MLB Power Rankings: Wild Card races tightening

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BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 17: Jackie Bradley Jr. #19 celebrates with teammate Marco Hernandez #40 of the Boston Red Sox after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Fenway Park on September 17, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) /

14. Boston Red Sox, 79-72, 3rd in the AL East (ranked 12th last week)

The reigning World Series Champions have less than a 0.1 percent chance of making the playoffs, sitting nine games out of the AL Wild Card and a massive 19 games behind the Yankees in the AL East. It was also reported that David Price is likely done for the season,

The one glimmer of hope for the Red So is that their schedule ends with some easier series against the Rangers and Orioles to end the season, but it likely won’t matter. Expect changes to come in Boston.

13. New York Mets, 79-73, tied for 3rd in the NL East (ranked 16th last week)

After winning six of their last 10 games, the Mets are now tied with the Phillies for third in their division and both teams sit four games behind the Brewers and Cubs for the final Wild Card spot. A combination of excellent pitching from the Mets, who have a 3.34 ERA over the last week, and Pete Alonso mashing his league-high 48 home runs is fueling a late-season playoff push.

The Mets do have their work cut out for them, having to face the Reds with their strong group of starters and then finish the season playing Atlanta. There is a series with the Marlins sandwiched between those two and the Braves will have clinched the division by that point and may want to rest starters. Either way, the Mets need to keep winning for any of this to mean anything.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 17: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs is seen on the bench during a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on September 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The Reds defeated the Cubs 4-2. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

12. Chicago Cubs, 82-70, tied for 2nd in the NL Central (ranked 1th last week)

The Cubs saw their offense finally come alive this past weekend against a Pirates team that has waved the white flag on the 2019 season, but Chicago still scored 47 runs over a three-game series. The Cubs were on a five-game winning streak until Sonny Gray snapped off nine strikeouts and held them to two runs in a win Tuesday night.

But during the excitement this weekend, Anthony Rizzo sprained his right ankle on a play in the field Sunday afternoon and is now in a walking boot for at least the next week. Rizzo remains in high spirits but it seems very unlikely the Cubs captain will return before the season ends. And for the Cubs, the timing couldn’t be worse with two back-to-back weekend series against the Cardinals left on their schedule. They still are tied for the final Wild Card spot and Kris Bryant was just named NL Player of the Week, but without Rizzo and Javier Baez the Cubs are in trouble.

11. Milwaukee Brewers, 82-70, tied for 2nd in the NL Central (ranked 15th last week)

Winners of nine of their last 10 games, the Brewers have responded well to life without Christain Yelich at the moment. At the plate, Mike Moustakas has picked up the slack, hitting four HRs with a 1.149 OPS in the last week, but he’ll need more help if the Brewers want to not only make the playoffs but do something when they get there.

Milwaukee has also gotten some strong starts out of their rotation, particularly Zach Davies who’s been the team’s ace all season. But the bullpen has been somewhat shaky, locking down five saves but blowing two of their chances this week. The Brewers are winning despite everything being stacked against them, and while it’s a great story, this team doesn’t have the firepower to compete without Yelich.

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