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MLB Power Rankings: Slumping Red Sox hold top spot ahead of surging Cubs, Cards

Brian Blanco / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Welcome to the 11th edition of theScore's MLB Power Rankings for the 2018 season. Rankings are published every other Monday throughout the season, with the next installment coming Sept. 10.

1. Boston Red Sox

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
90-42 4-6 1 (-)

The Red Sox have hit a rough patch in August, losing six of eight and are currently mired in their second three-game skid of the month. At 90 wins, Boston will likely still cruise to a first-place finish and home-field advantage through October, but when Mookie Betts isn't tearing the cover off of the ball (6-for-31 with no home runs) this team doesn't look invincible.

2. New York Yankees

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
83-47 8-2 2 (-)

Three regulars and closer Aroldis Chapman on the DL? No problem. Things have been humming along nicely for the Yankees in the face of all their injuries, and given Boston's sudden mini-skid, New York remains in a position to at least try to make a run at the AL East crown.

3. Houston Astros

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
80-50 7-3 3 (-)

The Astros are getting healthy when it matters most. George Springer returned in a pinch-hitting capacity Sunday, Jose Altuve has been his usual reliable self over five games since his activation (7-for-20), and Carlos Correa had two multi-hit games over the past week. Winners of five straight, the Astros look poised to survive the aggressive push from the surging Athletics over the season's final month.

4. Chicago Cubs

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
76-53 7-3 5 (+1)

Daniel Murphy, the newest Cub, is a career .467 hitter at Wrigley Field - the highest average of any hitter with at least 100 plate appearances at the Friendly Confines. With that in mind, the NL Central clubs that continue to trail the Cubs would have been wise to claim Murphy on waivers and block Chicago from turning its sagging offense around by acquiring him for the stretch run.

5. Oakland Athletics

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
79-52 7-3 4 (-1)

With a 3-1 series victory over the Twins behind them, the A's can set their sights on another key set against the Astros. If they're able to take two out of three again - as they did earlier this month - Oakland will be in a great position to upset the defending champions down the stretch. Fifteen of Oakland's final 21 games are against sub-.500 teams. Matt Chapman has shown he is more than just glove, as the 25-year-old clobbered his 20th homer of the season this past weekend and boasts a 1.061 OPS in August.

6. Arizona Diamondbacks

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
72-58 7-3 9 (+3)

Paul Goldschmidt is making a late push for the NL MVP. His second half has been insane (1.020 OPS), further buoyed by an August in which he's hit .373 with seven home runs and six doubles in 20 games. Despite his exploits, the Diamondbacks haven't looked like world beaters, posting a 12-8 record. Were it not for Goldy, it's hard to believe they'd be clinging to top spot in the NL West.

7. Cleveland Indians

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
74-56 5-5 11 (+4)

Their AL Central title is all but wrapped up, so until the playoffs begin, Indians fans can sit back and enjoy watching Jose Ramirez push to become baseball's first 30-30 man since 2012.

8. St. Louis Cardinals

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
73-58 7-3 14 (+6)

Sometimes, change is needed. Under the guidance of interim manager Mike Shildt - who took over for the fired Mike Matheny on July 15, when the team was 47-46 - the previously moribund Cardinals are 26-12 and would host the NL wild-card game if the season ended today.

9. Colorado Rockies

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
71-59 7-3 12 (+3)

Rocktober is back, baby! Matt Holliday hit his first home run with the Rockies since 2008, three games after returning to the team that drafted him. Bringing back the 38-year-old is hardly a sentimental move, as Colorado remains in a serious dogfight for the NL West lead and the second wild-card spot. Nolan Arenado could very well win the MVP even if his numbers are bolstered by a 1.105 OPS at Coors.

10. Atlanta Braves

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
73-57 5-5 13 (+3)

Over the past two weeks, Ronald Acuna Jr. has clobbered seven homers while Mike Foltynewicz has continued his remarkable breakout, allowing two runs over his past 21 innings. Despite their noted strengths in the lineup and on the mound, the first-place Braves still faltered against an easy opponent, splitting the four-game series with the hapless Marlins when they could have been putting distance between themselves and the Phillies in the pennant race.

