Easy Eight Baseball Power Rankings as of Sept. 23
Easy Eight Baseball Power Rankings as of Sept. 23
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 (92-64). WS Odds: +485
The Phillies aren’t playing well, but they clinched the playoffs on Friday and still need one more win to clinch the NL East as they are five games ahead of the Mets. Fortunately, they play three games against the Cubs and Nationals. This is a complete baseball team that has all the tools, despite playing poorly against the Mets, who were the more desperate team.
2)New York Yankees (92-64). WS Odds: +400
The Bronx Bombers are pulling away in the AL East at six games over Baltimore, with six games left. They also play the Orioles at home and need to win just one game. The pitching staff is starting round into form, especially lefty Carlos Rodon, who has a 1.93 ERA in four starts in September. Aaron Judge is putting up monster numbers and CF Jasson Dominguez (2 homers, 4 SB) and Jazz Chisholm Jr. (.276, 10 HR, 19 RBI with NY) are excellent additions. Need to make a World Series for the first time in 15 years.
3)Los Angeles Dodgers (93-63). WS Odds: +350
The Dodgers have some injury concerns and while they are just about to clinch the NL West, there are concerns aside from Shohei Ohtani (.301, 53, 123, 55sb), who has been historically great. With Tyler Glasnow, Gavin Stone, and Clayton Kershaw on the IL for various injuries. They are going to need Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-2, 2.96 ERA) and Jack Flaherty (6-2, 3.40 ERA) to step up in the playoffs.
4)Cleveland Guardians (90-67). WS Odds: +850
Cleveland clinched the division and just started relaxing, so they lost two straight games. They should start resting players as they have a very talented team, especially in their bullpen and rotation. You can say that they took advantage of the worst team in baseball history in Chicago, but the Guardians are just 8-5 against the lowly White Sox this season.
5)San Diego Padres (90-66). WS Odds: +1200
The Padres are a very dangerous team right now. They’ve won four straight and are 8-2 in their last 10 games. But this is a group that could go all the way or lose in the wild-card round. That’s despite losing Juan Soto and Blake Snell in the offseason.
6)Milwaukee Brewers (89-67). WS Odds: +1900
The Brewers are just 5-5 over their last 10 games, but they can afford to lose games, having won the NL Central. They lead the Chicago Cubs by nine games. Unfortunately, they don’t look like a World Series team, but could play a spoiler. That’s been the issue with this franchise which has never won a World Series.
7)Baltimore Orioles (86-70). WS Odds: +1200
The Orioles have now lost five straight series, including two to red-hot Detroit Tigers. The good news is that they are starting to get healthy with All-Star INF Jordan Westburg back and some relievers in a shaky bullpen. Hitting with runners in scoring position has been atrocious in the second half. Should be able to clinch a wild card spot on Tuesday or Wednesday against the Yankees.
8)Arizona Diamondbacks (87-69). WS Odds: +2200
The D-Backs can also be a sleeper because you can’t dismiss a team that reached the World Series last season. CF Corbin Carroll has 32 steals, 21 homers and 14 triples, but is hitting just .230 with a .749 OPS. They have a lot of power and speed led by 2B Ketel Marte (.295, 35, 93) and OF Jake McCarthy (.296, 25 steals). The problem is a starting pitching staff that has struggled all year as Brandon Pfaadt (10-9., 4.66 ERA, 172 Ks) is their ace.
