MLB Power Rankings: Glee for the Braves, American horror story for the Yankees
By Tim Boyle
15) MLB Power Rankings: Chicago White Sox
In spite of Tony La Russa, the Chicago White Sox have hung around. If there’s one club many counted out that could have a strong finish and earn themselves a division title, it’s them.
As flawed as they are, the team does have Eloy Jimenez back and hitting which is huge for them. Health has been a problem for them throughout the year both on offense and for the pitching staff. If they can keep the IL as empty as possible and players like Lance Lynn and Lucas Giolito figure it out, Chicago can be one of the more dangerous teams in the postseason.
14) MLB Power Rankings: Minnesota Twins
It would be fair to drop the Minnesota Twins even further in the MLB Power Rankings this week. They’re not the same team they were even a few weeks ago despite a strong showing at the trade deadline.
Although they routinely found themselves as the weakest division leader in baseball, losing their lead in the division and even getting passed hurts them immensely. The problem could lie with the pitching staff that no longer looks ready to face the best teams. Minus a superior offense, we can expect a couple of dramatic weeks in September as they attempt to claw back to the top.
13) MLB Power Rankings: Milwaukee Brewers
What are they doing? The Milwaukee Brewers had a questionable trade deadline strategy that seems to have backfired in a big way. They’ve slipped out from the division lead and may now need to settle for a wild card spot. The problem with that is they will have to rely on too many other teams to crash.
Frankly, the Brewers never did seem quite ready to earn their playoff spot. The offense has been unspectacular. The pitching staff, which carried them to October last year, isn’t the same. The Brewers will need a nice late run but even then it might be a quick one-and-done series for them.
12) MLB Power Rankings: Tampa Bay Rays
Something about this year’s Tampa Bay Rays doesn’t seem right. While definitely still in the race for a wild card spot, the unorthodox strategy of winning games has had its ups and downs this year. Pitchers Shane McLanahan and Drew Rasmussen look solid but the bats rely too heavily on timely hitting.
Nothing about this year’s Rays squad feels destined for the World Series. They can be a pain to some clubs down the stretch and even into the postseason. But the best clubs have a bottle of pain relievers by the bedside to get them through any pesky, annoying side effects the Rays may cause.
11) MLB Power Rankings: San Diego Padres
If you’ve ever swung a baseball bat so hard you fell out of your shoes, you know how the San Diego Padres are feeling. They are a completely different team after the trade deadline with additions of Juan Soto, Josh Bell, Brandon Drury, and Josh Hader leading the way. The batters they landed haven’t been spectacular. The closer they added in a deal with the Brewers has been beyond bad.
Things aren’t looking so hot for the Padres right now. The Fernando Tatis Jr. suspension was something they could have overcome. Instead, it may have been an unneeded distraction. They should still be able to earn themselves a playoff spot but boy is there reason to doubt them.