MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers remain dominant, Yankees in free fall

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Welcome to the 10th edition of theScore's MLB Power Rankings for the 2022 season. Our last rankings were published on Aug. 3.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
84-36 7-3 +264 2 (+1) ⬆️

The Dodgers are a runaway freight train. With the conversation heavily focused on the Yankees, and New York's hot start and recent cold snap, Los Angeles has flown under the radar as baseball's best team. The Dodgers are a staggering 37-8 since the beginning of July despite suffering a couple of key injuries. There's definitely some concern in the rotation with the loss of Walker Buehler for the season and Clayton Kershaw's uncertain status as he battles through another back injury. However, the Dodgers boast an unfair collection of offensive talent, including the revitalized Joey Gallo, and some quality arms in the bullpen.

2. New York Mets

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
79-44 6-4 +126 4 (+2) ⬆️

The hottest team in New York no longer resides in the Bronx. While the Yankees have struggled this month, the Mets have won 15 of 22 to help hold off the surging Braves for the top spot in the NL East. Mark Canha, who belted two homers in Sunday's wild win over the Phillies, has been a major factor, contributing a .990 OPS and 13 RBIs in 19 August games.

3. Houston Astros

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
78-45 6-4 +151 3 (-) 

The Astros own the best record in the American League, but that has more to do with other teams like the Yankees scuffling. Houston is 11-9 in August and went 3-4 during its most recent road trip against the White Sox and Braves. Yordan Alvarez has struggled this month (.626 OPS), but Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker have been in top form, combining for 48 hits, 30 runs, and 34 RBIs.

4. Atlanta Braves

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
75-48 8-2 +117 6 (+2) ⬆️

The Braves made some shrewd moves at the deadline, and they appear to have fortified an already deep roster for another playoff push. GM Alex Anthopoulos continues to lock up young pieces of Atlanta's core to team-friendly extensions. With Matt Olson, Ronald Acuna Jr., Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, and now Michael Harris II signed for the foreseeable future, Atlanta's window to win is wide open. Albies appears closer to returning from a broken foot, but the Braves have been able to install talented youngster Vaughn Grissom at second base to help fill the void.

5. New York Yankees

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
74-48 3-7 +184 1 (-4) ⬇️

It's been a wild week in New York. From Aaron Boone slamming tables to verbal spats between Gerrit Cole and the Blue Jays, the Bronx Bombers have certainly been in the spotlight for all of the wrong reasons. Despite a terrible month (5-14) and so much controversy, the Yankees are still in first place and should get a boost when Giancarlo Stanton returns this week.

6. St. Louis Cardinals

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
69-51 8-2 +112 11 (+5) ⬆️

The Cardinals are on fire, and a big part of their success of late has been the incredible performance of Albert Pujols. The legendary slugger is just eight home runs away from 700 and enjoying his best offensive season in a decade. Although the Cardinals are in great shape offensively, there remain questions surrounding their pitching staff. St. Louis desperately needs one or both of Jack Flaherty and Steven Matz to return and make significant contributions for the club to have a deep run in October.

7. Seattle Mariners

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
66-56 6-4 +33 10 (+3) ⬆️

Barring an unexpected collapse, it appears that Seattle's postseason drought could mercifully come to an end. Trade deadline acquisitions are never guaranteed to provide the desired effect, but Jerry Dipoto's moves have clearly provided the Mariners with a needed boost to move up in the standings. Luis Castillo has been exactly as advertised. Although the price was steep, the talented right-hander has a penchant for being at his best in big games - something that could serve him and the Mariners very well in the postseason.

8. Philadelphia Phillies

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
66-55 4-6 +65 8 (-)

The Phillies were rolling at the beginning of the month, winning eight of their first 10 games, but losing three of four to the division-leading Mets over the weekend leaves them just 1.5 games ahead of the Brewers for the last NL wild-card spot. Losing two important bullpen arms in Seranthony Dominguez and Corey Knebel isn't going to cure their pain, either. Good thing Bryce Harper is expected to return at the beginning of September.

9. Toronto Blue Jays

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
65-55 5-5 +59 7 (-2) ⬇️

The Blue Jays struggled mightily to start August but have rebounded to close the gap on the Yankees in the AL East. Toronto's streaky bullpen has found its stride since the middle of July, but there remain concerns about a lack of strikeouts in high-leverage situations. The health of George Springer will be crucial to any hopes of making the playoffs and going on a run. The All-Star outfielder continues to battle a nagging elbow issue and missed the last three games of a weekend series in New York after fouling a ball off his knee.

