MLB Power Rankings 2024: Dodgers Claim Top Spot, Cubs and Tigers Surge into September
MLB Power Rankings 2024: Dodgers Claim Top Spot, Cubs and Tigers Surge into September0 of 12
Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images
Welcome, everyone, to September. It’s just another month for most of us, yet teams in Major League Baseball know it as the final push of the regular season.
And even at this point in the 2024 campaign, certainties are in short supply.
Two division titlesâsideways glance at the American League East and American League Centralâare still up for grabs, and the wild-card races in both leagues are far from settled.
Indeed, the Chicago Cubs seem determined to crash the party in the National League. And while they aren’t facing any immediate threats from below, the Minnesota Twins are having trouble keeping a firm grip on the third wild-card spot in the American League.
There’s drama aplenty in the awards races as well. Zack Wheeler is charging hard for the NL Cy Young Award, while a sudden cool spell on the part of Aaron Judge amounts to an opening for Bobby Witt Jr. in the AL MVP race.
Without further delay, let’s get into all this and much more with the latest iteration of B/R’s MLB Power Rankings.
Nos. 30-21: The ‘Thanks for Playing’ Tier1 of 12
Dylan CrewsMitchell Layton/Getty Images
30. Chicago White Sox (31-107)
29. Miami Marlins (51-86)
28. Colorado Rockies (51-87)
27. Los Angeles Angels (57-80)
26. Oakland Athletics (59-78)
25. Washington Nationals (61-76)
24. Cincinnati Reds (65-73)
23. Pittsburgh Pirates (63-73)
23. Texas Rangers (65-72)
21. Toronto Blue Jays (67-72)
With losses in 10 straight and in 40 out of their last 44 overall, the White Sox’s march to infamy continues unabated. It’ll take only 13 more defeats for them to join the 1962 New York Mets as the only modern teams to reach 120 losses.
The Marlins, Rockies and Angels at least played competitive baseball last week, going a combined 10-10. Zach Neto notched a 20-20 season for the Halos with his 20th home run on Wednesday, which also tied Jim Fregosi for the club’s single-season record by a shortstop.
Speaking of talented youngsters, the Nationals have already gotten six hits and two home runs from top prospect Dylan Crews. He and James Wood, who’s holding steady with a .783 OPS, are going to be a fun outfield duo for a long time.
It was a rough week for the Reds and Pirates, both of notably felt the wrath of superior NL Central foes. The Cubs got the Bucs for 41 runs in a three-game sweep, while the Reds followed a series loss to the Athleticsâfor whom Lawrence Butler continues to be tons of funâwith losses in three out of four to the Brewers. The Reds have now lost 12 out of 17.
Both the Rangers, who have won nine out of 13, and the Blue Jays, who have won seven out of 11, are threatening to finish disappointing seasons on high notes. The former’s spirits will be lifted even further if Jacob deGrom finishes his rehab in time to make his first MLB start since last April.
Nos. 20-16: The ‘Hanging in There’ Tier2 of 12
Julio RodrĂguez Alika Jenner/Getty Images
20. Tampa Bay Rays (67-69)
19. San Francisco Giants (68-70)
18. Boston Red Sox (70-67)
17. Seattle Mariners (69-68)
16. St. Louis Cardinals (69-68)
You have to hand it to the Rays for their stubbornness, as they’ve never been more than five games below .500 despite being outscored by 65 runs for the year. And let’s also hand it to Junior Caminero, who has six extra-base hits in his last nine games.
For their parts, the Giants and Cardinals are treading water. The former has lost 12 out of its last 19 games, while the latter is 13-16 since the calendar flipped to August even after splitting against the Padres and taking two out of three from the Yankees last week.
The Red Sox are also having a hard time. Though they technically split a four-game set with Toronto to start last week, they really lost three out of five if you count their loss in The Danny Jansen Game. They’re 17-24 in the second half, in which FanGraphs has dropped their odds of making the playoffs from 53.0 to 15.5 percent.
Sometimes firing the manager works. The Mariners are hoping to attest to that, and so far they’re 5-4 under Dan Wilson after going 64-64 under Scott Servais. Even better, Julio RodrĂguez is 7-for-14 with two homers in his last four games.
Nos. 15-11: The ‘We’re Still in This Thing’ Tier3 of 12
Pete Crow-ArmstrongJustin K. Aller/Getty Images
15. Detroit Tigers (70-68)
14. Chicago Cubs (71-66)
13. Minnesota Twins (74-62)
12. New York Mets (73-64)
11. Atlanta Braves (74-63)
The Tigers are making a move with 15 wins in their last 19 games. Tarik Skubal continues to be the runaway favorite for the AL Cy Young Award, while Spencer Torkelson has a .985 OPS since resurfacing in the majors on August 17.
