since the All-Star break, he's gone 12-1 with an MLB-record 0.75 ERA, as opponents have hit just .148/.204/.205 against him.

If they can advance past that game, the Cubs will have some decisions to make about the playoff rotation behind Arrieta and Jon Lester. Kyle Hendricks and Dan Haren both pitched well down the stretch, while Jason Hammel was the clear No. 3 guy for much of the year before struggling late.

The Cubs may be the hottest team in all of baseball right now, but being forced to play in that one-game Wild Card Round still bumps them down the rankings since outlook for postseason success was the biggest factor in these rankings and anything can happen in that one game.

Season Leaders

Category	Hitters	Total
BA	Anthony Rizzo	.278
OPS	Anthony Rizzo	.899
H	Anthony Rizzo	163
2B	Anthony Rizzo	38
HR	Anthony Rizzo	31
RBI	Anthony Rizzo	101
R	Dexter Fowler	102
SB	Dexter Fowler	20
WAR	Anthony Rizzo	6.3
Category	Pitchers	Total
W	Jake Arrieta	22
SV	Hector Rondon	30/34
HLD	Pedro Strop	28
ERA	Jake Arrieta	1.77
WHIP	Jake Arrieta	0.865
K	Jake Arrieta	236
IP	Jake Arrieta	229.0
WAR	Jake Arrieta	8.6

6. Kansas City Royals (95-67, AL Central Champs)

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Lorenzo Cain

Last 30 Games: 14-16

Postseason Outlook

The Kansas City Royals may have wrapped up the best record in the American League with a five-game winning streak to close out the year, but they still have some significant question marks entering the playoffs.

Chief among them is the starting rotation, as Yordano Ventura and the hit-and-miss Johnny Cueto will front the staff with some combination of Edinson Volquez, Chris Young and Kris Medlen rounding things out.

The team is also without All-Star closer Greg Holland, who underwent Tommy John surgery on Friday. Replacing him in the ninth inning won't be hard with Wade Davis waiting in the wings, but being without one of the Royals' lights-out late-inning arms hurts the overall depth of what is still a plus bullpen.

Securing that No. 1 seed and building some momentum heading into the postseason made for a successful final week, as the team had endured a rough 7-14 stretch prior to its season-ending win streak.

Season Leaders

Category	Hitters	Total
BA	Lorenzo Cain	.307
OPS	Kendrys Morales	.847
H	Eric Hosmer	178
2B	Kendrys Morales	41
HR	Kendrys Morales/Mike Moustakas	22
RBI	Kendrys Morales	106
R	Lorenzo Cain	101
SB	Lorenzo Cain	28
WAR	Lorenzo Cain	7.2
Category	Pitchers	Total
W	Yordano Ventura/Edinson Volquez	13
SV	Greg Holland	32/37
HLD	Kelvin Herrera	21
ERA	Chris Young	3.06
WHIP	Chris Young	1.086
K	Yordano Ventura	156
IP	Edinson Volquez	200.1
WAR	Wade Davis	3.4

5. Los Angeles Dodgers (92-70, NL West Champs)

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Zack Greinke

Last 30 Games: 17-13

Postseason Outlook

The Los Angeles Dodgers wrapped up their third straight NL West title and sixth in the past 12 years, but they are still searching for their first trip to the World Series since 1988.

The one-two punch of Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw gives them a realistic chance of doing just that, but they will first have to contend with a New York Mets team that finished strong and has a better rotation top to bottom.

The Dodgers were 3-4 against the Mets in the regular season, though the two teams have not met since the end of July. Kershaw (1-0, 16.0 IP, 0.56 ERA) and Greinke (1-0, 14.0 IP, 1.29 ERA) were both dominant in two starts each.

The Dodgers also managed to secure home-field advantage in the Division Series with a four-game winning streak to close out the season, and that's significant when you consider they are 37-44 on the road this year.

