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MLB Power Rankings: Ranking the 2022 postseason field from worst to first

By Kevin Henry

Jul 31, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners left fielder Jesse Winker (27) hits a two-run home run against the Houston Astros in the eighth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 31, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners left fielder Jesse Winker (27) hits a two-run home run against the Houston Astros in the eighth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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MLB Power Rankings
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 05: Kevin Gausman #34 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards during game one of a double header on September 05, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /

10. Tampa Bay Rays

If the Tampa Bay Rays have to hit the road in the Wild Card round (as they currently would as the American League’s fifth seed, matched up against AL East rival Toronto), that could be a problem. The Rays are the only postseason-bound team to have a losing road record (33-39) and Tampa Bay’s collective ERA is a run higher on the road (3.87) than it is at Tropicana Field (2.85).

9. Toronto Blue Jays

After going just 13-14 in August, Toronto has turned things around in September, winning 13 of their first 18 games in the month. It’s their best month so far since April but, in between those months, the Blue Jays are a 56-51 team. Which squad will show up in the Wild Card round and, after a season that started with so many expectations, can the Blue Jays take the Wild Card, then go through the Houston Astros in the next round?

8. Seattle Mariners

If the Mariners can’t make up the difference on the Blue Jays or Rays, Seattle will likely have to win the Wild Card in Cleveland, then shake the curse of the New York Yankees, the franchise that knocked them out of their last two postseason appearances in 2000 and 2001. The good news for Mariners fans? Seattle is 6-1 against Cleveland this season (including a three-game sweep in Cleveland in early September) and 4-2 against the Yankees.

7. Cleveland Guardians

Only three MLB teams had won eight of their last 10 games entering Monday’s action — the Houston Astros, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Cleveland Guardians. The surprise story of the season in the American League, the Guardians are doing a lot of things right heading into October, including winning without needing a lot of power to make it happen. Heading into Monday, only one MLB team had hit fewer than Cleveland’s 116 home runs this season (the Detroit Tigers with 93).

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