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MLB Power Rankings: Twins and Orioles charging

By Joshua Sadlock

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 29: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with Jonathan Schoop #6 after hitting a home run in the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 29, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 29: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with Jonathan Schoop #6 after hitting a home run in the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 29, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 28: Jay Bruce #32 of the Cleveland Indians in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 28, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Indians defeated the Yankees 6-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 28: Jay Bruce #32 of the Cleveland Indians in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 28, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Indians defeated the Yankees 6-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Indians 76-56

Last week: 8-2
Last rank: 5

The Indians have sneakily been the hottest team in baseball over the past three weeks. Cleveland is 17-6 over their past 23 games, which is the best record in MLB. The Tribe has kept things rolling even with injuries to Andrew Miller, Lonnie Chisenhall, Jason Kipnis, Danny Salazar and Michael Brantley.

Assuming at least three of the group mentioned above get healthy for the playoffs, the Indians should be considered the favorites to come out of the American League. The addition of Jay Bruce looks like a genius move, Edwin Encarnacion is finding his power stroke with 10 homers in August, Francisco Lindor has become the first shortstop in Indians history with 25 home runs and Corey Kluber is still Corey Kluber.

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Washington Nationals 81-51

Last week: 7-3
Last rank: 2

The news that Bryce Harper may need a substantial amount of time to recover from the bone bruise on his knee isn’t ideal. The MVP candidate is running out of time to rehab his knee, begin running again and get his swing back. The injury to center fielder Adam Eaton may turn into a blessing in disguise because Michael A. Taylor and Brian Goodwin have received plenty of playing time this season and will be ready if Harper can’t go.

The Nationals do have some better news to enjoy this week — Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg are both back. Their one-two punch started two games of a three-game sweep of the Marlins and combined to go 16 innings with one earned run allowed and 18 strikeouts. Strasburg threw a complete-game shutout, which should quiet any concerns about his health.

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Los Angeles Dodgers 91-40

Last week: 4-6
Last rank: 1

A five-game losing streak for the Dodgers this year has been about as rare as Haley’s Comet. The current skid is their longest in over an entire calendar year. Does it point to some vulnerability in the postseason? Not in my mind.

The Dodgers will soon get Clayton Kershaw and Corey Seager back from injury. Clay Bellinger was just activated from the DL. A short losing streak at the end of August means nothing in the grand scheme of things, but it will make it that much harder for the Dodgers to match the 2001 Mariners for most wins in MLB history.

Next: One September callup we want for each team

Coming up short of the all-time wins record may actually be a good thing in the long run. The 2015-16 Golden State Warriors were locked in on going 73-9 and it became too much by the time the playoffs rolled around. Resting and getting all their ducks in a row for October is more important for the Dodgers than a record.

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