Meanwhile in the NL East, the Mets and Braves are staging a fun battle for the NL’s third wild-card spot. New York enjoyed a 5-1 week that ended with an obligatory sweep of the White Sox, while Atlanta began the week with a sweep of its own in Minnesota. Just one game separates them in the wild-card standings.
Yet it’s only getting easier to envision the Cubs shooting right past both the Mets and the Braves. After winning six straight last week, they’ve now won 20 out of their last 28.
Maybe it’s the Taylor Swift candle. Or, maybe this is just what happens when a previously underperforming offense finds its stride. The Cubs have scored at least 14 runs in four of their last eight games. Only two other teams have topped 14 runs that many times all year.
Though they still lead Boston by 4.5 games for the AL’s third wild-card spot, the Twins are going in the opposite direction from the Cubs. They’ve dropped nine out of their last 13.
Nos. 10-94 of 12
Framber ValdezJack Gorman/Getty Images
10. Kansas City Royals (75-63)
Previous Rank: 9
Last Week: 3-1 vs. CLE, 0-4 vs. HOU
Being on the receiving end of that punch by the Astros was no fun for the Royals. Nor was losing Vinnie Pasquantino for at least six weeks with a broken thumb. Still, let’s not overlook that the Royals momentarily pulled into a tie for first place in the AL Central on Tuesday.
Given that they led the AL in scoring in August, it also shouldn’t be overlooked that the Royals are getting things going offensively. Even in hitting “only” .310 last month, Bobby Witt Jr. had his best power month by way of 10 home runs.
9. Houston Astros (75-62)
Previous Rank: 10
Last Week: 1-2 vs. PHI, 4-0 vs. KCR
The Astros were mired in a 2-6 stretch when they began their showdown with Kansas City. Landing that punch must have felt good, especially with the Mariners still lingering in the rear-view mirror at 5.0 games out of first in the AL West.
Otherwise, Houston’s early-season struggles on the mound are long gone by now. In 27 games dating back to August 4, Astros pitchers have a 2.38 ERA. Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown and Spencer Arrighetti all posted ERAs in the 1.00s in August.
Nos. 8-75 of 12
Manny MachadoKeith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
8. Cleveland Guardians (78-59)
Previous Rank: 7
Last Week: 1-3 vs. KCR, 2-1 vs. PIT
Even when the Guardians were destroying expectations earlier in the year, they weren’t doing so in a sustainable way. They’re now caught in the regression tractor beam, with losses in 17 out of 28 having cut their AL Central lead from 5.5 to 3.5 games.
Thank goodness for Jhonkensy Noel. He’s homered seven times in his last 17 appearances, and the Guardians were winners in five of the six games in which he cleared the fence.
7. San Diego Padres (78-61)
Previous Rank: 8
Last Week: 2-2 vs. STL, 2-1 vs. TBR
The Padres have cooled off since that supernova 19-3 run from July 20 to August 14. They’re just 9-8 in their last 17 games, putting them in a sort of stasis in the NL wild-card race.
August was nonetheless a great month for rookie center fielder Jackson Merrill, who hit .303 and homered five times in the eighth inning or later. Manny Machado is also locked in, batting .320 with 10 homers in his last 32 games overall.
Nos. 6-56 of 12
Luis Perdomo (L) and Corbin Carroll (R)Norm Hall/Getty Images
6. Arizona Diamondbacks (77-60)
Previous Rank: 5
Last Week: 1-2 vs. NYM, 1-2 vs. LAD
After slithering into last week on a six-game win streak, taking a series loss to the Mets and then losing two out of three to the Dodgers isn’t what the Diamondbacks had in mind.
Still, at least the Snakes kept the runs coming. They ended up leading MLB in scoring for August by a 15-run margin, with reigning Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll providing much of the juice with a 1.042 OPS and 11 home runs. He went into the month with only eight homers.
5. Baltimore Orioles (79-59)
Previous Rank: 4
Last Week: 1-2 vs. LAD, 2-1 vs. COL
If the Orioles can be grateful for anything right now, it’s that the Yankees aren’t running away and hiding with the AL East lead. There are worse places to be going into September than in second place with only a 0.5-game deficit.
All the same, following a 12-13 July with a 13-15 August makes for the bad kind of trend for the Orioles. And the wrong guys are cold right now, as Gunnar Henderson has a .430 OPS for his last 13 games and Corbin Burnes coughed up a 7.36 ERA in August.
Nos. 4-37 of 12
Gerrit ColeBrandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images
4. New York Yankees (79-58)
Previous Rank: 1
Last Week: 1-2 vs. WAS, 1-2 vs. STL
Though they climbed into the No. 1 spot in last week’s rankings, the Yankees are basically in water-treading mode right now. They’ve lost eight out of 14, and Aaron Judge didn’t even go deep once last week after going yard seven times the week before. Gasp!
As for the good news, even an L against the Nationals his last time out shouldn’t put too much of a damper on the run that reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole is on right now. The five starts he made in August yielded a 1.93 ERA.
