Power Rankings: No. 1 solely reinforces its top-dog standing

We have reached the purpose within the season when, even with an additional day added to the week due to the Labor Day vacation, it’s troublesome for groups to make too a lot of a leap in our weekly Power Rankings. Teams which have gotten sizzling not too long ago have made their push upward; groups which have collapsed have lengthy since been recognized. There are many playoff spots left to be determined. But by now, we all know who’s severely going for them, and who isn’t.

Thus, on this week’s Power Rankings, the secret is stasis. No workforce went up greater than two spots; just one workforce fell greater than three. There is a slight reshuffling within the high 5, however solely a slight one. Had the Dodgers executed to the Braves of their four-game collection what the Braves did to the Dodgers, this might need been completely different. But that’s not what occurred. In some ways, everyone held near their station over the lengthy weekend. We know the way this all works down the stretch: That’ll change quickly sufficient.

Here are this week’s rankings.

Biggest Jump:  The Guardians shocked some individuals with their aggressive waiver claims from the Angels, and whereas that may not have instantly resulted in a dramatic transfer within the standings, our voters on the very least acknowledged the hassle and pushed them up two spots. Unfortunately for them, one of many two different groups to go up two spots was … the Twins, the very workforce (and the one life like workforce) they’re attempting to chase down. The different workforce that went up two spots was the Mets, for what it’s value.

Biggest Drop: The Red Sox have had a pleasant season, a greater one than their followers may even essentially be keen to acknowledge this yr. They’re additionally arrange effectively for the longer term, or no less than higher than, say, the Yankees appear to be. But their wipeout sweep at residence towards the Astros final week — after shedding two of three to the Dodgers the weekend earlier than, additionally at residence — might have dropped them out of the Wild Card race as soon as and for all. They recovered to win two of three in Kansas City, however for 2023, the voters could also be out on them: They dropped 5 spots from No. 12 to No. 17.

1. Braves 90-46 (final week: 1)
The Braves had a three-game primer at Coors Field — for the Braves this yr, a “primer” ends with a three-game sweep for the guests — earlier than their extremely anticipated collection at Dodger Stadium towards a workforce that was nonetheless holding out faint hopes of catching the Braves for the No. 1 seed within the National League. Those hopes are basically squashed after the Braves gained three of 4 in Chavez Ravine in an setting that positive did appear to augur a repeat affair in October. The Braves get a pleasant breather at residence this week towards the Cardinals and the Pirates.

2. Orioles 86-51 (final week: 3)
Orioles followers had been beginning to get a bit of nervous a few weeks in the past, after they misplaced two of three at residence to the Padres on Aug. 15-16 and their rotation was beginning to fray a bit. They haven’t misplaced a collection since, sweeping the A’s and profitable two out of three from the Blue Jays, Rockies, White Sox and D-backs. Winning collection is the way you keep in first place, even with the Rays nonetheless nipping at their heels. They’ll end up their ultimate West Coast swing of the yr earlier than heading again East to Fenway this weekend to face a Red Sox workforce towards which they nonetheless have seven video games left. They might formally finish this for the Red Sox … and with an enormous four-game collection towards the Rays pending in every week, they’ll want all of the cushion they’ll get.

3. Dodgers 84-52 (final week: 3)
Hey, it was a pleasant thought, Dodgers fan. The blistering post-All-Star break run the Dodgers went on received them, and their followers, enthusiastic about the potential for making a cost on the Braves for National League supremacy with a four-game set in L.A. The Dodgers shortly received a splash of chilly actuality, shedding three out of 4 and placing a transparent, most likely insurmountable distance between the groups. The Dodgers must console themselves with the truth that their magic quantity goes to hit single digits someday within the subsequent few days, and the No. 2 seed, and that first-round bye, is ready for them.

4. Rays 83-55 (final week: 5)
The Rays had two days off final week, and so they couldn’t have come at a greater time: They’re about to have their most intense two weeks of the season, with 13 straight video games towards groups with profitable information with no single day without work. They have two extra towards the Red Sox at residence earlier than a fully fascinating marquee four-game set towards the Mariners subsequent weekend. But after three video games towards a getting-better Twins workforce on the street, the massive one hits: Four video games in Camden Yards. The Rays would like to be in putting distance of the Orioles for that collection. But the schedule is just not going to make it simple.

5. Mariners 77-60 (final week: 4)
Julio Rodríguez’s foot concern got here on the heels (sorry) of his face-meltingly sizzling stretch in August, and whereas he was again for the weekend and homered, the Mariners had the texture of a workforce that has come again to earth a bit of throughout a weekend collection loss at Citi Field. The Mets collection ended a cheerful schedule stretch for the Mariners, who hadn’t performed a profitable workforce in two weeks earlier than heading to Cincinnati on Labor Day. That occasion is now over: They’ve received three towards the Angels at residence and three towards the A’s on the street, however aside from that, each workforce the Mariners will face shifting ahead is both a transparent playoff workforce (Rays, Dodgers) or a division rival they’re going to be combating to the tip with within the ultimate days of the season. Your lives are about to get much more anxious, Mariners followers.