After a big week in Major League Baseball, some teams have clinched their spot for October, but many teams are still scrambling to earn a postseason berth. Let's check out where your favorite team landed in the final edition of our 2014 MLB power rankings:
30. Arizona Diamondbacks (69-94) Last Week: 28
The Diamondbacks' season was riddled with disappointment and injuries. Arizona has the personnel to try to make some moves in free agency, and the talented young pitching staff will help rejuvenate the club heading into the 2015 season. While 2014 was incredibly frustrating for Diamondbacks fans, there's still genuine optimism for the future.
29. Texas Rangers (62-93) Last Week: 30
There's been some late excitement in the Texas Rangers camp, even though they've been in last place of our power rankings consistently this season. The Rangers have won eight of their last 10 games, and young players like Rougned Odor are showing they can hang at the major league level. The looming question for Texas will concern the return of first baseman Prince Fielder, and what impact he'll have in the 2015 season.
28. Minnesota Twins (66-89) Last Week: 27
The Twins took the first step in upgrading their starting rotation in 2014, but they'll need to make more moves in this year's offseason if they want to contend for the AL Central in 2015. Phil Hughes' performance in 2014 was an major step in the right direction, as he won 15 decisions while posting a 3.61 ERA.
27. Colorado Rockies (65-91) Last Week: 29
The Rockies' offense was astounding in 2014, finishing in the top five of almost every statistical category. Pitching's been another issue, however, as Jorge De La Rosa's posted the team's best ERA at 4.14. This is an issue that the Rockies have to address this offseason if they want to be competitive in 2015.
26. Chicago Cubs (69-87) Last Week: 26
The Cubs stay fixed at the bottom in the NL Central standings, but there's a definite silver lining on the north side of Chicago. The Cubs look like they've found the ingredients to put together a solid 2015, and with a growing stable of young talent, they'll certainly be an interesting team to watch.
25. Boston Red Sox (68-88) Last Week: 25
Highly-touted Cuban Rusney Castillo made his debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates last Wednesday in a 1-9 loss. Castillo has four hits in his 16 at-bats through four games, and has earned a hit in each game he's played. With the right offseason moves, the Red Sox can be playoff contenders in 2015.
24. Houston Astros (69-87) Last Week: 24
Jose Altuve continues to cruise towards the American League batting title, and he's still sporting an extremely impressive .345 average so far this season. Altuve's mark leads Detroit's Victor Martinez by 11 points, and if he can stay above Martinez for the rest of the season, he'll bring home the first batting title in Astros club history.
23. Philadelphia Phillies (71-85) Last Week: 21
2014 was a frustrating season for the Phillies, who'll finish at the bottom in the NL East this year. Look for Philadelphia to make some major offseason moves to retool a struggling offense that was to blame for many of Philadelphia's losses this season. While they'd like to avoid moving Cole Hamels, this might be the year he finally gets dealt as Philadelphia positions itself to content going forward.
22. Cincinnati Reds (72-84) Last Week: 20
The Reds' second half in 2014 was just atrocious. Cincinnati's gone 21-41 since the All-Star Break, and the Reds have battled countless injuries to pivotal players. I expect the Reds to bounce back in 2015...if they can stay healthy.
21. Chicago White Sox (71-84) Last Week: 22
The White Sox won't make the playoffs in 2014, and the team will have to say goodbye to veteran Paul Konerko, who plans to retire after the season ends. Konerko returned to the lineup on Saturday after breaking his hand on Sept. 2, and his presence will be missed on the field and in the clubhouse. Jose Abreu is a virtual lock to win the AL Rookie of the Year award, and flashed fantastic power in a debut season that has his home run tally up to 35.
20. San Diego Padres (74-81) Last Week: 23
The Padres' offense will have to undergo an overhaul in the offseason if San Diego's going to be able to compete in 2015. The NL West isn't going to get any easier, and the Padres' 3.30 runs scored per game is the worst in Major League Baseball. Despite the floundering offense, the Padres will finish in third place this season in the NL West standings.
19. Miami Marlins (74-81) Last Week: 17
The Marlins' future is dependent on the moves they make in the offseason. Giancarlo Stanton's future with the team is limited, as he's made it pretty clear that he wants to play somewhere else. If the Marlins can get some quality bats and Jose Fernandez returns to his original level, this will be a team to watch in 2015.
18. Tampa Bay Rays (75-81) Last Week: 19
Joe Maddon and the Rays' front office have put together a young pitching staff that'll be an interesting group going into 2015. The rotation is full of youth and talent, and reminds me of the rotation that took them to the World Series in 2008. Tampa Bay needs to find another bat to help relieve pressure from James Loney and Evan Longoria heading into 2015.
17. New York Mets (76-80) Last Week: 18
The Mets won't be taking a trip to the playoffs this season, but New York has discovered some assets they can count on moving forward. One of those is rookie right-hander Jacob deGrom, who's quietly made a case for the NL Rookie of the Year award this season. It's unclear if the Mets will put deGrom on the hill again this season, but so far in 2014, he's posted a 9-6 record with a 2.63 ERA. New York will get a boost in 2015 when Matt Harvey rejoins the rotation after not pitching this year.
