Fansided

MLB Power Rankings: Indians take over

By Joshua Sadlock

CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 12: Infielders Carlos Santana #41; Giovanny Urshela #39 Francisco Lindor #12 and Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Indians celebrate after the Indians defeated the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on September 12, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Tigers for their 20th straight win. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 12: Infielders Carlos Santana #41; Giovanny Urshela #39 Francisco Lindor #12 and Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Indians celebrate after the Indians defeated the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on September 12, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Tigers for their 20th straight win. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 13: Doug Fister #38 of the Boston Red Sox delivers during the first inning of a game against the Oakland Athletics on September 13, 2017 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 13: Doug Fister #38 of the Boston Red Sox delivers during the first inning of a game against the Oakland Athletics on September 13, 2017 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /
6

Boston Red Sox 83-63

Last week: 6-4
Last rank: 7

Left-hander David Price, who has missed most of this season with lingering elbow issues, is nearing a return and should be ready to contribute in the postseason. His role, however, remains up in the air. The Red Sox will have to consider using him out of the bullpen but will have to determine how much a 32-year-old pitcher with elbow issues can be pushed as a multi-inning reliever.

Doug Fister has made the Red Sox decision-making process easier with his 3.36 ERA in the second half. The tall right-hander has made quite a recovery — pitching in hitter-friendly Fenway Park, no less — and could bump 2016 AL Cy Young Rick Porcello from the playoff rotation. Porcello’s 17 losses are the most ever for a defending Cy Young.

5

Arizona Diamondbacks 85-62

Last week: 6-4
Last rank: 4

The Diamondbacks are a virtual lock to make the Wild Card Game, and will most likely enter as the favorite whether they play the Rockies, Cardinals or Brewers. They have one of the deepest lineups in the league and back it up with Zack Greinke, Robbie Ray and Zack Godley.

Arizona does have a glaring weakness in the ninth inning, where Fernando Rodney has been up and down all year long. His latest misadventure came last Saturday when he blew up and lost a 7-2 lead against the lowly Padres. Rodney will be the weakest closer in the playoffs, but Arizona can heap more responsibility on Archie Bradley.

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