Add The California Post on Google Each week, the California Post will power rank MLB’s 30 teams and check in on one intriguing awards race. Records as of Saturday morning:
Last week, we dropped the previously top-ranked Brewers below several teams (including the Dodgers). So, right on cue, they turned around and won a series at Dodger Stadium, then another against the Mariners, then a Friday night opener against the Braves. Thus, we are course-correcting this week and putting Milwaukee back atop the rankings. (Last week: 4th)
The Dodgers have not made life easy on themselves lately. But, as Mookie Betts put it this week, they’ve gotten back to winning the “big moments” again — which has helped them win four in a row for the first time in almost a month. (Last week: 3rd)
It’s a good thing the Cubs made some walk-off magic in back-to-back games against the White Sox this week. Because outside of that, they’ve won just one other game in their last eight and are letting the Brewers drift away from them again in the NL Central standings. (Last week: 2nd)
Just when it looked like Tampa Bay was beginning to coast to the No. 1 seed in the American League, the Rays have cooled off (slightly), while the Yankees have heated up (extremely). Thus, the Rays’ cushion is back down to three games. The stretch run could get interesting. (Last week: 1st)
The Yankees are still banged up, especially after Max Fried returned to the injured list this week. But, they are also finally back on a roll, winning five straight games this week (with only the partial help of the left- field foul pole in Baltimore). (Last week: 6th)
Like the Rays, the Braves remain in first place. But, they’ve also allowed the NL East race to quickly become interesting again. Atlanta is in a serious rut now, with losses in six of eight games (including a sweep by the Twins). They’ve pulled out of tailspins before, but the Phillies are back on their heels. (Last week: 5th)
Speaking of the Phillies, there is no hotter team now in the rest of the majors. They’ve won seven in a row. Their new-look lineup has scored at least six runs in all but one of those wins. And they’re back within four games in the NL East. And even if they don’t win the division, they are reemerging as an October threat. (Last week: 10th)
The Padres have had magical second-half runs in recent memory. This year, they could be gearing up for another one. The team has won 19 of its last 26 games. They’re getting superstar-level production out of Fernando Tatis Jr. again. And trade deadline acquisitions Casey Mize and Robbie Ray are starting to pitch better. (Last week: 8th)
It wasn’t as impressive as their 32-5 run, but the Red Sox responding from a five-game losing streak with a 5-3 stretch this week felt almost as important, as they try to show they are more than a team that got hot for a month. (Last week: 7th)
There are no moral victories in walk-off losses, especially when they happen on back-to-back nights against your cross-city rival. Good thing the White Sox bounced back with a walk-off win over the Mets on Friday and continue to grow their AL Central lead. (Last week: 9th)
Where art thou, Ketel Marte? The infielder went MIA in Boston this week, was placed on the restricted list and now is on the injured list with a knee injury (one that evidently isn’t keeping him from the casino). It’s not the first time Marte has invited drama into a Dbacks season. And once again, the situation is threatening to derail the team’s playoff push. (Last week: 11th)
August is almost over, and still no one seems to want to win the AL West. That’s at least how it looked while the Astros slumped their way through a 1-4 stretch this week in which they scored just 14 runs and gave up 18 in one game alone (to the Angels, no less!). They remain in first, but that’s only thanks to the incompetence surrounding them in the standings. (Last week: 12th)
JJ Wetherholt should probably have the NL Rookie of the Year Award locked up. But, like the Cardinals, he has cooled off significantly in the second half. The story of a young player (and young team) starting to run out of steam. (Last week: 14th)
We had some competition for worst call of the week, but the Marlins were in contention after having what should’ve been a bases-loaded, game-tying double in Philadelphia this week initially ruled foul, then getting only two runs after video replay partially reversed the call. As they cling to the fringes of the playoff race, those are the breaks they need to get. (Last week: 13th)
Corey Seager might be finally finding something. After hitting just .267 in his first 13 games back from the injured list, the five-time All-Star has strung together five straight two-hit games. The Rangers have survived most of this season without him. Maybe he can be the key to someone finally pulling away in the AL West. (Last week: 20th)