10. San Diego Padres

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
68-56 5-5 +50 5 (-5) ⬇️

It's been a nightmarish stretch for the Padres. After the euphoria of landing Juan Soto and Josh Hader at the deadline, San Diego has struggled on the field and lost star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. to an 80-game PED suspension. The Padres are an underwhelming 8-10 since the deadline and appear to have a real issue on their hands with the puzzling decline of Hader. The four-time All-Star closer struggled with the Brewers before the trade and has failed to find a way out of it since joining the Padres. Hader carries a staggering 16.20 ERA in his first five appearances with San Diego and was given a break from closing duties by manager Bob Melvin.

11. Cleveland Guardians

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
64-56 6-4 +30 16 (+5) ⬆️

Nobody expected the Guardians to be in this position when the season began, but here we are. Cleveland is in the midst of a strong month thanks to some impressive work from youngsters Andre Gimenez, Oscar Gonzalez, and Steven Kwan, who have picked up the slack for Jose Ramirez of late. Starters Shane Bieber, Triston McKenzie, and Cal Quantrill have also been huge, combining for a 2.05 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 79 innings in August thus far.

12. Minnesota Twins

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
62-57 5-5 +25 12 (-)

The Twins are in a good spot despite some inconsistencies since the trade deadline. Minnesota's big acquisitions haven't provided the spark many hoped for thus far. Tyler Mahle is on the IL with a shoulder issue, while closer Jorge Lopez has been forced to navigate trouble in a handful of his outings. The Twins still boast a power lineup and could easily pull away from Cleveland and Chicago with a hot offensive stretch.

13. Tampa Bay Rays

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
65-55 7-3 +35 13 (-)

The Rays are finding ways to win ball games despite a number of injuries to key contributors. Even with some struggles on the offensive side of the ball, Tampa Bay continues to excel at maximizing the production of its pitching staff. Rays pitchers sit inside the top five in baseball in ERA, and a potential playoff rotation of Shane McClanahan, Drew Rasmussen, and Jeffrey Springs is something no contending team should be excited about seeing.

14. Milwaukee Brewers

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
64-56 4-6 +34 9 (-5) ⬇️

It's been a rough month for the Brew Crew, who have lost series to the Pirates, Reds, and Cubs. Milwaukee's offense, with Rowdy Tellez and Keston Hiura as the exceptions, has been ice cold. The team is hitting a league-worst .201 and ranks 20th in the majors in runs scored in August.

15. Baltimore Orioles

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
63-58 5-5 +11 17 (+2) ⬆️

The Orioles have cooled off a bit after beginning August with five straight wins, but they've still won five series this month and are just 2.5 games out of a playoff spot. They've also managed to keep winning after trading slugger Trey Mancini and Lopez at the deadline. Adley Rutschman continues to look like the real deal. The catcher owns a .313/.446/.547 slash line in August and is right in the thick of things for AL Rookie of the Year.

16. Chicago White Sox

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
62-59 6-4 -29 15 (-1) ⬇️

Every time it looks like the White Sox are figuring it out, they drop a few games and lose any momentum. After sweeping the Tigers and taking the first two of a four-game series with the Astros, Chicago dropped a pair to Houston, including an embarrassing 21-5 rout on its home field. The White Sox are still within striking distance of the AL Central lead as well as a wild-card spot, but at this stage of the season, it's fair to label them as one of the most disappointing clubs in MLB.

17. Boston Red Sox

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
60-62 6-4 -37 14 (-3) ⬇️

While things are a touch better in Beantown after a disastrous July, the Red Sox just aren't doing enough to close the gap for the final wild-card spot in the AL. Boston is six games back and entering a tough stretch in the schedule, with its next nine games against the Blue Jays, Rays, and Twins. This could be a make-or-break time of year for Alex Cora's underachieving squad.

18. San Francisco Giants

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
60-61 6-4 +16 18 (-)

Carlos Rodon continues to make a push for the NL Cy Young despite playing on a mediocre Giants team this season. The left-hander has surrendered just four earned runs while recording 21 strikeouts over three starts (17 1/3 innings) in August. He's tied with Sandy Alcantara for the highest fWAR (4.7) in the NL among starting pitchers, has the best FIP (2.35), and is tops with an 11.5 K/9. The two-time All-Star is set for a big payday if he decides to test free agency.

19. Arizona Diamondbacks

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
55-66 4-6 -33 21 (+2) ⬆️

It's been another underwhelming season in the desert, but there are some reasons for optimism for D-Backs fans. First baseman Christian Walker sits inside the top 10 at the position in fWAR and could reach 40 home runs for the first time in his career with a strong finish to the season. Arizona also has a formidable duo atop its rotation in Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen. Both hurlers carry an ERA under three and give the D-Backs a chance to win every time they take the ball.

