MLB

MLB power rankings: Red Sox, Indians rising

USA TODAY Sports
Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers is batting .350 since his callup from the minors.

The odds of the Los Angeles Dodgers making the playoffs are 100%, according to Fangraphs.com

Not surprising for a team 52 games (87-35) over .500 and once again No. 1 in USA TODAY' Sports' MLB power rankings for the fifth consecutive week. 

Meanwhile, the American League race is heating up. The Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians are challenging the Houston Astros for the top ranked team in the junior circuit.  

From 1 to 30, how they stack up based on voting from our 10-person panel:

TEAM.  MOVEMENT

1. Los Angeles Dodgers: --

Only 14 losses in 65 home games.

2. Washington Nationals: --

Stephen Strasburg rejoins a rotation that has a 1.86 ERA in last 10 games.

3. Houston Astros: +1

Dallas Keuchel's last two starts (13 2/3 innings, 1ER) a big sigh of relief.

4. Boston Red Sox: -1

Rafael Devers or Yoan Moncada?

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5. Cleveland Indians:  +2

First team with three 12-game winners in Kluber, Carrasco and Bauer.

T-6. Colorado Rockies: --

Greg Holland (0-3, 18.69 ERA in last five outings) showing signs of fatigue after heavy first-half workload.

T-6. Chicago Cubs: +2

Next six games against two last-place teams: Reds and Phillies.

T-6. New York Yankees: +3

Aroldis Chapman is now the highest-paid set-up reliever in baseball.

9. Arizona Diamondbacks: -4

Jake Lamb's 95 RBI are one fewer than the total for MVP front-runner Paul Goldschmidt.

10. Milwaukee Brewers: +1

In the midst of a daunting 10-day, nine-game road trip that ends with the Dodgers.

11. St. Louis Cardinals: -3

It's time to launch the campaign for Paul DeJong as rookie of the year runner-up.

12. Los Angeles Angels: +1

Multi-tool broadcaster: Jose Mota first to do play-by-play and analysis in English and Spanish on radio and TV.

13. Minnesota Twins: -2

Byron Buxton had a 1.011 OPS in Sept./Oct. last year. Since the break this season, he's at .959.

14. Kansas City Royals: -2

Mike Moustakas (35) a home run short of tying franchise's single-season record.

15. Seattle Mariners: +1

Mariners, on 12-game, 7,500-mile trip, don't play at home again until September.

16. Texas Rangers: +3

Pivotal moment: Next 10 games on road against division rivals -- Angels, A's, Astros.

17. Tampa Bay Rays: -4

Going 5-13 at home after the break buries them in wild-card race.

18. Baltimore Orioles:  -1

Manny Machado hits three grand slams in 12 days but Orioles keep stumbling.

19. Pittsburgh Pirates: -1

Sunday's game in Williamsport, Pa., marked return of Andrew McCutchen, who played for Crosscutters in '05.

 

20. Miami Marlins: --

Here's hoping Jeter's new baby is wearing a hard hat when Stanton is at the plate.

21. Toronto Blue Jays: --

There's still a 4% chance of making the playoffs.

22. Atlanta Braves: --

Home not so sweet: Julio Teheran is 1-9 with a 6.98 at SunTrust Park.

23. Detroit Tigers: --

Free fall continues: Have lost 12 of their last 15.

24. New York Mets: --

Who's next? Granderson, Rene Rivera, Reed, Bruce, Duda, Walker already gone.

25. Oakland Athletics: --

Fans can look forward to "PTBNL" (Josh Phegley), "Slydah" (Liam Hendricks) and "Squeaky" (Jharel Cotton) this weekend.

26. San Diego Padres: --

Wil Myers batting .190 in the second half.

27. Cincinnati Reds: --

Joey Votto's MVP-type season lost in team's terrible season.

28. Chicago White Sox: --

Juan Minaya the only active pitcher on the staff with a save.

29. San Francisco Giants: --

First team to be mathematically eliminated from a division race.

30. Philadelphia Phillies: --

On pace (.369 winning percentage) for worst season in franchise history since 1961.

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