Easy Eight Baseball Power Rankings as of Sept. 16
Easy Eight Baseball Power Rankings as of Sept. 16
We’re now in September and the last month of the baseball season. Milwaukee is 10 games ahead of the Cubs in the NL Central. The Phillies are 9 games ahead of the Mets and Braves in the NL East. The American League is much closer and the wild card is close in each league considering there are three teams. Let's take a look at the top eight teams in the game as of Sept. 16.
(odds from Draft Kings)
1)Philadelphia Phillies (90-59). WS Odds: +500
The Phillies now have the best record in baseball. They are 21-9 in their last 30 games. They took two of three games against the Mets after sweeping Tampa Bay at home in three games. If Trae Turner can continue to remain hot through the playoffs, the Phils can get to the World Series.
2)Los Angeles Dodgers (88-61). WS Odds: +330
The Dodgers lost two of three at Atlanta and then two of three against the Cubs at home in their previous series. Injuries are catching up with starters Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw and Gavin Stone out to impact the rotation. The good news is that Glasnow (elbow) is not far away and Yoshinobu Yamamoto was dominant in four innings after missing nearly three months due to a shoulder injury.
3)New York Yankees (87-63). WS Odds: +450
The Bronx Bombers are now three games ahead of the Orioles for first place in the AL East. Aaron Judge is back after a long slump with a 445-home run in Sunday’s win over Boston and game-winning grand slam on Friday to help beat the Red Sox in two of three games. Rookie catch Austin Wells is quietly having a solid season with a 3.7 fWAR to lead all rookies . He’s hitting .247 with 13 homers and 50 RBIs. For the Yankees to get to the World Series, it’s more about starting pitching and the closer where it looks as though Luke Weaver has taken over for Clayton Holmes.
4)Milwaukee Brewers (86-63). WS Odds: +1600
The Brewers have one of the best young players in baseball who became the youngest (20) to ever record on 20-20 season. Milwaukee is the only team in baseball to rank in the top six in runs scored and runs allowed. A division title means their third in nearly 50 years. They have the defense, the pitching and hitting to go far.
5)Cleveland Guardians (86-64). WS Odds: +1000
Cleveland is on top in the AL Central by four games over the Royals and 6.5 over the Twins. They have the best closer in baseball in Emmanuel Clase, who is 4-2 with a 0.67 ERA and 44 saves in 46 chances. INF Jose Ramirez, who has 35 homers, can take this team deep in the playoffs, but will need help. Josh Naylor (.245, 29, 103) is the only other player with 20 or more homers.
6)Baltimore Orioles (84-66). WS Odds: +1000
The Orioles lost 2 of 3 games at Detroit without Tarik Skubal on the mound. The hitting has been invisible in the second half outside of Gunnar Henderson (.282, 37 HR, 87 RBI, 19 SB). Despite injuries to their starting rotation and bullpen (Grayson Rodriguez, Danny Coulombe), they are giving the team a chance to win. But since July 7, they are 27-33.
7)San Diego Padres (85-66). WS Odds: +1500
The Padres are unlucky to be in the tough NL West. They are now 35-16 in the second half. Fernando Tatis Jr. (.281, 18, 45) is doing great things on offense and defense. Luis Arraez (.322, 81 runs) gets on base and still has a .394 slugging percentage. Getting 52 saves from two closers in Robert Suarez and Tanner Scott is an impressive feat.
8)Houston Astros (81-68). WS Odds:+900
The Astros are up and down like a yo-yo. Now they are up after winning four straight games to go up 4.5 above Seattle in the AL West. Yordan Alvarez, at 27, is a power-hitting monster, who now has 34 homers. In his last 33 games, he has a 1.130 OPS and has hit 14 dingers in that span. They’ve won 24 of their last 37 games and own a 2.96 ERA during that run.
