Before diving into the MLB games today, it’s always important to examine the MLB standings and latest MLB power rankings to get a picture for how things are shaking out during the 2022 season.
As more games are played, our MLB power rankings will round into form reflecting talent and the MLB standings. We’re now approaching the final month the 2022 MLB season, providing us with a great look at the best teams in MLB and those with a lot of room to improve heading into the summer.
Let’s dive into our latest MLB power rankings today heading into September.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (1)
The Los Angeles Dodgers hold steady atop the MLB power rankings. The 27-7 record since the All-Star Break seems unbelievable, but it’s also fitting for a team with so much depth and talent. Los Angeles boasts the lowest ERA in the second half (2.56), an elite lineup, a great manager and it remains the best team in MLB.
2. Houston Astros (2)
It’s fair to say the Trey Mancini trade is working out perfectly for the Houston Astros. A top-heavy lineup now boasts a slugger whose power fits perfectly into the ballpark, creating an elite batting order that can put up five-plus runs against anyone. Add in a top rotation and a well-rested bullpen, the Astros are the clear team to beat in the American League.
3. Atlanta Braves (4)
Holding the third-best record in baseball since the All-Star Break, the Atlanta Braves have everything they need to potentially win another World Series title. Austin Riley has cooled down at the plate, but Matt Olson is stepping up and this pitching staff is sensational. Even if Atlanta doesn’t win the NL East, it is an excellent foe who could take down anyone in October.
4. New York Mets (3)
The Subway Series didn’t unfold how the New York Mets wanted and the blame centers on the lineup. Not adding a bit bat, like Willson Contreras, always seemed like a failure by the front office. Francisco Lindor and Pete Alsonso will do everything in their power to produce more runs, but the reality is New York is missing that complementary slugger.
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5. St. Louis Cardinals (5)
The Jordan Montgomery trade is working out brilliantly for the St. Louis Cardinals. Right now, he looks like a front-line starter who the organization can trust in Game 2 of a playoff series. Add Adam Wainwright, Jack Flaherty and Miles Mikolas to that playoff rotation with a batting order carried by two MVPs, this is now a World Series contender.
6. New York Yankees (7)
Giancarlo Stanton rejoined the New York Yankees lineup and immediately provided a spark. Getting him back will also make life easier for Aaron Judge, who should see a few more favorable pitches with one of the most powerful bats in MLB behind him. Taking a series against the New York Mets created more confidence in this club getting out of its slump, but the Nestor Cortes injury now raises questions about the rotation.
7. Philadelphia Phillies (6)
Bryce Harper is back, returning to a team with the sixth-best record in baseball since the All-Star Break. Unfortunately, the boost for the lineup is weakened by Zack Wheeler (elbow) hitting the 15-day IL. It prevents the Phillies from climbing up the MLB power rankings for now, but a healthy version of this team can be dangerous in October.
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8. Toronto Blue Jays (11)
Credit to the Toronto Blue Jays for staying afloat since the All-Star Break, managing to avoid the big slide. As always, we have zero concerns about the lineup and bullpen. However, the concerns of an innings limit for Alex Manoah, inconsistency from José Berríos and a shaky back-end rotation could spell trouble in a postseason series against the Astros or Yankees.
9. Seattle Mariners (8)
The Seattle Mariners’ bullpen and starting rotation can put it in a position to make a postseason run. As for the lineup, that’s a tougher sell. Julio Rodriguez is an MVP-caliber talent, but his bat goes cold. As the past week has shown, it can be a serious drain when facing quality pitching with many of the Mariners’ bats going quiet. That’s why Seattle drops in the MLB power rankings today.
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10. Tampa Bay Rays (12)
The return of Manuel Margot and Harold Ramirez is pairing perfectly with Randy Arozarena’s scorching-hot bat. Together, with on-base threats around them, they are helping the Tampa Bay Rays lineup start to become significantly more productive. There would seemingly be even more room to improve when Wander Franco comes off the IL. However, Tampa Bay lacks the high-end talent to seriously contend for the AL crown.
11. Cleveland Guardians (10)
12. San Diego Padres (9)
13. Milwaukee Brewers (13)
14. Baltimore Orioles (17)
15. Chicago White Sox (14)
One play can make all the difference. If Adam Engel makes the catch in foul territory for the game-ending out, the Chicago White Sox walk away with a crucial series victory over an AL contender before facing a lighter portion of their schedule. Instead, Engel dropped it and the bullpen blew the win. Injuries, mismanagement and costly mistakes. The White Sox entered the season as a top-1 team in our MLB power rankings and we’ll likely not see them there again for the rest of the year.
16. Minnesota Twins (15)
17. San Francisco Giants (19)
18. Texas Rangers (20)
19. Boston Red Sox (16)
20. Arizona Diamondbacks (18)
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ future is exceptionally bright. We’re less than a year away from an outfielder with Alek Thomas, Corbin Carroll and Daulton Varsho. We could also see Brandon Pfaadt and Blake Walston in the Diamondbacks’ rotation next year, strengthening a young core that keeps getting more impressive. We could see the Diamondbacks supplant the Giants in the 2023 MLB power rankings.
21. Miami Marlins (21)
22. Chicago Cubs (23)
23. Colorado Rockies (24)
24. Los Angeles Angels (22)
25. Cincinnati Reds (25)
The Cincinnati Reds will likely be toward the bottom of MLB power rankings in 2023, but the team’s future is bright. Graham Ashcraft and Nick Lodolo are showing flashes of becoming front-line starters. Pair that with Hunter Greene and the talent in the minors, the future looks bright in Cincy.
26. Kansas City Royals (25)
27. Detroit Tigers (28)
28. Pittsburgh Pirates (27)
29. Oakland Athletics (29)
30. Washington Nationals (30)
This article was originally published on Sportsnaut.com and is republished here with permission.