11. Seattle Mariners

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
74-56 5-5 6 (-5)

The Mariners may have gotten lost in the shuffle as the A's have charged up the AL West standings, but their season is far from over. The biggest story in Seattle has to be Edwin Diaz locking down the ninth inning to a franchise-record 50 saves. He's within striking distance of Francisco Rodriguez's single-season MLB record of 62. He needs 12 saves in the team's final 31 games to make history.

12. Los Angeles Dodgers

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
70-61 6-4 7 (-5)

The Dodgers' bullpen has been nothing short of atrocious lately. Over the past two weeks, Scott Alexander, Kenley Jansen, Caleb Ferguson, and Daniel Hudson have combined to allow 16 runs over 15 1/3 innings. Luckily for the relief corps, the team is still 6-4 over their last 10 games thanks to a white-hot Justin Turner, who is 17-for-50 with four doubles and three home runs over that span.

13. Milwaukee Brewers

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
73-59 5-5 8 (-5)

Starting pitching has hindered the Brewers' quest for a playoff berth. In August, Milwaukee's starters have combined for a 4.56 ERA that ranks 12th among the 15 NL teams while allowing 1.4 homers per nine innings. That has to change if its season is to last longer than 162 games.

14. Philadelphia Phillies

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
70-60 4-6 10 (-4)

In their race for NL East supremacy, the Phillies had a favorable matchup against the Blue Jays scheduled but dropped two of three. Thankfully for them, the Braves did the same against the Marlins, keeping the standings ostensibly the same. However, considering the fact that Philadephia hasn't won a series in the past six and sit three games back of Atlanta, its postseason hopes are shriveling.

15. Tampa Bay Rays

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
70-61 8-2 17 (+2)

Tampa Bay swept the mighty Red Sox over the weekend, outscoring Boston 24-5 in the process. Incredibly, the Rays are now nine games above .500 and though they probably won't make the playoffs - they're too far back in the AL East, and are nine back of Oakland for the wild card - that hasn't stopped staff ace Blake Snell from believing this team can make a push for October.

16. Washington Nationals

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
65-66 5-5 15 (-1)

The second half has not been kind to the Nationals' bullpen. As a unit, the relief corps has posted a 4.70 ERA over 105 1/3 innings, which makes the trades of Shawn Kelley and Brandon Kintzler even more curious. Washington has fallen further out of the playoff race, now sitting 8 1/2 games out of first in the NL East after the weekend. If Kelvin Herrera's foot injury sustained on Sunday is serious, the depleted bullpen could render the club's already slim hopes of rebounding completely hopeless.

17. Pittsburgh Pirates

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
64-67 3-7 16 (-1)

Despite buying at the deadline, the Pirates have wilted thanks in part to their most noteworthy acquisition not acclimating particularly well. Over five starts, Chris Archer has allowed 18 runs (15 earned) over 22 1/3 innings on 30 hits and nine walks. Tyler Glasnow, on the other hand, has settled in with the Rays. Aside from his one stinker against the Red Sox, the 25-year-old has struck out American League hitters at a 42.4 percent clip. Meanwhile, Austin Meadows has dominated Triple-A as a member of the Montgomery Biscuits. That trade isn't looking so good at the moment.

18. Los Angeles Angels

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
63-68 3-7 19 (+1)

Mike Trout made his return from a wrist injury and bereavement in time for Players Weekend and honored his late brother-in-law by wearing Aaron Cox's first initial and last name as his nickname. It's a touching tribute displayed by the best player in the world who will, again, have to settle for "there's always next year" on an Angels team that has deployed that sentiment with frustrating regularity.

19. Minnesota Twins

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
61-69 4-6 20 (+1)

The Lance Lynn signing may not have paid off for the Twins on the field, but they might've turned him into gold by dealing him to the Yankees for Tyler Austin. As a Twin, Austin's hitting .333/.370/.786 and is looking like a capable choice to potentially take over for franchise icon Joe Mauer at first base.

20. San Francisco Giants

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
65-67 4-6 18 (-2)

As disappointing and injury-laden as the Giants' season has been (if it weren't for bad luck, Brandon Belt would have no luck at all), there is a legitimate back-end Rookie of the Year candidate by the Bay. Dereck Rodriguez won't get the nod over Acuna or Juan Soto, but he's been the team's most reliable starter by going 6-1 with a 2.30 ERA over the first 15 games of his career.

