Call to the Pen’s MLB Power Rankings: Week 22
10. Detroit Tigers (66-56)
Last week’s ranking: 7
Last Week’s Record: 3-4
The Tigers helped repair some of the messes they made earlier in the past few weeks, but they still find themselves in some trouble. While the Motor City Bengals are only 1.5 games out of first place, a very tight AL Wild Card race could spell trouble for an inconsistent team.
9. St. Louis Cardinals (66-57)
Last week’s ranking: 10
Last Week’s Record: 4-3
I find it hard to believe that a contending team in mid-late August is holding a -8 run differential. The Cards have somehow made it work and are hanging on to 2nd place in the NL Central. For the perennial contenders, missing the playoffs isn’t acceptable and some huge adjustments to their hitting must be made for the final stretch.
8. Los Angeles Dodgers (70-56)
Last week’s ranking: 5
Last Week’s Record: 3-4
The week was worse than what the record indicates as the Dodgers closed this weekend being swept by the NL Central leading Brewers, who had just finished splitting a series with the last place Cubs. The Dodgers are sliding in a time that they’re not used to struggling in, putting the NL West in play once again.
7. Seattle Mariners (67-56)
Last week’s ranking: 9
Last Week’s Record: 5-1
Winning five of six and eight of ten, the Mariners are red-hot. They are also not a team that’s easy to face. With the M’s getting hot at the perfect time, a Wild Card game might be enough in Seattle, where one of the league’s most balanced rosters could thrive in one game.
6. Kansas City Royals (68-55)
Last week’s ranking: 3
Last Week’s Record: 5-2
The Royals took three of four from Oakland and now sit on top of the AL Central, albeit with tons of time left. The Royals still have to stay hot – or at least play very good baseball – in order to ensure a return to the postseason, their first in 29 years.
5. Oakland Athletics (73-51)
Last week’s ranking: 1
Last Week’s Record: 1-6
When ranking team’s each week, I find it hard to adjust when a team is playing much differently from their usual level of play. The A’s haven’t left the top two since I began writing power rankings, but after losing five straight and seven of ten, the A’s are truly in trouble. Oakland has a very inconsistent offense, something that is coming to hurt them recently, with tons of losses in games that would have easily been won before this slide. It’s not time for panic, but certainly time for concern.
4. Milwaukee Brewers (70-55)
Last week’s ranking: 8
Last Week’s Record: 5-2
I never thought the Brewers would hang on to their lead in the NL Central for this long, but that has been the case, and it’s making a trip to October more and more likely. Sweeping the Dodgers in the City of Angels is a huge momentum booster moving forward, and with a balanced, dynamic team, the Brew Crew can be dangerous.
3. Washington Nationals (69-53)
Last week’s ranking: 6
Last Week’s Record: 6-0
The Nats always looked to have the team that could be the NL’s best when healthy, and with Washington healthy right now, they look like the best in the Senior Circuit. An undefeated week and in great position to make their second postseason visit in three years, the Nats can use a strong boost heading into October, one that’s seeming to be taking place right now.
2. Baltimore Orioles (70-52)
Last week’s ranking: 2
Last Week’s Record: 3-2
Nothing incredibly special, but with seven games on the Yankees, the O’s are running away with the AL East. While they still need pitching help, the Baltimore bats can be dangerous down the stretch. A waiver trade should not be ruled out for the pursuit of a pitcher. Should they make any adjustments, the O’s can be potential AL Pennant favorites.
1. Los Angeles Angels (72-50)
Last week’s ranking: 5
Last Week’s Record: 4-1
With a .001 percentage point lead over the A’s, the Angels are now atop the AL West and atop the MLB as the best team in the league. With the recent surge of the Halos, the Angels and the A’s battle for the division may be one of the most intriguing in recent memory. And there’s a series this weekend in Oakland. It will be very interesting to see how each team responds and adjusts to their recent play.