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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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WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 09: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the Miami Marlins stands out deck in the fifth inning during a game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on August 9, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 09: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the Miami Marlins stands out deck in the fifth inning during a game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on August 9, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
18

Miami Marlins 60-62

Last week: 7-3
Last rank: 22

Giancarlo Stanton’s pursuit of 62 home runs continues on. He is now up to 45 on the year but will need to homer roughly every other game for the rest of the year to top Roger Maris for the “clean” MLB record. That’s a tough task, but if anyone can do it, Stanton is it.

Marcell Ozuna was having an even better year than Stanton before his explosion in the second half. He is batting over .300 with an outside shot at 40 home runs and 120 RBI. Their epic seasons are being wasted because the Marlins have no starting pitching, but Jose Urena and Dan Straily have been turning in solid results. The Marlins are setting themselves up well to be a trendy sleeper pick before the 2018 season next year.

17

Texas Rangers 62-62

Last week: 7-3
Last rank: 19

The Rangers are refusing to go quietly this season, and are not all the way out of the race for the final AL Wild Card. Their surge after the trade deadline and the loss of Yu Darvish is reminiscent of the way the New York Yankees took off after trading Andrew Miller, Carlos Beltran and Aroldis Chapman last year. The talent is obviously still in place from a team that has been to the playoffs two years in a row.

With so many teams still left in the race for the final AL playoff spot, the Rangers will have a chance to control their own destiny in September with 10 games remaining against the Los Angels Angels. If they can win seven or eight of those games, their chances of sneaking into the playoffs are strong. There is a team that gets hot in September every year to eke out a playoff berth, and the Rangers could be that team in 2017.

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