MLB Energy Rankings: Dodgers, Orioles and Rays Battle for Positioning Inside the High 5

Simply two weeks stay within the 2023 MLB common season. Whereas the postseason image is beginning to take form, there may be nonetheless so much to be sorted out earlier than the playoffs start.

The Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays are the one groups which have clinched within the AL aspect of the bracket, although the Minnesota Twins are a digital lock to say the AL Central title. That leaves the Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers all vying for the AL West crown, with the 2 groups that miss out preventing with the Toronto Blue Jays for the ultimate two wild-card spots.

The Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers have each clinched their respective division titles on the NL aspect, and the Milwaukee Brewers have a 6.5-game cushion within the NL Central, however the wild-card race continues to be a crowded mess. The Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Miami Marlins, Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants are all separated by only a few video games with three spots up for grabs.

For now, it is time for one more up to date model of our weekly MLB energy rankings.

Take into accout these rankings are a fluid course of, with groups rising and falling based mostly on their latest efficiency relative to the place they landed within the earlier week’s article.

30. Oakland Athletics (46-103)

Earlier Rank: 29

Final Week: 2-1 @ HOU, 0-3 vs. SD

The Athletics picked up an unlikely sequence win on the street in opposition to the Houston Astros behind sturdy outings from Ken Waldichuk (6.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER on Monday) and JP Sears (6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER on Tuesday). They might want to end 9-4 or higher to keep away from matching the worst report for the reason that staff moved to Oakland in 1968.

29. Kansas Metropolis Royals (48-102)

Earlier Rank: 30

Final Week: 2-1 @ CWS, 2-1 vs. HOU

With another house run, Bobby Witt Jr. will turn out to be the primary 30/30 participant in Kansas Metropolis Royals historical past, and he has emerged as a respectable star in his second MLB season. With back-to-back sequence wins final week, the Royals are taking part in a few of their greatest baseball of 2023 proper now, which may show to be a helpful springboard into subsequent season.

28. Chicago White Sox (57-93)

Earlier Rank: 27

Final Week: 1-2 vs. KC, 1-3 vs. MIN

The White Sox have misplaced 100 video games solely 4 occasions in franchise historical past. With a 4-12 report in September and a six-game street journey developing this week, there’s nonetheless an opportunity they might attain that mark in 2023. Outfielder Luis Robert Jr. had been one of many staff’s few shiny spots, however he’s hitting simply .159/.191/.205 with two extra-base hits in September.

27. Colorado Rockies (56-93)

Earlier Rank: 28

Final Week: 2-1 vs. CHC, 3-1 vs. SF

The Rockies proceed to be a troublesome matchup at Coors Discipline, choosing up a pair of sequence wins in opposition to groups battling for a wild-card berth final week. They’ve a .293 profitable proportion on the street this yr, which equates to a 47-115 report over a full season in the event that they performed all their video games away from house. All the accidents they’ve been pressured to navigate on the pitching aspect of issues made their latest success all of the extra spectacular.

26. Washington Nationals (66-84)

Earlier Rank: 23

Final Week: 1-3 @ PIT, 1-2 @ MIL

A powerful month of August has devolved right into a disastrous September for a younger Nationals staff constructing towards the long run. They misplaced 5 in a row final week to fall to 4-11 of their final 15 video games, and 9 of their closing 12 video games are in opposition to the Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles. Good luck!

25. Los Angeles Angels (68-82)

Earlier Rank: 19

Final Week: 1-2 @ SEA, 0-3 vs. DET

The Shohei Ohtani period virtually actually got here to an unceremonious finish final week when the two-way famous person was shut down for the rest of the season with an indirect damage after which cleaned out his locker at Angel Stadium. That is the bottom they’ve been ranked your entire season, and what briefly appeared like a promising potential playoff push in July seems much more like all-time low right here in September.