Season Leaders

Category	Hitters	Total
BA	Howie Kendrick	.295
OPS	Justin Turner	.861
H	Adrian Gonzalez	157
2B	Adrian Gonzalez	33
HR	Adrian Gonzalez	28
RBI	Adrian Gonzalez	90
R	Adrian Gonzalez	76
SB	Jimmy Rollins	12
WAR	Adrian Gonzalez/Justin Turner	3.9
Category	Pitchers	Total
W	Zack Greinke	19
SV	Kenley Jansen	36/38
HLD	Juan Nicasio	14
ERA	Zack Greinke	1.66
WHIP	Zack Greinke	0.844
K	Clayton Kershaw	301
IP	Clayton Kershaw	232.2
WAR	Zack Greinke	9.3

4. Texas Rangers (88-74, AL West Champs)

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Prince Fielder

Last 30 Games: 18-12

Postseason Outlook

Behind a healthy starting rotation that added Cole Hamels to the mix at the deadline and a revitalized offense led by Shin-Soo Choo and Prince Fielder, the Texas Rangers were able to win the AL West title with a strong final month.

The team entered September down four games in the standings and wound up winning the division title by two over the Houston Astros, so the Rangers certainly closed out the year with some momentum, as Tim Healey of Sports on Earth noted:

"

"Momentum" in the postseason is a lot like home-field advantage: Maybe it means something. Maybe it doesn't. Either way, you'd rather have it than not. You'd rather be the Rangers, streaking into the postseason, than the Astros, trying to hold on to their spot.

"

In the Division Series, the Rangers will meet a Toronto Blue Jays team that bested them in two of three both times they met up during the regular season.

Healey goes on to list a potent offense, a strong road record and having a "proven playoff pitcher" in Hamels all as chips in the Rangers' favor as they look to continue their recent run of success with an ALDS surprise.

Season Leaders

Category	Hitters	Total
BA	Prince Fielder	.305
OPS	Prince Fielder	.841
H	Prince Fielder	187
2B	Elvis Andrus	34
HR	Prince Fielder/Mitch Moreland	23
RBI	Prince Fielder	98
R	Shin-Soo Choo	94
SB	Elvis Andrus/Delino DeShields	25
WAR	Adrian Beltre	5.8
Category	Pitchers	Total
W	Colby Lewis	17
SV	Shawn Tolleson	35/37
HLD	Keone Kela	22
ERA	Yovani Gallardo	3.42
WHIP	Colby Lewis	1.236
K	Colby Lewis	142
IP	Colby Lewis	204.2
WAR	Yovani Gallardo	4.1

3. New York Mets (90-72, NL East Champs)

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Jacob deGrom

Last 30 Games: 17-13

Postseason Outlook

The New York Mets were completely transformed by the deadline move to acquire Yoenis Cespedes, as they went 37-22 the rest of the way to run away with the NL East division title by seven games over the Washington Nationals.

They finished the season 1-5 in the final week, but with the division title already clinched, it's understandable that they would let up on the gas a bit down the stretch while they rest up ahead of their first postseason trip since 2006, so that's really nothing to worry about.

Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey are lined up to start the first three games of the Division Series match with the Los Angeles Dodgers, whom the Mets edged out 4-3 for the season series.

All three pitchers threw the ball well in their previous head-to-head meetings, with deGrom checking in as the best of the bunch with 7.2 scoreless innings of two-hit ball in his one start.

