MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers leaving little doubt, Giants aren’t so big

5) MLB Power Rankings: Atlanta Braves

Who gets the credit? Austin Riley? Dansby Swanson? Ronald Acuña Jr.? Whoever it is, the Atlanta Braves have looked like a different team over the last month and a half. They are one of MLB’s most powerful ball clubs from top to bottom.

The Braves aren’t without their warts. Their starting rotation is a little too shallow. They need a more reliable closer. They may even want to look to add another bat. They should, however, be able to easily snatch up one of the wild card berth if the National League East title falls out of their reach.

4) MLB Power Rankings: New York Mets

They can smell the Braves behind them. This doesn’t negate what the New York Mets have accomplished and continue to do this year. They are a serious World Series contender. Without making a single trade, they’ll get better, too.

The Mets should be an active team at the trade deadline. They have some minor tweaks to make on the roster with a power bat and a lefty reliever topping the list of needs. They should be concerned about Atlanta. However, with a lot of games versus the Braves, including a series at the start of this week, they can create their own destiny by beating them up.

3) MLB Power Rankings: Houston Astros

The Houston Astros have been how but two teams are better than they are on this week’s MLB Power Rankings. The American League West race is over already. Now, they just need to see if they can somehow capture the best record in the entire league.

Yordan Alvarez is a clear candidate for the American League MVP. This year’s race should be an epic one with Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge also right there with him. But Astros fans care about something else. The 2017 World Series has an asterisk next to it. This year, if they can win it, it will take a whole new scandal for anyone to label it as fraudulent. It won’t happen under Dusty Baker. If he can lead them, it’s going to be clean.

2) MLB Power Rankings: Los Angeles Dodgers

The best team in the National League isn’t a surprise. The Los Angeles Dodgers are leaving little doubt that they are the team to beat. They are better than the Mets and Braves. The Padres don’t scare them either.

The fact that Tony Gonsolin has had the season he has put together shows the magic this team can create. Their biggest weakness is at the closer spot with Craig Kimbrel. The Dodgers will be buying the best closer they can find. Much like the Astros, their lone recent championship comes with a caveat. The 60-game regular season in 2020 has made some take away a little bit of its legitimacy.

1) MLB Power Rankings: New York Yankees

Etch it in stone. The New York Yankees are still No. 1 in the MLB Power Rankings. The Dodgers and Astros are a little bit closer this week. But with more wins than anyone else and being able to do it in a division with four playoff contenders, they get extra consideration.

This isn’t the 1927 Yankees who bash their way to victory—although they do have some nice hitters. Instead, this year’s club needs to credit success from all five of their starters and the bullpen. This isn’t the kind of Yankees team we are familiar with. Nevertheless, it works. That’s what matters.