24. St. Louis Cardinals (66-83)

Earlier Rank: 22

Final Week: 2-1 @ BAL, 1-2 vs. PHI

Franchise icon Adam Wainwright lastly picked up profession win No. 199 in opposition to the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday. It is going to be a two-start week for him this week as he squares off in opposition to the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday and the San Diego Padres on Saturday. At this level, that is about all of the Cardinals need to play for in a misplaced season.

23. New York Mets (69-80)

Earlier Rank: 26

Final Week: 3-1 vs. ARI, 1-2 vs. CIN

The Mets are utilizing the ultimate few weeks of the 2023 season to check out high prospect Ronny Mauricio at third base. After a strong season at Triple-A, he’s hitting .313/.353/.417 with 15 hits in 13 video games since making his MLB debut on Sept. 1. It is going to be enjoyable to see how the roster takes form this offseason on the heels of their commerce deadline sell-off.

22. Pittsburgh Pirates (70-80)

Earlier Rank: 24

Final Week: 3-1 vs. WAS, 1-2 vs. NYY

The Pirates are 12-7 of their final 19 video games, and they’ll have a golden alternative to play spoiler within the coming weeks as they shut out their schedule in opposition to the Cubs, Reds, Phillies and Marlins, all of whom are battling for a postseason berth. Deadline pickup Bailey Falter has a 3.62 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 37.1 innings since he was acquired from Philadelphia.

21. Detroit Tigers (70-79)

Earlier Rank: 25

Final Week: 1-2 vs. CIN, 3-0 @ LAA

The second-half performances of Tarik Skubal (11 GS, 3.67 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 73 Ok, 61.1 IP) and Spencer Torkelson (.847 OPS, 16 HR, 38 RBI) give the Tigers two items to construct round subsequent season alongside a presumably wholesome Riley Greene. They’ve already improved on final yr’s 66-96 end.

Document: 74-76

Earlier Rank: 17

Final Week: 1-3 vs. NYY, 0-3 @ TOR

With a 2-10 report of their final 12 video games, the Pink Sox’s slim playoff hopes have been extinguished in all however the mathematical sense. Nonetheless, they might nonetheless play a task in finding out the AL East winner as they shut out the season in opposition to the Orioles and Rays.

A breakout rookie season from first baseman Triston Casas could have come to an finish final week when he was positioned on the injured record with shoulder irritation. The 23-year-old bought off to a gradual begin, however he ended up hitting .263/.367/.490 for a 128 OPS+ with 24 house runs in 132 video games.

Document: 72-78

Earlier Rank: 20

Final Week: 1-2 @ SF, 3-0 vs. TEX

A 3-game sweep of the Texas Rangers seems like too little, too late for the Cleveland Guardians. That profitable weekend was preceded by a 3-8 stretch of video games that dropped them to 7.5 video games again within the AL Central standings, and they’re on the cusp of being mathematically eradicated within the wild-card race.

With a .978 OPS in September, first baseman Josh Naylor is now hitting .314/.354/.507 with 28 doubles, 17 house runs and 91 RBI in a profession yr.

Document: 72-78

Earlier Rank: 21

Final Week: 2-1 @ LAD, 3-0 @ OAK

With a 10-5 report and plus-28 run differential in September, the Padres are nonetheless hanging round on the perimeter of wild-card competition at six video games again with 4 groups to overhaul for a spot within the projected discipline.

Blake Snell threw six scoreless innings of one-hit ball in opposition to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. With Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele (6.0 IP, 7 H, 6 ER) getting shelled in his most up-to-date begin, Snell is now the clear favourite for NL Cy Younger honors.

Document: 76-74

Earlier Rank: 16

Final Week: 2-1 vs. CLE, 1-3 @ COL

Between an 0-6 begin to September and three straight losses in opposition to the Colorado Rockies over the weekend, the Giants have been trending within the flawed path within the NL wild-card race. They enter play on Monday two video games again within the standings, however sitting in sixth place in a large discipline of contenders.

