With playoff race heating up in mid-August, there's no shortage of drama - here are your week 22 Major League Baseball power rankings:
30. Texas Rangers (50-79) Last Week: 30
The Rangers continue to limp along, dropping games left and right. Texas' playoff hopes vanished early in the Summer, but the Rangers recently got the good news that lefty Derek Holland will make his last rehab start this Thursday for Triple-A Round Rock before returning to the club.
29. Colorado Rockies (52-77) Last Week: 29
The Rockies continue to get hit with bad news, as outfielder Michael Cuddyer is now the latest name headed to the 15-day disabled list. This time, it's a hamstring strain for Cuddyer, who's headed to the DL for the third time this season.
28. Arizona Diamondbacks (55-76) Last Week: 27
The Diamondbacks continue to stay just above the lowly Rockies in the NL West. Arizona got the good news that Paul Goldschmidt's hand won't need any surgery after it was struck by a pitch. Still, with the playoff race completely out of reach, Goldschmidt is doubtful to return to action this season.
27. Boston Red Sox (56-74) Last Week: 23
The Red Sox have struggled more than any team in Major League Baseball over their last 10, extending their losing streak to eight consecutive games. Boston's only won once in their last 10, and it looks like the Red Sox are already looking ahead to next season. Slugger David Ortiz left yesterday's game during the sixth inning with a foot contusion, and a depleted Boston squad opens this week with a three-game series in Toronto.
26. Houston Astros (55-76) Last Week: 28
Jose Altuve has been the most consistent hitter in the American League this season, hitting for a .334 average. Altuve's average is six points higher than the next name on the list, Tigers slugger Victor Martinez.
Altuve will continue to produce hits, and he's an early favorite to win the American League Batting Title.
25. Chicago Cubs (58-72) Last Week: 26
The Cubs jump up a spot after sweeping the Baltimore Orioles this weekend. Chicago appears to be going in the right direction as an organization, and the Cubs have won six of their last eight games.
24. Philadelphia Phillies (58-72) Last Week: 25
The Phillies' struggles haven't gone away, and they've now fallen to the bottom of the NL East standings. Philadelphia didn't play like a last-place team this weekend, though, nearly sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals. Philadelphia's Ken Giles allowed Matt Carpenter to hit a sac-fly in the twelfth inning, winning Saturday's game for the Cardinals to even the series, but the Phillies dominated Justin Masterson on Sunday, winning the series with a 7-1 victory.
23. Minnesota Twins (58-72) Last Week: 24
The Twins have actually been very productive at the plate this season, despite being almost 15 games out in the AL Central race. Minnesota has produced 570 runs, the sixth-best total in Major League Baseball. If the Twins can rearrange their rotation in the offseason and add a few pieces, Minnesota could sneak its way up the AL Central standings next season.
22. Chicago White Sox (59-71) Last Week: 20
The White Sox have been struggling, with wins in just two of their last 10 games. If Robin Ventura's young team can't find their feet, they could be on track to finish at the bottom in the AL Central.
21. San Diego Padres (60-69) Last Week: 21
The Padres stay put at the number 21 spot. San Diego is right between two teams that are really bad and two teams that have played really good in the NL West. The Padres offense continues to be atrocious, as they rank last as a team in almost every offensive statistical category.
20. Cincinnati Reds (63-68) Last Week: 19
There hasn't been team colder than the Reds since the All-Star Break. Cincinnati was able to snap a seven-game losing streak Saturday against the Atlanta Braves, but the Reds will have to make an incredible September run if they want to clinch a postseason berth.
19. New York Mets (61-70) Last Week: 22
With the Mets 15 games back in the NL East, there's virtually no possibility that New York makes it to the postseason this year.
With this in mind, one player who's impressed me this season for the Mets has been starting pitcher Bartolo Colon. I didn't think that Colon was going to be a good signing for New York, much less lead the team in wins heading into late August.
Colon, at age 41, has a 12-10 record and a 3.82 ERA this season. Those numbers might not jump off the screen, but for a 41-year-old on a bad team, that's not too shabby.
18. Tampa Bay Rays (64-66) Last Week: 18
The Rays sit in fourth place in the AL East, and they have a lot of work to do to catch the Toronto Blue Jays. Interestingly, Tampa Bay has played significantly better on the road this season than they have at Tropicana Field. The Rays have posted a 35-30 record on the road, but they're only 29-36 on their home turf.
17. Miami Marlins (64-65) Last Week: 16
The Marlins play tough at home, and they're now 37-31 at Marlins Park this season. The Marlins lose frequently on the road, though - this year, they're just 27-34 in away games. Giancarlo Stanton continues to turn heads with his bat, and he leads the National League in home runs with 32. Stanton's currently the only NL player with over 30 homers this season.
16. Toronto Blue Jays (66-64) Last Week: 15
Earlier in the season, the Blue Jays looked like a team destined for the playoffs. Over the past two months, the powerful bats in Toronto's lineup have cooled off, and the reeling Blue Jays have won only three of their last 10 games.
