There’s no change at the top from last week’s MLB Power Rankings to this week’s, but the results of last week have forced a little shakeup from the second spot on down.
1. New York Yankees (82-48)
Their midweek series loss to the Rangers was just their second series loss in the second half and their first home series loss since losing two of three to Washington in the middle of June. Just a minor blip though, as they swept the White Sox to improve to 31-11 since the All-Star break.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (78-53)
That’s a little more like it, Dodgers. On Wednesday morning, the Dodgers were just two games ahead of the Rockies. This morning, they’re six games ahead, thanks to getting back on track and getting a little help from the Giants. They’ve still got to worry about the Cardinals and Phillies when it comes to the NL’s best record though.
3. St. Louis Cardinals (77-55)
Great starting pitching has fueled the Cards’ push to snatch the NL’s best record from the Dodgers, and so has being able to get the job done in close games recently. St. Louis went 10-3 in one and two-run games in August on the way to posting a 20-6 mark for the month.
4. Philadelphia Phillies (75-53)
The Phillies didn’t have their best week, and Cliff Lee finally had a bad start (10 hits, six runs, three homers in 5 IP vs. Atlanta on Saturday), but the Phillies did as they’ve done time and again this season and put even more distance between themselves and their NL East rivals just when it looked like they’d have the opportunity to close the gap even slightly.
5. Los Angeles Angels (77-52)
The Angels couldn’t bolster their rotation fast enough by trading for Scott Kazmir (Trevor Bell, who he’s replacing in the rotation, allowed five runs in 2.2 innings against Oakland on Friday), but they could do to add another reliever or two to a bullpen that has been every bit as inconsistent as their rotation has been.
6. Boston Red Sox (76-54)
The Red Sox have a little breathing room in the wild card after going 6-1 last week, and they also gained some ground on the Yankees in the AL East, but they could give it right back if they struggle on the road this week against the Rays and White Sox.
7. San Francisco Giants (72-59)
That 14-inning loss to Colorado, especially in the manner in which it happened, could have been a demoralizing one for the Giants. However, they showed their mettle by going 5-1 the rest of the week and exacting a measure of revenge on the Rockies with a three-game sweep that sees them start this week tied atop the NL wild card standings with their NL West rivals.
8. Texas Rangers (72-57)
Could it be an inability to beat the Minnesota Twins that costs the Rangers in the end? Well, no, but it certainly won’t help their cause to be 4-6 against the mediocre Twins in the second half when they’re 20-12 against their other foes.
9. Tampa Bay Rays (70-59)
The gap between the Rays and Red Sox might have increased last week despite the Rays posting a solid 4-3 mark on the road, but they’ll have a chance to make that up/help out the Rangers with the Red Sox coming into town this week. The Rays are 5-1 at home and 8-3 overall against the Red Sox this season, for what it’s worth.
10. Colorado Rockies (72-59)
The week started so promisingly for the Rockies as they wrapped up a series win over the Giants and won the series opener against the Dodgers, but it ended with five consecutive losses that not only let the Dodgers regain a sizable cushion in the NL West, but it also made the NL wild card race all the tighter. Fortunately, their next three series are at home against the Mets, Diamondbacks, and Reds.
