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MLB Power Rankings: The AL dominates the top of the rankings

ByBobMueller|
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 26: Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros celebrates in the clubhouse with Jose Altuve #27 after the Astros clinched the American League West division title after their MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on September 26, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 26: Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros celebrates in the clubhouse with Jose Altuve #27 after the Astros clinched the American League West division title after their MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on September 26, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
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MLB Power Rankings
BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 24: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox returns to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on September 24, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

MLB Power Rankings: Number 5 to Number 1

#5 Los Angeles Dodgers, 91-71, .562 (103-59 Expected Record)
+191 run-differential, 38-28, .576 since All-Star break

No team in baseball had a bigger negative difference between their expected record and their actual record. The Dodgers “should” have won 103 games based on their +191 run-differential. Had they done so, they would have coasted to the NL West title and the #1 seed in the playoffs. Instead, they need to win on Monday to avoid the one-and-done wild card game.

#4 Oakland Athletics, 97-65, .599 (96-66 Expected Record)
+139 run-differential, 42-23, .646 since All-Star break

Coming off a four-game losing streak that ended on June 15, the A’s won 12 of their next 14 games on their way to a 63-29 record over their final 92 games. That’s a .685 winning percentage, which would be 111 wins over a full season. That’s really cool and everything, but how about Khris Davis hitting .247 for the FOURTH SEASON IN A ROW?!

#3 New York Yankees, 100-62, .617 (100-62 Expected Record)
+182 run-differential, 38-29, .567 since All-Star break

In addition to winning 100 games for the first time since 2009, this year’s Yankees set the MLB record with 267 home runs this season. The old record was 264 by the 1997 Seattle Mariners. Twelve Yankees hit 10 or more dingers, which included six players who blasted 24 or more. Years from now, some curious Yankee fan will look back at this team and think, ‘Austin Romine hit 10 home runs one season?’

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#2 Boston Red Sox, 108-54, .667 (105-57 Expected Record)
+229 run-differential, 40-24, .625 since All-Star break

The Red Sox and Astros are the two best teams in baseball. Whether it should be Red Sox at number one and Astros at number two or vice-versa is a tough call. The Red Sox have more actual wins, but the Astros have a better run-differential and have been very slightly better in the second half. It’s a toss-up. One thing the Red Sox do have is the AL MVP, Mookie Betts.

#1 Houston Astros, 103-59, .636 (112-50 Expected Record)
+263 run-differential, 39-24, .619 since All-Star break

The Astros won 103 games, the most in franchise history, with a run-differential that pegs them as a 112-win team. They did this despite Jose Altuve and George Springer each having their worst seasons in the last three years and Carlos Correa only playing 110 games. The emergence of Alex Bregman was a big part of their success, as was the impressive pitching from Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole.

That’s our final MLB Power Rankings of the 2018 season. So who do you think we have too high going into the postseason? Too low? Comment below!

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