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MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers climb after Vin's clinching call

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Following their dramatic walk-off win on Vin Scully's final home game, the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the National League West and moved up one spot in this week's rankings. The American League wild-card chasing Detroit Tigers (+2) rose into the top 10, while the San Francisco Giants (-2) continued their descent, losing two of four to the lowly San Diego Padres.

The Boston Red Sox, meanwhile, maintained their dominance in this week's rankings, moving up two spots thanks to a league-leading 129 RBIs and .464 SLG in the month of September.

1. Chicago Cubs

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
99-56 103-52 1 (-)

The Cubs have officially secured home-field advantage through the NLCS, so this final week on the road will be one of rest and relaxation for baseball's best team.

2. Boston Red Sox

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
92-64 96-60 4 (+2)

Boston's 11-0 surge has effectively locked up the AL East, but it's done more than that. Sunday's win over Tampa Bay vaulted the Red Sox into a tie with Texas for the AL's best record and the No. 1 seed in the Junior Circuit.

3. Texas Rangers

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
92-64 79-77 3 (-)

A second straight AL West title is great news for the Rangers. Their starters owning a collective 6.18 ERA in September - the worst in all of baseball - is anything but as October looms.

4. Washington Nationals

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
91-64 95-60 2 (-2)

He may only be day to day and he may not be having his best season, but Bryce Harper suffering a thumb injury on the heels of their return to October baseball undoubtedly makes for some anxious feelings in the Nationals' clubhouse.

5. Los Angeles Dodgers

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
90-66 89-67 6 (+1)

Vin Scully's final call at Dodger Stadium was an extra-innings walk-off blast by Charlie Culberson that clinched the Dodgers' fourth straight division title. What, you expected them to NOT send Vin into retirement with a Hollywood ending?

6. Cleveland Indians

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
90-65 88-67 5 (-1)

How fitting that the Indians can clinch their first AL Central title since 2007 with a win over Detroit on Monday. Their 13-2 record against the Tigers is essentially what decided this race.

7. Toronto Blue Jays

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
86-69 87-68 7 (-)

Though a miracle is needed to catch the Red Sox for the division, Toronto has broken out of its September funk in a big way and looks poised to lock down home field for the AL wild-card game.

8. Baltimore Orioles

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
85-71 80-76 8 (-)

Ubaldo Jimenez, demoted to the 'pen earlier this year, is quietly having his best month in an Orioles uniform (2.86 ERA, 26 K), and it couldn't have come at a better time for the pitching-starved club as they cling to a playoff spot.

9. Detroit Tigers

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
83-72 79-76 11 (+2)

The Tigers have pushed hard this month, but they're still 1 1/2 games out of the playoffs heading into the home stretch - and those Indians, who they can't seem to beat, are on the docket. Buckle up, Motown.

10. New York Mets

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
83-73 83-73 10 (-)

It doesn't matter how you get to October as long as you get there, and the Mets, thanks to an incredibly soft September schedule, are flying towards shockingly hosting the NL wild-card game.

11. San Francisco Giants

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
82-74 84-72 9 (-2)

The Giants are still clinging to a playoff berth, but they're teetering on the brink thanks to a split in San Diego - and you just know those rival Dodgers are salivating at the thought of finishing them off next Sunday.

12. St. Louis Cardinals

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
81-74 83-72 12 (-)

Right now the Cardinals are on the outside of the playoffs, but that can change quickly. The bad news is that they're finishing the season at home, where they own a shockingly bad 33-41 record and a minus-13 run differential.

13. Seattle Mariners

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
82-73 83-72 13 (-)

Somehow, the Mariners are still alive in the wild-card chase, and they can even put Houston to bed for good this week. But they'll need some help from the Indians and Blue Jays if they want the final weekend to really mean something.

14. Houston Astros

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
82-74 82-74 14 (-)

When Jose Altuve recorded hit No. 200 this week he became the 15th player ever with three 200-hit seasons before age 26. Nine of the players on that list are in the Hall of Fame.

15. Pittsburgh Pirates

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
77-78 77-78 16 (+1)

Though they're still technically alive in the wild-card race, the Bucs' elimination number is three, and the Cubs - even if they will be resting guys - are coming to town. This Pirates' ship has too many leaks and too little time.

