MLB Power Rankings: Easy street for the Astros, a tough road for Phillies

2) MLB Power Rankings: Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers might have the best record in MLB, but they get the silver medal in the MLB Power Rankings as far as the playoffs are concerned. There’s a big reason for this. Due to the postseason seeding, the Dodgers could have themselves a more unfavorable matchup than if they were the number two seed.

This shouldn’t scare Los Angeles too much. They’ve proven they are a dominant ball club yet again in 2022. They hit. They pitch. From the start of the game until the very end, as long as Craig Kimbrel isn’t on the mound, things are pretty secure.

Despite the regular season success, they have shown a tendency to occasionally come up short of expectations. Last year it was the NLCS against the Braves that did them in. This year, with Freddie Freeman now on their side, odds swing slightly in their favor.

1) MLB Power Rankings: Houston Astros

Why are the Houston Astros No. 1? It’s their road to the World Series that seems to be the easiest. They locked up the bye without much issue. The only way they won’t win the American League Pennant is if they get caught napping on both sides of the ball.

The Yankees are definitely the biggest threat. However, the Astros always seem to take them down in the postseason and there’s nothing to suggest the pattern will be any different this October. It’s the Astros the Yankees need to climb over—not the other way around.

Houston will get to face the winner of the matchup between the top two wild cards to begin their postseason journey. The three American League wild card clubs are relatively evenly matched so there’s no reason for the Astros to get concerned over any possible outcome.