The pitching workers has a 4.72 ERA in September, and the bullpen has 4 blown saves in seven alternatives. A middling offense has been carried by sturdy pitching for a lot of the season, so that they might want to kind issues out on the mound to make a push up the standings.

Document: 76-74

Earlier Rank: 18

Final Week: 3-1 @ BOS, 2-1 @ PIT

The Yankees have been taking part in a few of their greatest baseball of the season the previous few weeks, however at 6.5 video games again within the AL wild-card standings, they nonetheless have only a 0.4 % likelihood of reaching the postseason, based on FanGraphs.

Gerrit Cole has a 1.71 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 38 strikeouts in 31.2 innings over his final 5 begins as he seems to place the ending touches on his first Cy Younger win.

Document: 78-72

Earlier Rank: 12

Final Week: 1-2 @ COL, 0-3 @ ARI

The Cubs went from comfortably within the NL postseason discipline to tied for third within the NL wild-card standings following a brutal West Coast journey that ended with a 6-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday Night time Baseball.

Residence sequence with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies ought to give them an opportunity to regain a number of the floor that they misplaced, however momentum just isn’t on their aspect proper now. The return of Marcus Stroman in a reduction position may assist ease the lack of nearer Adbert Alzolay, who’s sidelined with a forearm pressure.

Document: 78-72

Earlier Rank: 14

Final Week: 1-3 @ MIL, 3-0 vs. ATL

The Marlins swept the Atlanta Braves in Miami over the weekend for the primary time since 2015. Within the course of, they gave their NL wild-card hopes a pleasant increase on the heels of dropping three of 4 to the Milwaukee Brewers.

With a 43-32 report at house in comparison with 35-40 on the street, they should capitalize on their closing six house video games of the common season this week. On a person degree, Luis Arraez (.353 BA) has a cushty lead over Ronald Acuña Jr. (.337) and Freddie Freeman (.335) within the NL batting title race.

Document: 79-72

Earlier Rank: 11

Final Week: 1-3 @ NYM, 3-0 vs. CHC

The D-backs have constructed a half-game cushion for the No. 2 spot within the NL wild-card standings after sweeping the Chicago Cubs—one of many groups they have been chasing in that race—in a three-game sequence over the weekend.

Veteran Tommy Pham has ended up being probably the most impactful commerce pickups of this yr’s deadline, hitting .256/.310/.463 with six house runs and 26 RBI in 40 video games since becoming a member of the D-backs whereas hitting out of the No. 3 spot within the batting order.

Document: 78-73

Earlier Rank: 15

Final Week: 2-1 @ DET, 2-1 @ NYM

With a 4.91 ERA in September that ranks twenty second within the majors, the Cincinnati Reds proceed to stroll the tightrope of a shaky pitching workers whereas staying within the thick of the NL wild-card race. They enter Monday’s recreation in opposition to the Minnesota Twins a half-game again for the No. 3 spot within the standings.

Hunter Greene had a shaky first few begins after he was activated from the injured record, however he had a 1.59 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 21 strikeouts in 17 innings over his final three outings. They want him to pitch just like the ace of the workers down the stretch.

Document: 82-67

Earlier Rank: 13

Final Week: 4-0 @ TOR, 0-3 @ CLE

Simply when it appeared just like the Texas Rangers is perhaps righting the ship after a tough few weeks with a four-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays, they’d the favor returned by the Cleveland Guardians over the weekend after they have been outscored 23-6 in three video games.

The Rangers will play seven of their closing 13 video games in opposition to the Seattle Mariners, who at present sit one recreation behind them for the No. 3 AL wild-card spot, although each groups are additionally nonetheless within the combine for the AL West title with the Houston Astros. There is a good likelihood solely two of these groups are going to make the playoffs.

Document: 79-71

Earlier Rank: 10

Final Week: 1-2 vs. TB, 3-1 @ CWS

The Twins’ magic quantity within the AL Central sits at six getting into play on Monday, they usually could possibly be the following staff to clinch a division title. After three video games on the street in opposition to a contending Reds staff, they shut out the common season in opposition to the Angels, Athletics and Rockies.