15. Pittsburgh Pirates (67-63) Last Week: 13
The Pirates were able to activate star outfielder Andrew McCutchen against the Atlanta Braves last week. Pittsburgh took two of three games from the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers this weekend, and the Pirates are now trailing by just five games in the NL Central. Keep an eye on this race - it'll be going right down to the wire.
14. Cleveland Indians (66-63) Last Week: 17
The Indians jump up to the number 14 spot in our rankings this week. Cleveland's behind the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals in the AL Central, trailing the division-leading Royals by six games. The Indians will get a chance to narrow the margin soon, as they'll travel to Kansas City for a weekend series against the Royals.
13. Atlanta Braves (68-63) Last Week: 14
The Braves trail the Washington Nationals by eight games in the NL East, and Atlanta continues to watch the red-hot Nationals increase their lead in the division. The Braves have struggled at the plate this season, only hitting .245 as a team. Atlanta's .245 average is the seventh-worst in Major League Baseball, and the Braves will have to improve their pitching, as they trail the San Francisco Giants by one game for the last wild card spot.
12. New York Yankees (67-61) Last Week: 12
The Yankees stay put at the number 12 spot. New York's in second place in the AL East behind the Baltimore Orioles, who they trail by six games. The road doesn't get easier for the Yankees this week, as travel to Kansas City to kick off an early-week series against the Royals.
11. San Francisco Giants (68-61) Last Week: 11
The Giants currently have a slim edge over the Atlanta Braves for the last wild card spot in the National League. San Francisco trails the Los Angeles Dodgers by just under five games in the NL West. Buster Posey's production hasn't slowed due to his injured hip, as he's hit for a .409 average (including two home runs) in his last seven games.
10. Detroit Tigers (70-59) Last Week: 9
The Tigers are sitting just two games behind the Kansas City Royals in the AL Central. Detroit's offense has provided plenty of run support this season, and they're one of only four teams that have scored over 600 runs this season. If the Tigers starting pitching can find a way to be as good as it looks on paper, Detroit will find a way to make the postseason.
9. St. Louis Cardinals (70-59) Last Week: 10
The Cardinals are trailing the Milwaukee Brewers by 1.5 games in the NL Central, and St. Louis continues to struggle at the plate. The Cardinals have only scored 490 runs this season, which is the second-worst run total in Major League Baseball. St. Louis' postseason chances are bright, however, as their pitching has them in the driver's seat for the National League wild card.
8. Seattle Mariners (71-58) Last Week: 8
The Mariners sit in third place in the AL West, and Seattle currently occupies the second wild card spot in the American League. If the season were to end today, the AL West would have three teams in the playoffs - the Angels, A's and Mariners combine to make this the most loaded division in baseball. The Mariners have won seven of their last 10, and Seattle could be a nightmare playoff matchup - if they make it that far - thanks to the one-two punch of Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma.
7. Los Angeles Dodgers (74-58) Last Week: 7
The Dodgers received the news that Zack Greinke "felt good" after earning the winning decision in Saturday's 7-4 victory over the New York Mets. That's excellent news for LA - Greinke had been battling soreness in his elbow, and Saturday's win was his first in his last four starts. The Dodgers lead the San Francisco Giants by 4.5 games in the NL West.
6. Milwaukee Brewers (72-58) Last Week: 5
The Brewers avoided a weekend sweep at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates by winning 4-3 on Sunday. Milwaukee leads the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central by just under two games. The Brewers have had a solid rotation this season, and they've accumulated 85 quality starts - the second-most in Major League Baseball.
5. Kansas City Royals (72-57) Last Week: 6
The Royals lead the Detroit Tigers by two games in the AL Central, and Kansas City has been the best team in Major League Baseball this month. The Royals have put together a 17-5 record in August and will continue to increase the gap that separates them from Detroit.
4. Baltimore Orioles (73-55) Last Week: 3
The Orioles drop a spot this week after being swept in a weekend series by the Chicago Cubs. Baltimore leads the New York Yankees in the AL East by six games, and will look to forget this weekend before hosting an early-week series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
3. Oakland Athletics (76-53) Last Week: 2
Oakland drops a spot this week after losing their AL West lead to the Los Angeles Angels. The A's have suffered from a lack of offense recently, and they're now just 4-9 in their last 13 games. With closer Sean Doolittle on the 15-day DL and other injuries starting to pop up, Oakland will look to get back on track as they travel to Houston for a three-game series against the Astros.
2. Washington Nationals (75-54) Last Week: 4
The Nationals are the hottest team in Major League Baseball this week, and they've now won 12 of their last 13 games. Washington continues to create separation between themselves and the Atlanta Braves, who trail the Nationals by eight games.
1. Los Angeles Angels (77-52) Last Week: 1
The Angels cling to the top of our rankings this week, but it wasn't easy. The Halos dropped two in Oakland to let the A's tie the AL West race, but they dominated 9-4 on Sunday night to reclaim their lead. Los Angeles now leads the A's by one game in the AL West - this is a divisional battle that's sure to last for the rest of the season.
Be sure to follow me on twitter @griffaldo!
Back to the MLB Newsfeed