20. Texas Rangers

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
55-66 6-4 +4 20 (-)

The Rangers made plenty of headlines off the field after longtime top executive Jon Daniels and manager Chris Woodward were fired amid a disappointing season. Texas looks poised to miss the playoffs for a sixth consecutive year despite spending a combined $556 million on Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, and Jon Gray during the offseason.

21. Los Angeles Angels

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
52-69 4-6 -49 22 (+1) ⬆️

It's encouraging to see Mike Trout back on the field after he was diagnosed with a rare condition in his back. There hasn't been much to cheer about over the last few months, but the Angels' starting pitching has found its stride in August. With the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Patrick Sandoval, and Reid Detmers, Los Angeles appears to have the makings of a strong staff to build around going forward.

22. Colorado Rockies

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
53-70 4-6 -114 23 (-1) ⬇️

It's hard to decipher what the long-term plan is for the Rockies. The franchise shocked the baseball world when it handed Kris Bryant a massive free-agent contract and didn't do much selling at the deadline despite residing in the basement of the NL West. It remains difficult to see a path to contention for Colorado anytime in the near future.

23. Miami Marlins

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
52-69 2-8 -65 19 (-4) ⬇️

The Marlins have hit rock bottom in August, winning just five of 19 games. Miami scored 32 runs during its current putrid stretch, which included three shutouts. Injuries to Garrett Cooper, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Jorge Soler, and Avisail Garcia left the club searching for answers offensively, and the current everyday lineup only has one player with 10-plus homers this season.

24. Chicago Cubs

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
52-68 7-3 -70 24 (-)

The Cubs appear to have struck gold with the acquisition of Franmil Reyes. The slugger was DFA'd by the Guardians but has quickly recaptured his form in the Windy City. Reyes has consistently been an above-average offensive player, and it appears his struggles in the first half of 2022 were more of an outlier.

25. Kansas City Royals

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
49-74 2-8 -149 28 (+3) ⬆️

The Royals have gotten a glimpse into their future this season, and it appears there's a lot to like. Young players like Bobby Witt Jr., Nick Pratto, MJ Melendez, and Vinnie Pasquantino have all shown flashes of brilliance. The Royals are likely still a few years away from serious contention, but it's easy to see the core of the next generation of stars in Kansas City.

26. Cincinnati Reds

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
48-71 4-6 -106 26 (-)

The end of an era is nearing in Cincinnati, with Joey Votto undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. The six-time All-Star and 2010 NL MVP will enter the final guaranteed year of his 10-year contract coming off a rotator cuff injury. It's too bad the soon-to-be 39-year-old will likely spend his final year in the majors on a rebuilding club.

27. Oakland Athletics

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
45-77 4-6 -140 27 (-)

The trade deadline may be in the rearview mirror, but the rebuild continues for the Athletics. After dealing Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino at the beginning of the month, Oakland continued to get rid of veterans on the roster, releasing Elvis Andrus and Stephen Piscotty. The moves allowed the A's to promote top prospect Shea Langeliers, who has been impressive. The young catcher owns a 1.037 OPS since debuting, including hitting a near cycle on Sunday where he also ended a historic 81-game triples drought for Oakland.

28. Detroit Tigers

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
47-76 4-6 -141 25 (-3) ⬇️

The Tigers fired GM Al Avila amid a disastrous season. Detroit carried real expectations into the 2022 campaign, and a combination of injuries and underperformance has led to a massive step back. The free-agent contracts given to Javier Baez and Eduardo Rodriguez look like moves that might hamstring the Tigers for years to come. If the club can get some of its young pitchers healthy and productive next season, it's possible Detroit will get back on track.

29. Pittsburgh Pirates

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
47-74 2-8 -174 29 (-)

The Pirates have lost 12 of their last 16 games and were ripped by Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley on air during the stretch. Eckersley called Pittsburgh's lineup "pathetic" and a "hodgepodge of nothingness." A few players responded to the comments, including Bryan Reynolds, who went deep three times against the Red Sox after the remarks. It was nice to see some fire from a club that seems to be in a constant state of rebuilding.

30. Washington Nationals

Record Last 10 RD Previous Rank (Change)
41-82 4-6 -209 30 (-)

Seeing your amazing ex right after a split isn't fun. However, the Nationals haven't let Juan Soto and the Padres walk all over them. Washington went 3-4 in seven games against San Diego just weeks after the massive blockbuster trade changed the course of both franchises. CJ Abrams, one of the key pieces coming back to the Nats, has recorded four hits and one stolen base in seven contests.

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