Easy Eight Baseball Power Rankings as of Aug. 29
Easy Eight Baseball Power Rankings as of Aug. 29
We’re heading to September and the last month of the baseball season. When you look at all six division leaders, none of them are on a winning streak of more than one game. Let's take a look at the top eight teams in the game as of Aug. 29.
(odds from Draft Kings)
1)Los Angeles Dodgers (79-54). WS Odds: +350
They have the biggest payroll and have won 16 of their last 24 games. The offense is healthy now, but the pitching staff is a mess. Tyler Glasnow (elbow) should be back shortly, but they are not sure about Yoshinobu Yamamoto (shoulder). Jack Flaherty is steady, but Clayton Kershaw takes steps forward and then took a huge step back against Tampa Bay on Aug. 24, allowing five runs in five innings with nine hits.
2)New York Yankees (78-56). WS Odds: +500
The Yankees have Aaron Judge and Juan Soto in their lineup, but if you can pitch around them, they are not as feared. They need a healthy Jazz Chisholm Jr. and it appears he’s getting back to 100%. The pitching is the major issue as Luis Gil (back) is now in the IL. Will Warren is not the answer in the rotation and with Clarke Schmidt and Cody Poteet also injured, trading for a starter is starting to wear on them.
3)Philadelphia Phillies (78-55). WS Odds: +600
It’s hard not to like the Phillies as a National League rep in the World Series. But they seem disinterested since the All-Star Break, going 16-21. The good news is that Ranger Suarez is returning from the injured list. Pitching hasn’t been that bad, but it’s been the hitters who are slumping. But with Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Alec Bohm, the sluggers will come back at some point.
4)Baltimore Orioles (77-57). WS Odds: +800
Despite all the injuries to their starting rotation (Kyle Bradish. Grayson Rodriguez, Zac Eflin), the Orioles are just one game behind the Yankees in the AL East. The bullpen seems to be getting back to being adequate with Seranthony Dominguez replacing the ineffective Craig Kimbrel as the starter. Other than 3B Ramon Urias and OF Anthony Santander, the rest of the lineup has been struggling in the second half.
5)Arizona Diamondbacks (76-57). WS Odds: +1800
Of all the top teams in the National League, Arizona has been playing the best baseball. Part of it is due to a rotation that is getting healthier. Now, they need to get Gabriel Moreno, Christian Walker and Ketel Marte back in the lineup Corbin Carroll appears to be out of a horrible slump and that’s another huge lift. I’d be looking to take Arizona at +800 to win the National League as we speak.
6)Milwaukee Brewers (76-56). WS Odds: +1400
Brice Turang is one of those anonymous stars who is getting close to 40 steals. He’s their best base stealer since Jonathan Villar put up 62 in 2016. The pitching, as always, is key in a shaky NL Central. They lack star power on offense and they rank just 20th in home runs. Getting Christian Yelich (.315, 11 HR, 42 RBI) back from injury would help. But pitching has been outstanding led by Colin Rea (12-4, 3.61) and Tobias Myers (6-5, 2.99).
7)Cleveland Guardians (76-58). WS Odds: +1500
The Guards have been awful as of late, losing nine of their last 13 games and falling to second in the AL Central beneath the Royals. They did get back to first place on Wednesday, but lost the first three games of their series to Kansas City. The main problem has been the rotation, who had ERAs over 4.81 in June, July, and now August. Getting Lane Thomas (.139 in August) before the trade deadline has turned into a disaster.
8)Kansas City Royals (75-59). WS Odds:+1800
I could go with San Diego here, but they seem to always let people down. Kansas City is young and they have Bobby Witt Jr. (.346, 28, 95, 27sb). The problem is that they have a very tough schedule, but they took care of Cleveland in three of four so why not KC to win the AL Central?