The rookie trio of Royce Lewis (56 G, .915 OPS, 14 HR, 51 RBI), Matt Wallner (65 G, .854 OPS, 12 HR, 33 RBI) and Edouard Julien (98 G, .843 OPS, 14 HR, 30 RBI) has utterly remodeled the offense.

Document: 81-68

Earlier Rank: 8

Final Week: 2-1 vs. LAA, 0-3 vs. LAD

The Mariners have been outscored 18-6 in a three-game sweep by the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend. With their closing 10 video games of the common season all in opposition to the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers, they management their very own future within the three-team AL West battle.

They at present lead the majors with a 3.74 ERA, and a beginning workers of Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert, George Kirby and Bryce Miller with Matt Brash and Andrés Muñoz shortening video games behind the bullpen could possibly be awfully powerful in October.

Document: 81-68

Earlier Rank: 9

Final Week: 1-3 vs. ATL, 2-1 @ STL

The Phillies sit atop the NL wild-card standings with a 3.5-game cushion following a weekend sequence win over the St. Louis Cardinals. After a troublesome three-game sequence on the street in opposition to the Atlanta Braves, they shut out the season in opposition to the Mets, Pirates and Mets once more.

Excessive-priced shortstop Trea Turner has a 1.104 OPS with 16 house runs and 41 RBI in 40 video games for the reason that starting of August, and he has raised his season OPS virtually 120 factors throughout that span. My preseason decide for NL MVP did not fairly play out as anticipated, however he has appeared the half for the final six weeks.

Document: 84-66

Earlier Rank: 5

Final Week: 1-2 vs. OAK, 1-2 @ KC

It does not get a lot worse than consecutive sequence losses to the Oakland Athletics and Kansas Metropolis Royals in 2023—two groups which have each already reached the 100-loss mark on the season. It is powerful to drop the Astros any decrease than the No. 7 spot, but it surely’s not a stretch to say they’d the worst week of any staff in baseball.

Regardless of that stumble, they nonetheless maintain a 1.5-game lead over the Texas Rangers and a 2.5-game cushion over the Seattle Mariners within the AL West standings. They play their closing regular-season house video games of the yr in opposition to the Orioles and Royals this week.

Document: 83-67

Earlier Rank: 7

Final Week: 0-4 vs. TEX, 3-0 vs. BOS

The Blue Jays have an AL-best 3.59 ERA for the reason that All-Star break, and their sturdy beginning rotation coupled with the bullpen trio of Erik Swanson, Jordan Hicks and Jordan Romano may make them a harmful staff in October.

First issues first, they should attain the postseason, and a street journey to tackle the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays awaits this week. With three house runs in his final 4 video games, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been swinging the new bat of late.

Document: 84-65

Earlier Rank: 6

Final Week: 3-1 vs. MIA, 2-1 vs. WAS

The Brewers haven’t misplaced greater than two consecutive video games in over a month, and with three straight sequence wins, they’re inching ever nearer to the NL Central title. They enter play on Monday with a 6.5-game lead over the Chicago Cubs and a seven-game edge over the Cincinnati Reds.

Veteran Josh Donaldson is 5-for-20 with one double, one house run and three RBI in six video games of motion since he was plucked from the scrapheap. Since he was signed to a minor league deal earlier than the tip of August after being launched by the New York Yankees, he’s eligible for the postseason roster.

Document: 91-57

Earlier Rank: 3

Final Week: 1-2 vs. SD, 3-0 @ SEA

For the eleventh time within the final 12 years, the Los Angeles Dodgers are NL West champions following a 6-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday. The query now could be whether or not they can chase down the Atlanta Braves for the perfect report within the Nationwide League. With a 48-26 report at Dodger Stadium, the extra video games they’ll host, the higher.

