MLB Power Rankings: Yankees finally lead the way as September begins

This is the 13th edition of theScore's MLB Power Rankings for the 2019 season. Rankings will continue being published every second Monday throughout the regular season, with the next instalment coming Sept. 16.

1. New York Yankees

The Yankees are baseball's first 90-win team after Mike Ford's pinch-hit, walk-off homer Sunday against the A's, and they reach the top of the power rankings for the first time this year. They've dominated despite setting a record for the most individual players placed on the IL in a single season after Gio Urshela became the 29th Yankee to be shelved. And if they're playing at home, you might as well give them the W in advance. The last time they lost a series at home was April 12-14.

2. Houston Astros

Justin Verlander's no-hitter against the Blue Jays was an incredible start to September for an Astros club that has won 11 of 14 since losing five straight during the middle of August. Aside from six games against the Brewers and A's, Houston's schedule down the stretch is easy.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

Over the first five months of the season, the Dodgers put enough distance between themselves and every other NL team that they probably don't even need to try in order to clinch the championship series - but that doesn't mean they shouldn't. Dropping three of four to the Diamondbacks not only made L.A. look lethargic, but gave hope to the second-place club.

4. Atlanta Braves

Everything is clicking for the Braves as the calendar rolls over, though that may have a lot to do with the level of competition they faced to close out August. The Braves finished the month on an 11-2 tear, with 11 of those games coming against either the Marlins, Mets, Rockies, Blue Jays, or White Sox. The good news is, those games still count, and their season ends with eight games against the Giants, Royals, and Mets.

5. Minnesota Twins

The Twins finally arrived at a foregone conclusion Saturday night as they set a new MLB record with their 268th home run. Jorge Polanco also became the eighth Twins hitter to reach the 20-homer plateau - another record. Marwin Gonzalez could join the party once he's off the IL, as he's next in line with 15 bombs. On the pitching front, highly touted prospect Brusdar Graterol made his debut Sunday in relief, recording a strikeout in a scoreless ninth inning against the Tigers.

6. Tampa Bay Rays

A three-game sweep of the Indians is exactly the kind of bounce-back the Rays needed after failing to take series from the Mariners, Orioles, and Astros. After what look like gimmes against Baltimore, Toronto, Texas, and the Angels to begin September, they're in for a tough stretch against the Dodgers, Red Sox, and Yankees. Good thing Blake Snell should be back by then.

7. St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals are on their best roll of the season, largely due to the one-two pitching punch of Jack Flaherty and Dakota Hudson. Flaherty finished August with a 4-1 record and 0.71 ERA while Hudson wasn't far behind with an identical record and 2.38 ERA. Taking three of four during a pair of weekend doubleheaders buoyed St Louis' 8-2 run over its last 10 games, earning a little separation atop the NL Central in the process.

8. Washington Nationals

The Nats find themselves in a very good spot to potentially squeak into the postseason with a handsome lead on the top NL wild-card spot. With Patrick Corbin's start on Sunday, Washington became the first Senior Circuit club in a half-century with three different 200-strikeout pitchers.

9. Oakland Athletics

The A's dropped a series in the Bronx over the weekend to fall out of a playoff spot. It's a significant setback, to be sure, but one they have a good chance to overcome - especially considering they held late leads against the Yankees in both losses. Oakland has still won 10 of its last 16 and only has four games left against teams with winning records.

10. Cleveland Indians

Carlos Carrasco's return following his leukemia diagnosis was the feel-good story of the weekend, and he'll be a big help out of the bullpen down the stretch. That's something the Indians need now, as they're barely clinging to a playoff spot after being swept by the Rays.

11. Chicago Cubs

If it leads to something more substantial, Yu Darvish being scratched with forearm tightness is a massive blow for the Cubs. The veteran right-hander had finally hit his stride, especially with his command; Darvish hasn't issued more than one walk in a single outing since June. In July and August, he went 3-2 with a 3.19 ERA and 11.32 K/9 with only three walks in 62 innings. The club did, however, welcome Ben Zobrist back after several months away dealing with a personal matter. The Cubs will hope that he can be a linchpin in their pursuit of a postseason berth.

12. Arizona Diamondbacks

Don't look now, but the D-Backs are rolling. After winning six of their last seven - including taking three of four from the Dodgers - they suddenly find themselves back in playoff contention. Arizona is in a dead heat for the second wild card with the Phillies, Brewers, and Mets, and boasts the best run differential of the four clubs. Ketel Marte's breakout continued in August as he posted a .356/.431/.611 slash line with five homers and four steals.

13. Philadelphia Phillies

It's been average baseball in Philadelphia since the All-Star break, with 23 wins and 22 losses in the second half and a 13-14 record in August. The Phillies need to do better if they're going to make up any ground on the Cubs for the second wild card. Dropping two of their last three series to the Mets and Marlins didn't help, and neither will losing Jake Arrieta for the remainder of the season.

14. New York Mets

The Mets stalled at the end of August. They lost six in a row at home against fellow contenders the Cubs and Braves, including one of the worst starts of Noah Syndergaard's career. Yes, they righted the ship a bit with a good weekend series win in Philadelphia, but their mini-slide makes things a lot tougher heading into September.

15. Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers look increasingly like pretenders as the Cubs and Cardinals get further and further out of reach. Milwaukee is still in the thick of the NL wild-card race, but its rotation doesn't seem to have the horses. In August, only the Rockies' and Marlins' staffs were worse according to FanGraphs WAR, as Brewers starters collectively posted a 4.45 ERA and 5.63 FIP.

16. Boston Red Sox

Three weeks without David Price and no Chris Sale for the rest of the season appeared to spell doom for the Red Sox, but Boston has won 10 of 14 thanks to a scorching hot J.D. Martinez. However, it may be too little, too late for the defending World Series champs. They're five games back of a playoff spot and are set to play six straight against the Twins and Yankees.

17. Cincinnati Reds

Aristides Aquino is the talk of Cincinnati - and the league - following his record-setting stretch. He's the first NL rookie to ever hit 14 home runs in a calendar month and also became the fastest player to hit 10 long balls by reaching the marker in his 16th career game. Even if his monstrous output isn't sustainable, he's been one of the most thrilling players to watch swing the bat this season.

18. San Francisco Giants

The clock might have finally struck midnight on the Giants' playoff push, as they're now seven back of a wild card. But there's plenty for them to play for in September, including the opportunity to post a winning record that would serve as a bow on manager Bruce Bochy's Hall of Fame career.

19. Los Angeles Angels

It's been a mix of highs and lows for the Angels recently, with Mike Trout and Albert Pujols etching their names in the history books despite their club floundering below .500. Trout not only surpassed Derek Jeter in career WAR this past month, but he became the youngest player ever to reach the 200-homer, 200-steals club. Meanwhile, Pujols became the all-time leader in hits among foreign-born players and also passed Willie Mays for lifetime extra-base knocks as well.

20. Texas Rangers

Rougned Odor continues to play almost every day, which is strange because he's not helping the Rangers one bit. Odor currently boasts the second-worst WAR (minus-0.4) among qualified position players. The Rangers have shown flashes of promise this season, but if they want to make it to the next level, the front office needs to let Odor go.

21. San Diego Padres

For the Padres, it's officially time to play for next year - but they hung in longer than most expected they would. Fernando Tatis Jr. likely won't return this season, and breakout ace Chris Paddack will be shut down soon in order to preserve his arm. The rookie right-hander authored a remarkable 3.69 ERA and 4.24 FIP over 23 starts. It was fun while it lasted, and now the expectations for 2020 are set.

22. Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh fans can still cheer for their team to play spoiler. In the final month of the season, the Pirates face the Cardinals and Brewers three times each, and the Cubs six times. Although they're ostensibly out of it, the Pirates are coming off of a decent August, having won seven of their final nine games.

23. Toronto Blue Jays

Getting no-hit by Justin Verlander for the second time (he also did it to Toronto in 2011) wasn't the best start to September for the Blue Jays, but the youngsters hung with the Astros and played decent ball against playoff contenders the Braves, Dodgers, Yankees, and Rays last month. Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continue to look legit, and Reese McGuire (.992 OPS) and Jacob Waguespack (2.88 ERA) also fared well in August.

24. Chicago White Sox

Lucas Giolito continued his stellar turnaround season with an excellent August that included a three-hit shutout of the powerful Twins. He might not win the Cy Young, but he's a legitimate candidate despite pitching for one of the worst teams in baseball. He's also the runaway Comeback Player of the Year in the AL and a real bright spot for the White Sox during another rough rebuilding year.

25. Colorado Rockies

Nolan Arenado's ridiculous August has continued into September. He cranked his 35th homer of the season Sunday after mashing 12 taters the month prior. It's the fifth straight season that Arenado has hit 35 or more long balls. He could easily eclipse the career-high 42-homer mark he established in 2015.

26. Seattle Mariners

Keon Broxton's ejection and subsequent suspension for accidentally hitting an umpire in the face with his batting glove is a perfect metaphor for Seattle's disappointing season. After coming out of the gate hot in April, the Mariners struggled mightily and are now locked in the AL West basement. Veteran third baseman Kyle Seager has been productive, though, batting .323 with nine home runs in August - a surge that may have boosted his offseason trade value.

27. Miami Marlins

Miami scuffled through a horrible August, winning just seven games while getting outscored by 70 runs. Things only got worse for the Marlins when their hottest hitter, Brian Anderson, was officially ruled out for the remainder of the season after fracturing a finger.

28. Kansas City Royals

Congratulations to longtime Royals outfielder Alex Gordon, who matched Babe Ruth and Ted Williams this past week. Gordon did that by pitching in a blowout after starting the game as his team's cleanup hitter, something previously accomplished by Ruth and Williams. Yes, it's been that kind of season in Kansas City.

29. Baltimore Orioles

An ugly Orioles season got a bit of a boost down on the farm when highly touted prospect Ryan Mountcastle was named MVP of the Triple-A International League. Mountcastle wasn't part of the first batch of September call-ups, but Baltimore might get a glimpse of the future once the minor-league season is done.

30. Detroit Tigers

The Tigers' ugly season has cratered even further. Matthew Boyd, who was such a bright light early in the campaign, posted a 7.16 ERA over 32 2/3 August innings. The silver lining has been 28-year-old Drew VerHagen. The righty went 3-0 with a 2.52 ERA and 1.00 WHIP between the rotation and bullpen in August. Still, with a minus-269 run differential, the Tigers have earned their spot as the worst team in the majors.