MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers clinch, Yelich out for the season, Wild Card races getting tight

By Sean Sears | Sep 11, 2019

MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 10: Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers is checked out by the medical staff after an injury from ball deflection in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park on September 10, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 07: Jose Abreu #79 of the Chicago White Sox watches his three-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during the seventh inning at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 07, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images) /

22. Chicago White Sox, 64-80, 3rd in the AL Central (ranked 22nd last week)

SS Tim Anderson is the American League leader in batting average hitting .331 on the season, as he and 3B Yoan Moncada have silenced the doubters this season. And now that OF Eloy Jimenez is healthy, and smashing grand slams, the South-Side of Chicago is starting to create an identity with its young core.

Starter Lucas Giolito has pitched well enough to earn some Cy Young buzz this season, giving the White Sox a bonafide front-end starter to pair along with the recovering Michael Kopech and rookie Dylan Cease. And don’t forget about top prospect OF Luis Robert, who’s hit a combined 32 home runs with 16 of them coming since being called up to Triple-A on July 11th. The White Sox are loaded with talent, it’s just not here yet.

21. San Diego Padres, 67-77, 4th in the NL West (ranked 21st last week)

The Padres were eliminated from the postseason this week after losing five of their last 10 games, but that didn’t stop them from walking-off the Cubs at home Tuesday night. It’s easy to see the Padres making a quick transition from middling team to competing with the Dodgers in the NL West next season.

One of the biggest reasons the Padres are looking forward to 2020 is getting star SS Fernando Tatis JR. on the field for a full season. The 20-year-old rookie only played 84 games this season before a back issue forced him to the IL for the rest of the year. San Diego’s young rotation is coming together at the end of the season behind Joey Lucchesi, Chris Paddack, and Eric Lauer. If they were to add someone like Gerrit Cole to that mix, the Padres instantly become contenders in 2020.

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