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) /
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BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 04: Justin Smoak #14 high fives Jose Bautista #19 of the Toronto Blue Jays after hitting a solo home run in the ninth inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on September 4, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 04: Justin Smoak #14 high fives Jose Bautista #19 of the Toronto Blue Jays after hitting a solo home run in the ninth inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on September 4, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
22

Cincinnati Reds 61-80

Last week: 6-4
Last rank: 26

The Reds are looking to end the year on a positive note and have won six of nine games to start September. Over Labor Day weekend, the Reds swept a series from the playoff-contending Milwaukee Brewers. Take notes, that could be an interesting matchup to watch next year.

All-Stars Joey Votto and Zack Cozart get most of the attention when the Reds come to bat, Billy Hamilton and Jose Peraza are the stars on the bases and Raisel Iglesias is the shutdown reliever for the future. Third baseman Eugenio Suarez gets lost in the shuffle in Cincinnati, but he is a 26-year-old with 50 doubles and 45 home runs over the past two years.

21

Toronto Blue Jays 64-76

Last week: 3-7
Last rank: 22

Starting the year with World Series aspirations, this is obviously about as disappointing a year as possible for the Blue Jays. Toronto started the year with one of the oldest starting lineups in the league, and it shows. A thirty-year-old first baseman is the lone bright spot on a wasted season.

Justin Smoak entered 2017 with only one 20-homer season in the big leagues and a career slash line of .223/.308/.392 with 690 strikeouts. Smoak looked like a former top prospect who would never pan out at the MLB level. Out of nowhere, Smoak has a chance to go over 40 home runs. The Blue Jays have him for two more years for $10.1 million — quite a bargain now for a player who was a potential non-tender candidate in Spring Training.

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