In the sixth edition of our series of weekly power rankings, the Philadelphia Phillies remain at the top spot. However, after a great week of baseball for the New York Yankees, the overtake the Dodgers and now sit in second place. With the top five seeming fairly solidified at this point in the season, there is a ton of movement in the bottom half of the rankings. The Padres continue to rise along with the Mets, while the Orioles and Royals fall and continue to try and stay within the top ten. With a couple weeks left of the regular season, the remaining editions should be very interesting.
Philadelphia Phillies
A series sweep over Tampa Bay and another series win over the Mets keep the Phillies in the top spot. Bryce Harper has hit .391 this week, along with Brandon Marsh and Trea Turner also hitting over .300. Christopher Sanchez looked great in his start this week only allowing one run on six hits in seven innings of work.
New York Yankees
The Yankees took crucial series wins over Kansas City and Boston this past week, and now sit three games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East. While the team has hit below .200 this past week, they managed to scrape out walk off wins and clutch pitching performances to stay in the win column. Tim Mayza and Nestor Cortes were both huge for the Yankees in the pitching staff this week, same with Luke Weaver.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers drop a spot in the power rankings after splitting a four game set with Atlanta and losing a series to the Cubs at home. Tommy Edman looked great at the plate and showed some power as well, but none of the Dodgers stars showed up this past week, and for that they get moved down to the third spot in this weeks top ten.
Milwaukee Brewers
After taking back to back series wins over the Giants and Diamondbacks, the Brewers sit at the fourth spot yet again. Brice Turang continues to put together an impressive season as he hit .360 this past week, and William Contreras hit .389 as well. The pitching staff looked solid this week and the Brewers continue to play solid consistent baseball down the stretch of this season.
Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians are a great team but at this point in the season it is very hard to put them above any of the four teams ranked higher. After sweeping the White Sox, they split a four game set with the Rays keeping them at the fifth spot. Jose Ramirez has looked great at the plate lately, as well as Lane Thomas and Steven Kwan. Pitchers like Gavin Williams have continued to put it together through the later end of the season, and they sit at a solid number five.
San Diego Padres
The Padres are a very underrated team and could easily crack this top five by years end. They are currently on a four game winning streak and although they may not win this National League West division, they still have a stranglehold over a wildcard spot. Luis Arraez hit nearly .500 this week, and Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill, and Fernando Tatis Jr. have all been showing up in big situations.
Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles struggles continue as they are now three games back of the lead for the American League East. They have now lost three straight series and two big ones to potential wildcard contending teams in Detroit and Boston. This last stretch of the season is massive for a team that continues to trend down on this list.
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks didn’t look good enough to rise or bad enough to fall so they stay put at eight. Corbin Carroll continues to put it together in this second half of the season, and Pavin Smith had himself a phenomenal week with six hits and five RBI. While they may not be on many’s radar currently, this is another very underrated team that definitely should be.
New York Mets
After taking a series to Toronto and losing one to the Phillies, the Mets still rise to nine. They lost two close games to the Phillies but have overall looked solid. They still have great bats in Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Alvarez, and Mark Vientos, and the pitching has shown up. Sean Manaea, David Peterson, Luis Severino, and other Mets starters have been huge down the stretch for the now second place NL East team.
Kansas City Royals
The Royals fall to ten after losing a series to the Yankees but taking one over the Pirates. They’re still obviously a very solid team but are in danger of falling out of the top ten if they drop this series to Detroit. Salvador Perez has been great recently, but Kyle Isbel has been the star of this week for Kansas City hitting .444 with a pair of homers.