21. Toronto Blue Jays

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
60-70 5-5 21 (-)

During a season in which things to root for have been few and far between, Blue Jays fans have just witnessed history thanks to Kendrys Morales breaking the franchise record for consecutive games with a home run. Due to the insurmountable hole it dug itself into early in the campaign, Toronto has no shot at the postseason, but that didn't stop the club from playing spoiler, taking two of three against the Phillies in the midst of a five-game win streak.

22. Texas Rangers

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
58-74 5-5 23 (+1)

It's been a disappointing season for the Rangers, but one positive of late has been the play of Rougned Odor. One of the worst players in baseball last year, Odor has turned it on recently and owns a .293/.383/.598 line in August with seven homers. Perhaps most incredibly, he's developed a bit of an eye at the plate, walking 14 times to 22 strikeouts.

23. New York Mets

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
58-72 6-4 24 (+1)

While all the attention in Queens is rightfully surrounding Mets ace Jacob deGrom, it's time to raise a toast to Zack Wheeler. After injuries claimed most of the last three seasons, Wheeler has rebounded nicely with a 9-6 record and 3.46 ERA over 153 1/3 innings. He's saved his best for the dead of summer, going 6-0 in seven starts after the All-Star Game and allowing no more than two earned runs in any of those outings.

24. Cincinnati Reds

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
56-75 4-6 22 (-2)

The Matt Harvey reclamation project continues. The Reds wound up keeping the mercurial right-hander instead of trading him, and it may have endeared him further to the organization. Harvey, who owns a 4.14 ERA in 95 2/3 innings with Cincinnati, said last week that he's open to re-signing with the club when he hits free agency after this season. Those numbers may not be to his old standard, but it's a marked - even if gradual - improvement over his latter days with the Mets.

25. Detroit Tigers

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
53-78 3-7 26 (+1)

Michael Fulmer finally returned to action Friday after over a month on the shelf with an oblique strain. He only lasted 4 2/3 innings but pitched well, and didn't allow a run on 77 pitches while striking out four. For a Tigers team that doesn't have much to play for right now, having its ace return to form would be a nice season-ending consolation gift.

26. Chicago White Sox

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
51-79 7-3 28 (+2)

The era of flamethrower Michael Kopech has begun, as the White Sox promoted the other key piece of the Chris Sale trade early last week. After a rain-shortened debut, the right-hander managed six innings of one-run ball against the Tigers on Sunday. With eight strikeouts over eight frames, Kopech has been as advertised. With the way Yoan Moncada has struggled, south side fans will hope Kopech is the real deal.

27. Miami Marlins

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
53-79 5-5 27 (-)

The Marlins will welcome back outfielder Lewis Brinson when rosters expand at the beginning of September. The rookie was mired in a rough season, batting .186 in 84 games before being sidelined with a hip injury. A key part of the Christian Yelich deal last offseason, the former first-round pick is being counted on to lead the way during the Marlins' rebuild. So far, he hasn't lived up to the hype. The brightest spot in the lineup has been catcher J.T. Realmuto, and he could very easily be traded this fall.

28. San Diego Padres

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
50-83 2-8 25 (-3)

Perhaps the most damning thing about the Padres is that the eight-year, $144-million deal they handed Eric Hosmer this offseason is still seven seasons away from expiring. Among qualified first basemen, Hosmer has only been better than Chris Davis by FanGraphs' WAR, and trails players like Ryon Healy, Josh Bell, and Yonder Alonso in wRC+. San Diego fans won't even get to see their most promising future asset when rosters expand in September as Fernando Tatis Jr. is out for the remainder of the year.

29. Kansas City Royals

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
40-91 3-7 29 (-)

Friday's walk-off win punctuated a series victory over the AL Central-leading Indians and provided the Royals with a nice break from losing. Still, they own a league-worst minus-225 run differential and only won their 40th game this weekend.

30. Baltimore Orioles

RECORD LAST 10 PREVIOUS RANK (CHANGE)
37-94 1-9 30 (-)

The Orioles' most highly touted prospects haven't yet joined the big-league club, but Cedric Mullins has seen his stock rise over his 16 games since promotion. In addition to robbing Giancarlo Stanton of the slugger's 300th career homer with a remarkable catch, he's hit .309/.387/.509. When Yusniel Diaz, Ryan Mountcastle, and Austin Hays join the party, the offense could be set for the long term.

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