MLB Power Rankings after the trade deadline

The slow decline of Jose Altuve and injuries to the likes of Alex Bregman have been tough to watch, but the Astros are once again headed towards the postseason. With Zack Greinke anchoring the rotation and Dusty Baker making enough moves to keep them in the hunt, Houston is just a few games behind Oakland. If they manage to get their stars back on the same page, the Astros might be able to compete for a title, even if they don’t have the aid of a trash can in the dugout.

The debut of Ian Anderson gave the much-mocked Atlanta rotation some new life, as the Braves might have one of the league’s best 1-2 punches between him and Max Fried. The lineup, now freed from the burden of having to carry this team entirely, can get back to mashing meatballs 400 feet or greater, as the likes of Ronald Acuna, Freddie Freeman and Marcell Ozuna are still as deadly as ever. If the rotation manages to hold on, Atlanta might be able to make an October run.

The Cubs have really taken to David Ross’ managerial style, as the former Cubbie catcher has his bunch at the very top of the NL Central. Even with the lineup struggling to all get in sync and a bullpen that still is anything but amazing, a staff led by Cy Young candidate Yu Darvish has the Cubs in prime position to make a run for the World Series. They should’ve been more active at the deadline.

The Padres were trading for anyone and everyone with a pulse this deadline, but made the biggest trade of the last few days by adding ostracized Indians starter Mike Clevinger. Pitching had been a weak spot for the Padres this year, and they picked up Clevinger while adding Austin Nola and Mitch Moreland to a lineup that already had Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado in it. After years of tentativeness and prospect accumulation, San Diego finally picked up a legit No. 1 starter that can accentuate their developing yet still deadly lineup.

The Indians are a textbook example of how to keep replenishing your farm system while competing. That depth means that even after the Clevinger trade, Francisco Lindor and the Tribe are very much in the World Series hunt. Losing Clevinger hurts, but getting several quality prospects and MLB-ready contributors back in return should help mitigate that loss. However, if the Indians start to lose games, their downward slide will almost assuredly be blamed on the Clevinger trade.