16. Atlanta Braves (76-79) Last Week: 16
The Braves were my favorite to win their division at the beginning of the year, but Atlanta's offense just couldn't get the job done this season. Luckily for Braves' fans, Atlanta's team is young and will be able to improve on a 2014 where they should've made the postseason. Atlanta will need to find a permanent solution at second base, and B.J. Upton's offensive performances need to become more consistent. B.J. Upton's hitting just .207 this season, an average that just doesn't justify the salary he's currently receiving.
15. Toronto Blue Jays (78-77) Last Week: 12
The Blue Jays are 6.5 games back for the last American League Wild Card spot, and Toronto will have to try to build on a decent year. The Blue Jays were one of the hottest teams in Major League Baseball early in the Summer, but somehow lost their way after the All-Star Break. Toronto will be a team to watch in the offseason, as they'll look to improve their rotation to try to contend in the AL East in 2015.
14. Milwaukee Brewers (80-76) Last Week: 13
The Brewers' playoff hopes look grim at this point, but they haven't given up yet. Milwaukee's 4.5 games out of the last National League Wild Card slot going into the last week of the regular season, and they'll have to get some help from other teams to clinch a postseason berth...along with playing nearly flawless baseball themselves.
13. New York Yankees (80-75) Last Week: 14
The Yankees, like the Brewers, have a shot to make the playoffs, even though the chances are slim at this point. Yankees fans will be encouraged by Masahiro Tanaka's quality outing over the weekend - he went 5.1 innings and only surrendered five hits to the Toronto Blue Jays. It was Tanaka's first outing since going on the DL in early July.
12. Cleveland Indians (81-74) Last Week: 15
The Indians will need to get to work this week, as they're 3.5 games out of the last AL Wild Card spot. The Indians' remaining opponents are the Kansas City Royals and Tampa Bay Rays, two teams that won't be easy wins for Cleveland. Even if Cleveland misses out on the postseason, they'll be happy with the growth they saw from young pitcher Corey Kluber this season. Kluber struck out 14 batters yesterday to take the deciding game in a series win over the Minnesota Twins.
11. Seattle Mariners (83-72) Last Week: 10
The Mariners sit just 1.5 games out of last wild card spot in the American League, trailing the Oakland A's and the Kansas City Royals. Seattle will finish their 2014 regular season with games against the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Angels, and both series will have major playoff implications.
10. Pittsburgh Pirates (84-71) Last Week: 11
The Pirates currently occupy the last wild card spot in the National League. Pittsburgh's late-season surge has made them a contender, and if the Pirates can hold on, baseball fans will be treated to an awesome playoff matchup against the San Francisco Giants.
9. San Francisco Giants (84-71) Last Week: 8
The Giants have placed themselves in the top wild card position in the National League, and trail the Los Angeles Dodgers by 4.5 games in the NL West. The Giants will finish there regular season with series against the Dodgers and Padres.
8. Oakland Athletics (85-70) Last Week: 7
The A's have struggled as of late, and if they earn a postseason spot, they'll be limping into the playoffs after leading the AL West until August. If the A's can hold on and make it into the playoffs, they'll certainly be an interesting team to watch - will they continue to struggle, or rediscover the form that saw them dominate the first half of the season?
7. Kansas City Royals (84-70) Last Week: 9
The Royals occupy the second wild card spot in the American League, and trail the Detroit Tigers by just 1.5 games in the AL Central. Kansas City is attempting to make the playoffs for just the first time since 1985, and tensions are high in Kansas/Missouri as fans nervously wait to see if their team can hold on.
6. St. Louis Cardinals (87-69) Last Week: 6
The Cardinals have clinched a playoff spot for this season, but this week will tell us what kind of momentum the Cardinals will have headed into the postseason. In their last week of the regular season, St. Louis will face the Chicago Cubs and the Arizona Diamondbacks.
5. Detroit Tigers (86-69) Last Week: 5
The Tigers lead the Kansas City Royals by 1.5 games heading into the last week of the regular season. The Tigers are effectively locked into a spot into the postseason, and will be a dangerous playoff team thanks to having the last three American League Cy Young winners at the head of their rotation. Detroit faces the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins in their last two series of the regular season.
4. Los Angeles Dodgers (89-67) Last Week: 3
The Dodgers will be headed to the playoffs in 2014, and Clayton Kershaw will be the leading candidate for the NL Cy Young Award and NL MVP. Kershaw's been historically dominant in 2014, winning 20 games and posting a ludicrous 1.80 ERA.
3. Washington Nationals (91-64) Last Week: 4
The Nationals have clinched the NL East and are currently the top National League club in the overall standings. If Washington can hold their position, they'll host the winner of the NL Wild Card game as the top seed in the National League.
2. Baltimore Orioles (93-62) Last Week: 2
The Orioles have clinched the AL East, running away from the other divisional contenders over the past few weeks. Baltimore is just one of three teams heading into Monday that have won 90-plus games, and Buck Showalter's club will face the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays as they try to end their regular season on a high note.
1. Los Angeles Angels (96-60) Last Week: 1
The Angels are just four wins away from winning 100 games this season, an impressive feat in the toughest division in Major League Baseball. The AL West was an absolute beast this season, and could still end up sending three teams to the playoffs. Even though the Angels are easily the best team in the majors at this point, will Mike Scioscia's team be able to survive brutal American League pitching to make it to their first World Series since 2002?
I'd like to personally thank each and every reader that's read these power rankings each week. It's been a great season of baseball, and hopefully the postseason will be even more exciting than this final week of the regular season. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @griffaldo for more updates and analysis as we enter the final week of what's been an awesome 2014 season!
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