The Twins just keep hanging around, earning perhaps their best series result all year by sweeping the Braves at home this week. We still aren’t sure if their decision to buy at the deadline was prudent (they remain on the outside looking in on the AL wild-card race), but at least they are keeping their season interesting. (Last week: 16th)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is coming back from the injured list. And now couldn’t be a better time for him to start playing like an MVP candidate again (or, at least, hitting some home runs at Rogers Centre). Even amid his dismal season, the Blue Jays remain in playoff contention. (Last week: 17th)
Pete Alonso was having a fine debut season in Baltimore. But this month, he’s hit another gear, belting seven home runs (tied for second most in the majors in August behind only Pete Crow-Armstrong) and posting a 1.147 OPS (trailing only Wilyer Abreu). The O’s will need more of that to mount their own wild-card push. (Last week: 22nd)
This is the Guardians’ time to make a move, with the schedule giving them the Giants, Rockies, Angels and Royals consecutively. They have started the stretch 3-1. They might need to maintain that clip to get back into a wild-card spot. (Last week: 23rd)
It’s been another week of Paul Skenes speculation in Pittsburgh, after his delayed start against the Tigers ended with one out in the fifth. His regression has been part of a larger slide by the Pirates that has knocked them just about out of the playoff race. (Last week: 18th)
Didn’t think the Mariners’ season could get any worse? Hope you didn’t tune in to their historic 22-0 shellacking against the Brewers. Now, it’s time to see if the Kade Anderson Hail Mary can save their playoff hopes. (Last week: 24th)
The Tigers are going to get an immediate reunion with Tarik Skubal, who is lined up to pitch next weekend in Detroit. But whether they will still be vying for a playoff spot by then is looking doubtful, after they lost six of seven this week. (Last week: 15th)
Hello to Cade Cavalli, the right-handed starter who has thrown 14 scoreless innings with 21 strikeouts over his last two outings. The 28-year-old is joining the list of reasons the Nationals should be in position to be competitive next season. (Last week: 21st)
Silly us. Last week, we wondered if the Reds were really out of playoff contention. Then, they lost six of eight to make sure of it. Time to look toward next year in Cincinnati — though, they probably realized that a while ago. (Last week: 19th)
Hey, the Mets finally did some winning this week! That is, until, Jefry Yan gave up a walk-off homer after prematurely celebrating a strikeout with his leaping, trademark leg kick. That felt more like the Mets we’ve come to know this year. (Last week: 25th)
Speaking of teams doing some unexpected winning, the Royals have reeled off six in a row. Though, it must almost feel annoying to fans to see that happen now. (Last week: 27th)
Rafael Devers is returning to Fenway Park this weekend for the first time since last year’s trade. We’ll take a guess and say there isn’t much regret over that deal in Boston anymore. (Last week: 26th)
In the Moral Victory of the Week Award, the Rockies kept it close while getting swept by the Dodgers. Unfortunately, that also marked their 19th straight winless series against the two-time defending champions, a franchise record. Manager Warren Schaeffer wasn’t happy about it. (Last week: 29th)
Congratulations to the Angels, who have dug their way out of the bottom spot of the rankings — er, at least have watched another team dig themselves even lower. (Last week: 30th)
We don’t have much more to add about this A’s season. They’ve dropped five in a row. Their scoring differential is almost 60 runs worse than anyone else. And even in a historically weak American League, they are flirting with an unthinkable 100-loss campaign. (Last week: 28th)
1) Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers (13-5 record, 1.68 ERA, 216 strikeouts, 145 innings)
Barring an unforeseen setback, Misiorowski is running away with this award. He is on pace for the second-lowest ERA this century (behind only Zack Greinke in 2015) and is 20 strikeouts clear of any other pitcher in the majors. His dominance is the single-biggest reason to believe in the Brewers as a legitimate threat to the Dodgers.
2) Cristopher Sánchez, Phillies (16-4 record, 2.51 ERA, 187 strikeouts, 161.2 innings)
Speaking of threats to the Dodgers, the Phillies’ rotation also remains one — thanks in large part to the spectacular season Sánchez has put together. He is leading the league in wins and trailing only Sandy Alcantara in innings. Between him, Jesus Luzardo and Zack Wheeler, the Phillies have the starters to test anyone in October.
3) Chris Sale, Braves (12-9 record, 2.20 ERA, 166 strikeouts, 135 innings)
Sale doesn’t have quite the workload of other contenders in this race, but he is separating himself with a dominant second half, having allowed just nine runs over 40 innings in his last seven starts.
