MLB Power Rankings: Wild Card races tightening

By Sean Sears | Sep 19, 2019

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 14: Kris Bryant #17 of the Chicago Cubs is congratulated by Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubs following his two run home run during the fourth inning of a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field on September 14, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /

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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 17: Miguel Rojas #19 of the Miami Marlins hits a three run double in the sixth inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 17, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

28. Miami Marlins, 53-99, last in the NL East (ranked 28th last week)

The Marlins were losers in seven of their last 10 games, and while the season hasn’t gone the way they anticipated, CEO Derek Jeter and manager Don Mattingly have gotten a good look at plenty of young players. Starters Sandy Alcantara and Caleb Smith look like future pieces, Brian Anderson is a bat they can start to build off and a handful of top prospects were able to get some valuable plate appearances in the last few months of the season.

They also may have recuperated some trade value with middle infielder Starlin Castro, who was terrible in the 1st half of the season, has looked more like himself over the last two months. Since August 1, the 29-year-old Castro is hitting .308 with 11 home runs, 35 RBI, and a .907 OPS. Maybe it’s enough to package him in a deal otherwise the Marlins will likely pay the $1 million buyout than pick up his $16 million club option for 2020.

27. Kansas City Royals, 56-97, 4th in the AL Central (ranked 27th last week)

Designated hitter Jorge Soler is at 45 home runs on the season, just three behind Mets’ 1B Pete Alonso who leads the league with 48 long balls. But beyond Soler’s home run chase, the Royals haven’t got much more to play for this season, losing six of their last 10 games.

However, a core of Soler, Whit Merrifield, Adalberto Mondesi, Hunter Dozier and currently injured catcher Salvador Perez heading into next season is solid. But they’ll need their pitching to improve drastically to compete. Brad Keller should be fresh for 2020 after being shut down in late August, but Kansas City can’t rely on guys like Mike Montgomery and Danny Duffy to be their front-end starters next season.

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