It may be fascinating to see what the postseason rotation seems like past the veteran duo of Clayton Kershaw and Lance Lynn. Given his inconsistency this yr, even Lynn may not be a lock. Rookies Bobby Miller and Ryan Pepiot could possibly be main X-factors.

Document: 92-59

Earlier Rank: 4

Final Week: 2-1 @ MIN, 2-2 @ BAL

With a Texas Rangers loss on Sunday, the Tampa Bay Rays clinched a postseason berth for the fifth consecutive yr, regardless of working with a $79.3 million payroll that ranks 27th within the majors.

They’re nonetheless staring up on the Orioles within the AL East standings after the 2 groups break up a four-game sequence in Baltimore. Residence sequence in opposition to the Angels and Blue Jays await this week as they give the impression of being to bridge the two-game hole within the standings.

Document: 93-56

Earlier Rank: 2

Final Week: 1-2 vs. STL, 2-2 vs. TB

The Orioles are playoff-bound for the primary time since 2016. Now they’ll attempt to maintain on atop the AL East standings for simply their second division title within the final 26 years. They kick off this week’s slate in opposition to the Houston Astros earlier than closing out the common season with three straight non-contenders.

Gunnar Henderson has a .916 OPS with 12 extra-base hits and 14 RBI in 16 video games this month. He seems to have AL Rookie of the Yr honors locked up, though a couple of extra sturdy begins from Tanner Bibee may nonetheless make issues fascinating.

Document: 96-53

Earlier Rank: 1

Final Week: 3-1 @ PHI, 0-3 @ MIA

Chalk up getting swept by the Miami Marlins as a post-clinch hangover after the Braves made it six straight NL East titles with a win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. Even with that small bump within the street, they nonetheless have a 4.5-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers for the NL’s greatest report.

Ozzie Albies hit his thirtieth house run of the season on Saturday, giving the Braves their fifth 30-homer participant of 2023. That ties the 2019 Minnesota Twins for essentially the most teammates to achieve 30 house runs in the identical season, and their 288 house runs as a staff are 56 greater than anybody else.

Full Rankings

1. Atlanta Braves
2. Baltimore Orioles
3. Tampa Bay Rays
4. Los Angeles Dodgers
5. Milwaukee Brewers
6. Toronto Blue Jays
7. Houston Astros
8. Philadelphia Phillies
9. Seattle Mariners
10. Minnesota Twins
11. Texas Rangers
12. Cincinnati Reds
13. Arizona Diamondbacks
14. Miami Marlins
15. Chicago Cubs
16. New York Yankees
17. San Francisco Giants
18. San Diego Padres
19. Cleveland Guardians
20. Boston Pink Sox
21. Detroit Tigers
22. Pittsburgh Pirates
23. New York Mets
24. St. Louis Cardinals
25. Los Angeles Angels
26. Washington Nationals
27. Colorado Rockies
28. Chicago White Sox
29. Kansas Metropolis Royals
30. Oakland Athletics

Considerably overshadowed by the compelling Ronald Acuña Jr. vs. Mookie Betts battle for NL MVP honors, first baseman Matt Olson is having a improbable season of his personal for the Atlanta Braves.

The 29-year-old hit his MLB-leading 52nd house run of the season on Saturday. Within the course of, he broke the Braves’ single-season report, which was beforehand held by Andrew Jones.

This is a have a look at the up to date leaderboard:

Matt Olson (2023): 52
Andruw Jones (2005): 51
Eddie Mathews (1953): 47
Henry Aaron (1971): 47
Eddie Mathews (1959): 46
Henry Aaron (1962): 45
Chipper Jones (1999): 45

“It is actually cool simply to enter the Atlanta Braves’ lore,” supervisor Brian Snitker told reporters. “It is superior. Could not have occurred to a greater man.”

AL MVP

AL Cy Younger

AL Rookie of the Yr

NL MVP

NL Cy Younger

NL Rookie of the Yr

Key Sequence for 1st Half of the Week

Key Sequence for 2nd Half of the Week