MLB Power Rankings: Astros overtake Yankees, Red Sox spiraling down

5) MLB Power Rankings: New York Mets

The New York Mets aren’t so mighty this week. Still one of the better clubs in baseball, the offense came out of the break limping. Jacob deGrom hasn’t come back yet either. Is this the sign of some bad things to come?

The Mets will have easier opponents than the Padres in the coming weeks so series victories should swing back around again. Feeling a little less powerful this week than they have for months, expect them to do more than add Daniel Vogelbach to the lineup part-time. They still hold the National League East lead, for now. However, the next team in our MLB Power Rankings is looking much stronger of late.

4) MLB Power Rankings: Atlanta Braves

Weren’t the Atlanta Braves in a World Series hangover? They need to market whatever they took to get out of it. The Braves are wide awake and as complete of a team as you may find in Major League Baseball right now.

Austin Riley is becoming a favorite for the MVP even if nobody outside of Atlanta is really talking about it. This is a dangerous lineup with a good pitching staff and room to add some pieces. There may not be one amazingly awesome strength. But having several ways to win is usually a better plan anyway.

3) MLB Power Rankings: New York Yankees

It’s the first time in a long time that the New York Yankees are not the number one team in the MLB Power Rankings. How can we keep them there? They were slowly slipping and their performance to begin the second half wasn’t worthy of a number one spot.

Some Yankees fans may be ready to freak out which isn’t right because the American League East should get handed to them on a silver platter. Nevertheless, the offense has stifled greatly outside of Aaron Judge and the occasional Matt Carpenter at-bat. The Yankees should remain a World Series favorite and a contender to add the best players they can in the next week.

2) MLB Power Rankings: Houston Astros

Winning their doubleheader against the Yankees to start the second half of 2022 automatically moved the Houston Astros in front of them. Unless they got swept by the Mariners after, Houston was going to be in front of New York.

The Astros are in the Yankees’ heads but more importantly making a serious push to take over the lead in the American League. They have been the one team the Yankees have been worried about all year taking the throne away. It has happened and we’re in for an exciting finish as these two scoreboard watch down the stretch. The number one seed matters.

1) MLB Power Rankings: Los Angeles Dodgers

While the Astros and Yankees are busy in the American League, the Los Angeles Dodgers are preparing to seal the National League’s top spot. It has been a nice run for the Dodgers to end the first half and to begin the second. How can they possibly be stopped? Their .681 winning percentage narrowly beats the Yankees’ .680 after Sunday’s action.

This year’s Dodgers team isn’t much different than the ones in the past. They have a little bit of everything. They should only get better at the trade deadline. Taking them down in the postseason is very possible and a feat many teams have accomplished. But with great incentive to become more than a near-dynasty team that won only a single championship after their 1988 victory, the organization and players won’t be resting anytime soon.