MLB Power Rankings: Who wants to win a wild-card berth?-ZoomTech News

With two weeks remaining within the common season, solely two of the six divisions have been determined and 4 playoff berths clinched. That can probably change within the coming week, however the wild-card races reside as much as their identify. 

Various groups proceed to combat for the ultimate spots in every league, which is able to inevitably depart an excellent crew or two on the surface wanting in come October. This week, there was additionally a little bit of motion amongst division leaders.

Here is my newest high 10, with just a few fascinating factoids about every membership and one new member.

1. Atlanta Braves (96-53; final week 1)
The Braves clinched per week in the past — their sixth straight NL East title — nevertheless it’s value nothing that they did it within the second-fewest video games in franchise historical past (146 video games). Atlanta nonetheless boasts a slugging proportion above .500 (.501), which might be the best in MLB historical past.

2. Baltimore Orioles (93-56; LW 2)
The Orioles are going to the playoffs. What’s to be decided is whether or not it is going to be as the primary or fourth seed within the American League. Baltimore rallied to win two straight in opposition to the Rays and handle a break up of their four-game collection. That gave the O’s the head-to-head tiebreaker. However their division lead remains to be simply two video games. They’ve additionally misplaced 5 of their previous eight video games general. 

3. Los Angeles Dodgers (91-57; LW 3)
Ho-hum, the Dodgers clinched one more NL West title, their tenth prior to now 11 seasons. After an offseason the place many anointed the Padres the favorites, the Dodgers have posted the second-best OPS (.800) in baseball and have one of the best report for the reason that All-Star break (40-19). They’re turning it on on the proper time.  

4. Tampa Bay Rays (92-59; LW 5)
The Rays briefly caught the Orioles this weekend however misplaced the ultimate two video games of their four-game collection. They clinched a playoff spot, anyway, and so they’re enjoying nice ball. Their 27-15 report since August is the fourth finest within the majors and three.36 crew ERA in September ranks third. 

5. Houston Astros (84-66; LW 4)
The Astros simply misplaced consecutive collection to the Royals and A’s, which is emblematic of their 6-8 September. They appear to play to their competitors. The offense is doing its half, nevertheless. Houston is one in every of two groups averaging six runs a sport within the second half. Furthermore, it has been over a month for the reason that Astros misplaced a sport by which they allowed three runs or fewer. 

6. Milwaukee Brewers (84-65; LW 7)
The Brew Crew has quietly been one of many higher groups for the reason that All-Star break, posting the third-best profitable proportion within the majors (.603). The important thing to their surge? A mix of well timed hitting and nice pitching. Milwaukee ranks fifth in common with runners in scoring place (.290) and leads all groups in ERA (3.33).

7. Toronto Blue Jays (83-67; LW 9)
By ERA, no crew in baseball has gotten higher beginning pitching than the Blue Jays (3.79). A yr in the past, they ranked 18th. That might want to proceed for Toronto, whose offense ranks sixteenth within the majors in runs per sport within the second half.

8.  Philadelphia Phillies (81-68; LW 8)
The Phillies have been (overly?) reliant on their energy all yr. It is actually paying dividends for the reason that All-Star break, although. They’ve slugged the second-most homers (99) and extra-base hits (217) whereas surging to the NL’a high wild-card spot. 

9. Minnesota Twins (79-71; LW unranked)
Steadiness has been key for the Twins this season. Their beginning pitchers are second within the majors for the reason that All-Star break with a 3.83 ERA, whereas their offense has scored 5.51 runs per sport, good for fifth in baseball. These two in tandem have propelled the Twins to 25-18 mark since August, which ranks seventh. 

10. Arizona Diamondbacks (79-72 LW 10)
Arizona at present owns the NL’s second wild-card spot after sweeping the Cubs over the weekend. The largest X-factor with the D-backs is their pitching. They’re 53-8 when permitting three runs or fewer, fourth finest within the majors. Conversely, after they enable 4 runs or extra, they’re 25-64, which ranks sixteenth.

Out: Seattle Mariners (6)

Ben Verlander is an MLB Analyst for FOX Sports activities and the host of the “Flippin’ Bats” podcast. Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Verlander was an All-American at Previous Dominion College earlier than he joined his brother, Justin, in Detroit as a 14th-round choose of the Tigers in 2013. He spent 5 years within the Tigers group. Observe him on Twitter @BenVerlander.

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