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MLB Power Rankings: Cardinals and Angels climbing

By Joshua Sadlock

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 19: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim celebrates with third base coach Ron Roenicke #10 as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run in the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles during a game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 19, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 19: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim celebrates with third base coach Ron Roenicke #10 as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run in the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles during a game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 19, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – AUGUST 21: Curtis Granderson #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds second after hitting a grand slam in the seventh inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on August 21, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – AUGUST 21: Curtis Granderson #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds second after hitting a grand slam in the seventh inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on August 21, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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Washington Nationals 74-48

Last week: 7-3
Last rank: 3

The fact that Bryce Harper’s knee injury is not as severe as initially feared is a blessing to the game of baseball. Missing a few weeks with a hyperextended knee and bone bruise after slipping on a wet bag will cost Harper a chance at his second NL MVP, but he should be back in time to prepare for the playoffs. With their postseason berth already wrapped up, the Nationals must now be extremely careful about navigating the final six weeks of the regular season.

Stephen Strasburg’s return by the end of the week looms large for the Nationals moving forward. He must be healthy for Washington to have a realistic chance to upset the Los Angeles Dodgers on their way to the World Series. Gio Gonzalez has been surprisingly good this year, but the Nats need Strasburg to match up with Yu Darvish in a potential NLCS.

Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle have completely stabilized the Nationals bullpen since the trade deadline. Madson has yet to allow a run in nine games. It all comes back to manager Dusty Baker, however. He is decidedly Old School in a time when managers must get creative to make it work in the postseason. His continued insistence on batting Wilmer Difo second only speaks to his refusal to accept new-age baseball norms.

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Los Angeles Dodgers 88-35

Last week: 8-2
Last rank: 1

The Dodgers are more than 50 games over .500 and showing no signs of slowing down, so why aren’t they getting more national love? The Yankees will play on national television six times the rest of the season, while the Red Sox get five primetime games. Hell, the lowly Mets are on twice. East Coast bias aside, most of the country is missing out on a historic season in LA.

Los Angeles can win any type of game. Their pitching staff has allowed fewer than 400 runs on the season and Yu Darvish has struck out 20 in his first 12 innings with the Dodgers. Alex Wood’s dominant season continues, and Dave Roberts may want to begin thinking about giving him extra rest.

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To an extent, it’s easy enough to understand why the Dodgers are not getting a ton of national attention. There are few true household names in their starting lineup. Cody Bellinger is getting close to matching Aaron Judge’s power numbers in a month’s less worth of games. Perhaps you’re just turned off by their $261 million payroll. Whatever the case may be, the Dodgers are having a season for the ages.

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