MLB Power Rankings: Mets keep on rolling, Twins looking limp
By Tim Boyle
15) MLB Power Rankings: Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are one hot streak they haven’t gotten all year away from being a playoff contender. They were expected to be do a whole lot more this season and finally appear prepared to maybe pull off a late stunner.
The American League wild card race is one of the best to watch in the final stretch of the season. The White Sox, with the pitching and hitting on paper to get it done, could make up for an otherwise underwhelming year by sneaking into the postseason and possibly taking a team out. With the division also within their grasp, there’s a lot to be excited about with this team.
14) MLB Power Rankings: Minnesota Twins
This year’s Minnesota Twins are an example of not putting out a fire you had control over. The American League Central should have been theirs. Instead, the Cleveland Guardians are right there with them and looking to cause some trouble, as are the White Sox.
The Twins should still be everyone’s top choice to win the division. However, with the way they’ve coughed up their lead, it wouldn’t be such a shock to see them slip into the realm a team like the White Sox have been in for most of the year.
13) MLB Power Rankings: Baltimore Orioles
Tell someone at the start of the season that it would be the middle of August and the Baltimore Orioles are within reach of a playoff spot. They would never believe you. They’d swear something went tragically wrong with at least 10 other teams.
That’s where we are. The Orioles sold at the trade deadline, and yet they remain in mild contention. It would be a fun story to see them actually earn a playoff berth. However, the likelihood remains somewhat distance. Maybe they’ll get cursed with a number 13 spot in this week’s MLB Power Rankings. Or, perhaps, they have an even better week ahead where they climb into the top dozen.
12) MLB Power Rankings: Cleveland Guardians
The Cleveland Guardians are winning baseball games even without much help from the front office. Benefactors of playing in baseball’s weakest division, it would be a nice story for them to make it to the playoffs — even if it means eliminating the Twins, another likable team to cheer for.
A strength of the Guardians is that they don’t have any major weaknesses. Aside from a lack of power, they’re mostly average or above it in every category you could think of. The starting pitching is good at the top, the bullpen has some nice arms, and the offense can score when needed. They’re not dangerous, but they also aren’t a doormat.
11) MLB Power Rankings: Milwaukee Brewers
We can’t fully bury the Milwaukee Brewers just yet, but if you peek into the MLB graveyard, there is already a ditch getting dug for them. They’ve been trending in the wrong direction for about two weeks or more now. Very little was done at the trade deadline to make them better.
The offense remains the biggest question mark for Milwaukee. They have some good home run hitters but lack balance. They’ve never felt like a postseason club. Pitching remains their strength, but with Corbin Burnes being the only starter having an extremely good year, it doesn’t feel like they have enough to compete alongside the best clubs.