MLB Power Rankings: Giants down in a hole, everything zen for Dodgers
By Tim Boyle
10) MLB Power Rankings: St. Louis Cardinals
Even if the St. Louis Cardinals aren’t able to pull off a blockbuster trade for Juan Soto, they should complete the trade deadline with some other strong deals. This is an organization that always seems to at least be in the conversation of the playoffs. They have two paths to get there. They can pass the Milwaukee Brewers in the standings or settle for a wild card spot.
If the playoffs began today, St. Louis would have just missed out a spot to Philadelphia. This year’s club has potential to go very far into October or get battered in the first round like their greatest foe in 2022, the Milwaukee Brewers. Remember how they got beaten up by the Braves in the 2021 postseason? The Cardinals look capable of doing that in 2022.
9) MLB Power Rankings: Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers look like a team that could lose their spot atop the division at any given week. It’s the Cardinals who would take it from them. So far, they’ve managed to fight them off and keep the far more coveted spot which would give them home-field advantage in the first round of the postseason.
Kings of the small-market clubs, Milwaukee needs a bit more from their bats to keep up with the most elite clubs. They do have the pitching to win a short series which is once again their strategy to capturing a playoff spot. Now all they need to do is not come up so small after 162 games.
8) MLB Power Rankings: Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are swinging hard on the field and should continue to make some nice additions before the MLB trade deadline passes. They were a favorite of many to even capture the American League East before the season began. While that might be too great of a challenge, they should definitely have enough firepower to make it to October.
The Blue Jays seem to be in on everyone ahead of the trade deadline. Good for them. They need the help. The philosophy in how they built their team is admirable. Next, they need to execute.
7) MLB Power Rankings: Seattle Mariners
Luis Castillo makes the Seattle Mariners a much better threat to eliminate a couple of those teams we thought were locked into a playoff spot. Their winning streak in July put them back into the postseason race which is wonderful news for a team the playoffs have been without since 2001.
Those without a dog in this year’s playoff race can find themselves rooting hard for the Mariners. Julio Rodriguez is one of the game’s rising stars. A wild card spot is all they can hope for. Maybe not quite in the same class as some of the best teams in the American League on paper, the way they were able to become relevant so late in the season shows how much heart they do possess.
6) MLB Power Rankings: San Diego Padres
There is only one way the San Diego Padres will win the championship and that’s if all goes well with their starting rotation. Built to outpitch anyone, their mission is to win a lot of 2-0 games in October.
The Padres will add a major bat before the MLB trade deadline passes. There is little doubt about it. The hole has stuck out for them all year. To take them seriously, they need a lineup that goes deeper than Manny Machado and whoever decide to show up around him.