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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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PHOENIX, AZ – AUGUST 31: Paul Goldschmidt #44 of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits a two run double in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field on August 31, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ – AUGUST 31: Paul Goldschmidt #44 of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits a two run double in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field on August 31, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /
6

Boston Red Sox 76-57

Last week: 5-5
Last rank: 4

The Red Sox have bounced back from an embarrassing four-game losing streak that featured a 13-6 beating at the hands of the Cleveland Indians and a three-game sweep against the Orioles where they were outscored 25-4. Sweeping the Blue Jays on the road doesn’t carry as much weight as it would have the past two years, but it’s still a nice momentum boost for the Red Sox heading into a four-game series at Yankee Stadium.

Winning this weekend’s series in the Bronx should cement the Red Sox as the AL East champs this year. They’re still a flawed team that will be counting on Rick Porcello and Drew Pomeranz a bit too much for my liking in the postseason.

5

Arizona Diamondbacks 75-58

Last week: 8-2
Last rank: 7

The Diamondbacks have shaken off a mini-skid in the early part of August to grab control of the Wild Card race in the National League. They now hold a commanding six-game lead for a playoff spot and have won six in a row heading into a key weekend series in Colorado with the Rockies.

With Bryce Harper set to miss a few more weeks of action, Paul Goldschmidt may be able to claim his first NL MVP. The first baseman is certainly deserving with his .318/.428/.604 line, 33 home runs, 107 RBI, 30 doubles and 17 stolen bases. He is this generation’s version of Jeff Bagwell — a true five-tool first baseman.

4

Houston Astros 79-53

Last week: 4-6
Last rank: 3

This is the lowest the Astros have been ranked in our MLB Power Rankings since the first month of the season, but their recent slide shows no signs of slowing. Houston is guaranteed a losing record for the month of August, their first losing month of the season.

It all comes back to the starting rotation for the Astros. Dallas Keuchel was dinged for six runs in six innings in his start Wednesday night and now has a 5.35 ERA in the second half after starting the year 9-0 with a 1.67 ERA. Lance McCullers is still on the DL with no real timetable for return.

The Astros finally saw enough of Keuchel’s struggles in the second half to pull off a blockbuster trade for Justin Verlander. Acquiring him took a big chunk of change, but after refusing to give up their top, top prospects for either Jose Quintana or Sonny Gray, the Astros had no choice. This trade should quiet the internal grumblings in the clubhouse that trickled out to the media after the trade deadline.

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