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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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CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 27: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers looks on and points while wearing a special uniform and hat to celebrate Players Weekend during the game against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 27, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox defeated the Tigers 7-1. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 27: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers looks on and points while wearing a special uniform and hat to celebrate Players Weekend during the game against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 27, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox defeated the Tigers 7-1. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
24

Detroit Tigers 58-74

Last week: 5-5
Last rank: 23

Last Thursday’s brawl with the New York Yankees was a long time coming for a Tigers team that has been frustrated all year. Perhaps no one has been more frustrated than future Hall of Fame first baseman Miguel Cabrera. At 34, he is having the worst year of his 15-year career.

Cabrera has to be better than the side he showed last week in the fight. Allowing your emotions to boil over to that point is unacceptable for a veteran. The frustration is understandable, though, as Cabrera is locked into the Tigers until 2023 and may never get to play for a contender again in his prime. With the trade of Justin Verlander to Houston, the Tigers are now fully committed to their rebuild.

23

New York Mets 58-74

Last week: 4-6
Last rank: 22

In a season plagued with terrible injury news, the Mets got some of the worst yet last week. Captain David Wright has been forced to shut down his season as he attempts to keep his career going through spinal stenosis and shoulder impingement. Wright says he is not considering retirement in the face of another setback, but he has to be getting close.

Seeing an All-Star like Wright struggle to prolong his career in the face of such adversity is a difficult pill for any baseball fan to swallow. He has been a great face for the Mets and the sport in general since making his debut in 2004. Hopefully he can go out on his own terms, but Wright has only played 75 games over the past three years.

22

Toronto Blue Jays 61-72

Last week: 2-8
Last rank: 21

The Blue Jays are officially done as a playoff contender in 2017 as a four-game losing streak has plunged them 8.5 games off the pace for the final Wild Card. This will go as a lost year for a team that was a trendy pick by many analysts to finally make the leap to the World Series after two straight trips to the ALCS.

The Jays will have multiple issues to address this winter if they hope to right the ship in 2018. Figuring out why Aaron Sanchez was continuously plagued by blisters will be the number-one priority. Troy Tulowitzki may be forced to move off shortstop. Jose Bautista’s mutual option for next season will be the elephant in the room. Joey Bats has hit .150/.241/.323 in the second half and is in danger of falling below .200 for the year.

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