Fansided

MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers skidding, but still number one

By Joshua Sadlock

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 07: Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers holds his head in this hand shortly after leaving the game in the fourth inning during the MLB game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on September 7, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 07: Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers holds his head in this hand shortly after leaving the game in the fourth inning during the MLB game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on September 7, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 15
Next
SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 2: Manuel Margot #7 of the San Diego Padres plays during a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at PETCO Park on September 2, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 2: Manuel Margot #7 of the San Diego Padres plays during a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at PETCO Park on September 2, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /
26

San Diego Padres 63-78

Last week: 6-4
Last rank: 25

Manuel Margot won’t get a ton of votes for NL Rookie of the Year with Cody Bellinger running away with the award, but he has had an impressive first full season in the big leagues regardless. In 106 games, the center fielder has a respectable .263/.310/.417 line with 13 home runs and 13 steals.

Margot has had a rocky start to the month of September, and the rigors of a full season may be catching up to him at this point. He has been nearly a full win above replacement better than franchise player Wil Myers. As Margot develops further as a hitter and becomes more disciplined at the plate, he will be an easy 20-20 player with plus defense.

25

Detroit Tigers 59-80

Last week: 3-7
Last rank: 24

The Tigers are finally getting totally serious about their rebuild, and were given a golden parachute on the final day of August with Justin Upton and Justin Verlander’s contracts taken off their hands. Upton likely would have opted out of the four remaining years on his initial deal in Detroit, but now he’s definitely off the books. The Tigers made the right call and chipped in extra money to get the best possible prospects back for their ace.

So ends one of the best stretches in Tigers franchise history. From 2006 to 2016, Detroit went to the World Series twice and lost in the ALCS twice. Ultimately, the core of Verlander, Miguel Cabrera, J.D. Martinez and Victor Martinez never won a World Series together, but they came close.

Home/MLB