Season Leaders

Category	Hitters	Total
BA	Daniel Murphy	.281
OPS	Lucas Duda	.838
H	Curtis Granderson	150
2B	Daniel Murphy	38
HR	Lucas Duda	27
RBI	Lucas Duda/Daniel Murphy	73
R	Curtis Granderson	98
SB	Curtis Granderson	11
WAR	Curtis Granderson	5.1
Category	Pitchers	Total
W	Bartolo Colon/Jacob deGrom	14
SV	Jeurys Familia	43/48
HLD	Hansel Robles	12
ERA	Jacob deGrom	2.54
WHIP	Jacob deGrom	0.979
K	Jacob deGrom	205
IP	Bartolo Colon	194.2
WAR	Jacob deGrom	4.7

2. St. Louis Cardinals (100-62, NL Central Champs)

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Carpenter

Last 30 Games: 14-16

Postseason Outlook

The St. Louis Cardinals became the first team with 100 wins on Wednesday, before being swept by the Atlanta Braves in a weekend series that essentially amounted to a tuneup ahead of a Division Series matchup with either the Chicago Cubs or Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Cardinals have dealt with injuries all season, and losing Carlos Martinez for the year was just the latest big blow. That said, a postseason rotation of John Lackey, Michael Wacha, Jaime Garcia and Lance Lynn still gives them a great chance to win.

Adam Wainwright could wind up being the X-factor, as he joined the bullpen down the stretch and could wind up filling the right-handed setup role alongside Kevin Siegrist in bridging the gap to closer Trevor Rosenthal.

It bears watching how the postseason roster shakes out, as it appears nine guys (Brandon Moss, Matt Adams, Mark Reynolds, Randal Grichuk, Jon Jay, Tommy Pham, Peter Bourjos, Greg Garcia and Pete Kozma) will be battling for five spots.

Experience and depth are the two biggest chips the Cardinals have in their favor, and it's enough to still earn them the top spot among NL teams. That said, they'll have their hands full with whoever comes out of that NL Wild Card game.

Season Leaders

Category	Hitters	Total
BA	Jason Heyward	.293
OPS	Matt Carpenter	.871
H	Jason Heyward	160
2B	Matt Carpenter	44
HR	Matt Carpenter	28
RBI	Matt Carpenter	84
R	Matt Carpenter	101
SB	Jason Heyward	23
WAR	Jason Heyward	6.5
Category	Pitchers	Total
W	Michael Wacha	17
SV	Trevor Rosenthal	48/51
HLD	Kevin Siegrist	28
ERA	Jaime Garcia	2.43
WHIP	Jaime Garcia	1.049
K	Carlos Martinez	184
IP	John Lackey	218.0
WAR	John Lackey	5.6

1. Toronto Blue Jays (93-69, AL East Champs)

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Josh Donaldson

Last 30 Games: 18-12

Postseason Outlook

On July 29, the Toronto Blue Jays were a .500 team at 51-51 on the year.

From there, they proceeded to go 42-18 to close out the season, and while they missed out on the best record in the American League by two games to the Kansas City Royals, they enter the postseason as heavy favorites to win the AL pennant.

The addition of David Price and a healthy Marcus Stroman gives them a dangerous one-two punch to front the rotation, while Marco Estrada has been the team's best pitcher for much of the year, and workhorse R.A. Dickey is still a more than capable No. 4 guy.

The big story as it's been all season, though, is the juggernaut of an offense, and with Troy Tulowitzki back healthy, it becomes that much better.

Toronto scored 891 runs on the year (5.50 runs per game), which ended up being 127 more than the New York Yankees in second place (4.72 runs per game).

Season Leaders

Category	Hitters	Total
BA	Josh Donaldson	.297
OPS	Josh Donaldson	.939
H	Josh Donaldson	184
2B	Josh Donaldson	41
HR	Josh Donaldson	41
RBI	Josh Donaldson	123
R	Josh Donaldson	122
SB	Kevin Pillar	25
WAR	Josh Donaldson	8.8
Category	Pitchers	Total
W	Mark Buehrle	15
SV	Roberto Osuna	20/23
HLD	Aaron Sanchez	10
ERA	Marco Estrada	3.13
WHIP	Marco Estrada	1.044
K	Marco Estrada	131
IP	R.A. Dickey	214.1
WAR	Marco Estrada	3.6

All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, unless otherwise noted.