MLB Power Rankings: Labor Day weekend of 2017

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The MLB Power Rankings of all 30 ball clubs still finds no change at the top of each league as the season’s final full month begins.

For a third consecutive month, the Los Angeles Dodgers sit at the top of the MLB Power Rankings. The Dodgers hold an 11.5-game lead on their nearest pursuers in all of baseball.

Following games of Friday, September 1, the Dodgers’ ‘magic number’ is down to just 13 in order to clinch the NL West Division crown. It will be the franchise’s fifth division title in a row, their seventh in the last decade.

The Washington Nationals have established themselves as the second-best club in the National League. The Nats’ ‘magic number’ is now down to only 14 for their second straight NL East crown, their fourth in the past six seasons.

The defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs have now run off five straight wins to open up a 3.5-game lead in the NL Central. However, the Milwaukee Brewers have won three in a row and remain tough to shake for the Cubbies.

In the NL Wild Card race, what was once a two-horse race between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies has become a bit more interesting over the last month. The Brew Crew are now just 1.5 games back of the Rockies, with the Cardinals just four back.

DIVISION LEADERS SOLID IN JUNIOR CIRCUIT

Over in the American League, the Houston Astros continue to hold the best overall record. However, the Cleveland Indians have been on the warpath over the last month. The Tribe have now moved to within 2.5 of the Astros in the race for the league’s top overall mark. The Boston Red Sox are just four games out in that race.

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The Astros now lead by a dozen games in the AL West. Their ‘magic number’ is down to 17 entering Saturday’s action. The Indians have pulled away to an eight-game cushion in the AL Central. The Red Sox currently hold a 5.5-game lead over their historic rivals, the New York Yankees, in the AL East Division.

AL WILD WILD CARD RACE

Just as a month ago, the American League Wildcard race is the most exciting in baseball. There are currently eight teams within 3.5 games of one another in the battle for the two available playoff berths.

The Yankees sit on top of that race, with the Minnesota Twins holding the second berth into Saturday’s games. Both the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Angels are just 1.5 games behind the Twins. The Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers are just three games out, while the Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals are only 3.5 games off the pace.

12 OUT, 18 IN RACE FOR POSTSEASON POSITIONS

At this point, I’m prepared to rule a dozen teams out of the race for any type of postseason consideration. But the other 18 clubs are in for a dramatic final few weeks of the regular season. For 10 survivors of the six-month-long battle, the drama will continue into October.

With the Dodgers still planted at the top, let’s take a look at where each of the 30 teams of Major League Baseball rank as of this Labor Day Weekend in 2017.

Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images /

The Chicago White Sox have lost four straight games, and five of their last six. In the month of August, manager Rick Renteria‘s squad went just 11-18. They began the month at 11.5 games out in the AL Central race, and now following Friday night’s latest loss sit 25.5 games out.

The season has long been over on the South Side, but fans of the ChiSox became excited for the debut of baseball’s top prospect, infielder Yoan Moncada.

Moncada had a brief eight-game big league cameo with his former organization, the Boston Red Sox, a year ago. He was the key piece in a four-prospect package sent to Chicago for ace lefty Chris Sale at last year’s Winter Meetings.

Promoted on July 19, Moncada was immediately installed as the starting second baseman, and the future appeared underway at Guaranteed Rate Field.

SEASON ON HOLD

For now, that future is on hold. A week ago, Moncada was placed on the 10-day DL with what was described as a bone contusion of his right shin. Both the team and the player hope he can return in the coming week.

At the time of his injury, Moncada had just a .188/.328/.356 slash line with three homers, 11 RBI, 13 runs scored and one stolen base over 122 plate appearances with Chicago. However, since August 4, the 22-year-old native of Cuba had four multi-hit games, and was hitting better with a .246/.361/.426 slash mark.

“The results haven’t been as good as I expected,” said Moncada, per Gabe Salgado of The Sporting News. “Now I’m just trying to keep my focus on my learning process and to be prepared for next year.”

