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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DENVER, COLORADO – SEPTEMBER 17: Rico Garcia #46 of the Colorado Rockies throws in the ninth inning against the New York Mets at Coors Field on September 17, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

20. Colorado Rockies, 66-87, last in the NL West (ranked 26th last week)

After a bad stretch of games where Colorado lost nine straight, the team has managed to go 6-4 over their last 10 games. The Rockies surprised the Cardinals and added another layer of confusion to the NL Wild Card by taking two of three from the NL Central division leader.

But beyond playoff spoiler, there isn’t much to watch for in these Rockies games. Their pitching is terrible right now, missing three of their top arms in the rotation, and the bullpen lacks any reliable arms to close games. The Rockies could benefit from moving one of their bats this offseason for some help on the mound in 2020.

19. Cincinnati Reds, 72-81, 4th in the NL Central (ranked 20th last week)

The Reds finally cooled off the Cubs’ hot bats on Tuesday night, sending the electric Sonny Gray to the mound, holding the Cubs to two runs and mowing down nine of their batters in 6.2 IP. Cincinnati’s pitching is for real and it’s a shame their offense hasn’t been able to consistently score all season otherwise they too could be involved in the tight NL Central race.

Part of that has to do with 3B Eugenio Suarez, with the low-profile Suarez posting 1.108 OPS with 27 HR and a 172 wRC+ in the second half of the season. A full season of the Reds pitching staff plus a full season of a healthy of former top prospect Nick Senzel alongside Suarez could make the Reds contenders in the NL Central next season.

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