3. Milwaukee Brewers (80-57)
Previous Rank: 6
Last Week: 2-1 vs. SFG, 3-1 vs. CIN
Losing Christian Yelich for the year ought to have been a major blow to the Brewers, but they’ve had other plans. Namely, winning 22 of the 36 games they’ve played since the 2018 NL MVP last suited up on July 23.
Willy Adames and William Contreras went all the way off in August, combining for a 1.013 OPS and 19 home runs. And while walks were an issue for the erstwhile NL Rookie of the Year, closer Devin Williams struck out 19 of the 46 batters he faced last month.
Nos 2-18 of 12
Zack WheelerNick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
2. Philadelphia Phillies (81-56)
Previous Rank: 3
Last Week: 2-1 vs. HOU, 3-1 vs. ATL
The Phillies spent two months in a funk, going 23-30 between June 12 and August 13. But they’re pulling out of it, as their latest strong week bumped them to an 12-6 record for their last 18 games.
Having to move Taijuan Walker to the bullpen was a bummer, but the rotation is in strong hands whenever Zack Wheeler or Aaron Nola takes the ball. And Wheeler in particular, as he’s hot off an August in which he had a 1.62 ERA over 39 innings.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (82-55)
Previous Rank: 2
Last Week: 2-1 vs. BAL, 2-1 vs. ARI
The Dodgers continue to be hit with bad injury news, as Clayton Kershaw is freshly on the IL with a bone spur in his toe and there’s suddenly doubt as to whether Tyler Glasnow will be able to return from elbow tendinitis before the end of the year.
And yet, the wins just keep coming. The Dodgers have won 19 out of their last 27, a span in which Shohei Ohtani has kicked his push for MLB’s first ever 50-50 season into overdrive. He’s at 44-43 and still counting on both fronts.
Complete Rankings9 of 12
Bobby Witt Jr.Jason Miller/Getty Images
Complete Rankings
Los Angeles Dodgers (+1 spot)Philadelphia Phillies (+1 spot)Milwaukee Brewers (+3 spots)New York Yankees (-3 spots)Baltimore Orioles (-1 spot)Arizona Diamondbacks (-1 spot)San Diego Padres (+1 spot)Cleveland Guardians (-1 spot)Houston Astros (+1 spot)Kansas City Royals (-1 spot)Atlanta Braves (+1 spot)New York Mets (+1 spot)Minnesota Twins (-2 spots)Chicago Cubs (+3 spots)Detroit Tigers (+5 spots)St. Louis CardinalsSeattle Mariners (-2 spots)Boston Red Sox (-4 spots)San Francisco Giants (-1 spot)Tampa Bay Rays (-1 spot)Toronto Blue Jays (+2 spots)Texas Rangers (+2 spots)Pittsburgh Pirates (-2 spots)Cincinnati Reds (-2 spots)Washington NationalsOakland AthleticsLos Angeles AngelsColorado RockiesMiami MarlinsChicago White SoxAL Award Rankings10 of 12
Aaron JudgeBrandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images
AL MVP
Aaron Judge, NYYBobby Witt Jr., KC
Juan Soto, NYY
Gunnar Henderson, BAL
JosĂ© RamĂrez, CLE
Yordan Alvarez, HOUJarren Duran, BOSVladimir Guerrero Jr., TORTarik Skubal, DETRafael Devers, BOSAL Cy Young
Tarik Skubal, DETLogan Gilbert, SEASeth Lugo, KCRCorbin Burnes, BALEmmanuel Clase, CLEAL Rookie of the Year
Colton Cowser, BALLuis Gil, NYYAustin Wells, NYYNL Award Rankings11 of 12
Paul SkenesJustin K. Aller/Getty Images
NL MVP
Shohei Ohtani, LADFrancisco Lindor, NYMElly De La Cruz, CINMarcell Ozuna, ATLKetel Marte, ARIBryce Harper, PHIWilliam Contreras, MILJackson Merrill, SDPFreddie Freeman, LADWilly Adames, MILNL Cy Young
Chris Sale, ATLZack Wheeler, PHIHunter Greene, CINDylan Cease, SDPPaul Skenes, PITNL Rookie of the Year
Paul Skenes, PITJackson Merrill, SDPJackson Chourio, MILWhat to Watch for This Week12 of 12
Nico Hoerner (L) and Ian Happ (R)Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images
Key Series for the 1st Half of the Week
Cleveland Guardians at Kansas City RoyalsBoston Red Sox at New York MetsSt. Louis Cardinals at Milwaukee BrewersArizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco GiantsKey Series for the 2nd Half of the Week
New York Yankees at Chicago CubsArizona Diamondbacks at Houston AstrosMinnesota Twins at Kansas City RoyalsCleveland Guardians at Los Angeles Dodgers