TEAMS RISING AND FALLING

A month ago, the Minnesota Twins appeared to be fading. Perhaps the most surprising 2017 contender of the season’s first half, the Twins had collapsed and fallen into this bottom 10 of the Power Ranking for the first time.

However, Minnesota has picked themselves up off the canvas, and lifted up the rankings once again. You won’t find them below, as Paul Molitor‘s charges have regained control of an AL Wild Card berth thanks to a fantastic 20-10 month of August.

For the first time this season, the Philadelphia Phillies are out of the rankings basement. However, they remain the worst club in the NL. The Phillies’ .381 winning percentage entering Saturday’s games remains the lowest in Major League Baseball.

SEPTEMBER 2017 MLB POWER RANKING: 30 – 21

30. Chicago White Sox

29. Philadelphia Phillies

28. San Francisco Giants

27. Oakland Athletics

26. Cincinnati Reds

25. Detroit Tigers

24. San Diego Padres

23. New York Mets

22. Atlanta Braves

21. Pittsburgh Pirates

The below tier of the Power Rankings includes two teams that are likely out of the race at this point in geographical and league opposites Toronto and Miami. However, every one of the other eight clubs remains a viable postseason contender at this point.

Following a pair of August trade deadline deals, the L.A. Angels may be the most interesting of these clubs. Halos GM Billy Eppler brought in a pair of dynamic veteran bats in second baseman Brandon Phillips and outfielder Justin Upton in waiver trades at the August 31 deadline.

Adding those two experienced hitters to a lineup that already included Mike Trout and Albert Pujols gives the Angels length and depth. It also gives skipper Mike Scioscia options in putting together matchups with his hitters and opposing pitchers.

O’s, TWINS REMAIN DANGEROUS

The tier also includes a powerful Orioles squad, with manager Buck Showalter‘s ability to manipulate his pitching staff as a possible September difference maker. And the Minnesota Twins are here, back in the playoff race thanks largely to Byron Buxton finally realizing his full potential.

Buxton suffered what initially seemed like a season-altering injury for the team and player this past week. However, what was feared to be a hamate turned out to be a simple bruise. He is expected back soon, possibly even this weekend.

SEPTEMBER 2017 MLB POWER RANKING: 20 – 11

20. Toronto Blue Jays

19. Miami Marlins

18. Seattle Mariners

17. Kansas City Royals

16. Texas Rangers

15. Saint Louis Cardinals

14. Tampa Bay Rays

13. Baltimore Orioles

12. Los Angeles Angels

11. Minnesota Twins

The top three teams in the MLB Power Rankings remain the same as a month ago, with the Nationals and Astros flip-flopping spots behind the front-running Dodgers.

The top seven teams on this list would be from where I see this year’s World Series contenders emerging. The hottest of the bunch are the Cleveland Indians. Terry Francona‘s Tribe went a scorching 19-9 during August to open what was a two-game lead in the AL Central up to an eight-game cushion entering Saturday.

The Colorado Rockies appear headed in the opposite direction over in the National League. Colorado went just 12-15 during August, and their grip on an NL Wild Card berth is now down to just two games in the loss column over the Milwaukee Brewers.

SNAKES SHOWING NASTY BITE

Besides the Indians, the club that may be making the loudest statement as a contender right now may be the Arizona Diamondbacks. The D-Backs slipped from fourth a month ago to fifth this time around, but that is only due to the Indians’ surge.

Arizona began the month of August cold, but the club has now run off eight straight wins. They swept the Dodgers this past week, letting L.A. know that despite the Dodgers’ great regular season, winning an October series will still be tough. With 10 victories in their last dozen contests, the Diamondbacks hold a comfy six-game lead on an NL Wild Card berth.

Next: Dodgers get Clayton Kershaw back

SEPTEMBER 2017 MLB POWER RANKING: 10 – 1

10. New York Yankees

9. Milwaukee Brewers

8. Colorado Rockies

7. Chicago Cubs

6. Boston Red Sox

5. Arizona Diamondbacks

4. Cleveland Indians

3. Houston Astros

2. Washington Nationals

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

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