16. New York Yankees

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
79-76 75-80 15 (-1)

Remember the surging Yankees? Well, they're surging no more after losing four straight, and three consecutive to the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays, falling to 5 1/2 games back of the final wild-card spot in the AL.

17. Kansas City Royals

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
79-77 75-81 17 (-)

With the Royals wild-card elimination number sitting at one, their chances of a World Series repeat are slim to none, but they did spoil the Tigers chances of making the postseason, taking two of three from Detroit over the weekend.

18. Miami Marlins

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
77-78 76-79 18 (-)

The tragic death of superstar Jose Fernandez casts a dark cloud over the sport and Miami Marlins, who somehow will be tasked with finishing the season without the heart and soul of their clubhouse.

19. Chicago White Sox

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
74-81 74-81 19 (-)

Todd Frazier certainly knows how to close out a season. The White Sox third baseman slugged a remarkable .852 over his last seven games, pushing his HR total to 39 in his first season on the South Side.

20. Colorado Rockies

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
73-83 78-78 20 (-)

The Rockies were officially eliminated from postseason contention on Saturday, unable to deal with the hot-hitting Los Angeles Dodgers, despite an MVP-caliber season from Nolan Arenado, and a potential NL batting title coming courtesy of DJ LeMahieu.

21. Milwaukee Brewers

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
70-86 71-85 21 (-)

Chris Carter might have been one of the best under-the-radar moves of the offseason. The power-hitting first baseman reached career highs in home runs, RBIs, hits, and runs scored after signing a 1-year, $2.5M contract last January.

22. Philadelphia Phillies

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
70-86 60-96 23 (+1)

One thing the Phillies are going to need to upgrade next season is their bullpen, who were terrible against the Mets over the weekend, allowing 27 earned runs over the four-game set. Yikes!

23. Los Angeles Angels

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
69-87 75-81 24 (+1)

The Houston Astros thought they were gifted an easy four-game series against the Angels, but boy, were they wrong. L.A. took three of four from Houston, putting a major dent in its playoff hopes. The two squads meet again at the end of the week to close out the season.

24. Tampa Bay Rays

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
65-90 74-81 22 (-2)

Running into the hottest team in baseball was no fun for the Rays, who were swept by the Red Sox. Chris Archer has one start left for the season and could become the first 20-game loser since Mike Maroth in 2003.

25. Oakland Athletics

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
67-88 68-87 25 (-)

Diminutive starter Jharel Cotton may be this season's version of Marcus Stroman. The 24-year-old owns a 1.44 ERA and hasn't yet suffered a loss since making his MLB debut on Sept 7.

26. San Diego Padres

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
66-90 70-86 26 (-)

Yangervis Solarte returned to the Padres' lineup one week after the death of his wife, and in an emotional moment hit a pinch-hit single before touching his heart and pointing to the sky. The heart-warming moment was needed after the whole A.J. Preller debacle.

27. Cincinnati Reds

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
65-90 64-91 27 (-)

There isn't much going right for the Reds, but Joey Votto continues to rake. The first baseman posted a ridiculous 1.400 OPS over his past seven games, which begs the question of when he may be traded so his best years can be capitalized on in some capacity.

28. Arizona Diamondbacks

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
64-91 64-91 28 (-)

Zack Greinke's season is likely over, ending a tumultuous first year in the desert. The $206.5-million man posted a disappointing 4.37 ERA (his highest since 2005), which could end up being one of the reasons Tony La Russa and Dave Stewart lose their jobs.

29. Atlanta Braves

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
63-92 63-92 29 (-)

The Braves haven't looked half bad lately, winning seven of their last eight games, while Freddie Freeman continued to extend his hitting streak, which now sits at 28. The team's bright future may already be upon us.

30. Minnesota Twins

RECORD PYTHAG RECORD PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
56-100 63-93 30 (-)

The losing just won't go away. Minnesota has lost 8 of 10, and once again it looks like Byron Buxton can't hit big-league pitching. Buxton is slashing just .174/.208/.304 over his past seven games.

*The composite rankings were compiled by theScore MLB editors Lucas Casaletto, Bryan Mcwilliam, Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb, Dan Toman, and Brandon Wile.

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