MLB Power Rankings: Week 24
Posted September 18, 2012 03:53 AM EDTThe Rangers are on top and the Nationals face a tough schedule. See where each team is ranked as the season nears its frantic finish.
FOX SPORTS MLB POWER RANKINGS
| RK | Team | RECORD | CHANGE | HIGH/LOW | COMMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Rangers |
87-59 | 1 | 1/5 |
The Rangers took care of business against the Indians and Mariners last week, and then locked up Colby Lewis for 2013 on Monday.
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| 2 |
Nationals |
89-57 | 1 | 1/18 |
The Nationals’ remaining schedule is no joke, matching up against four teams who are all jockeying for the postseason (LAD, MIL, PHI, STL). Could the weekend sweep at the hands of the Braves come back to haunt the Nats?
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| 3 |
Reds |
88-59 | - | 1/22 |
The Reds have switched around the starting rotation and have given flame-thrower Aroldis Chapman a week off in preparation for October baseball. Ahh, the benefits of holding a double-digit lead in the division.
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| 4 |
Braves |
84-63 | - | 3/18 |
Chipper Jones compared Kris Medlen to Greg Maddux, saying "He's the closest thing I've seen to Maddux for the simple fact that he's got the devastating changeup.” That’s quite the compliment.
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| 5 |
Athletics |
84-62 | - | 4/28 |
The A’s face a grueling 10-game road trip against Detroit, New York and Texas that will determine their postseason fate.
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| 6 |
Orioles |
82-64 | - | 1/29 |
The Orioles’ victory on Sunday clinched their first .500 season since 1997, when Davey Johnson led the Birds to the division title.
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| 7 |
Giants |
83-63 | - | 4/16 |
With the Giants a virtual lock for the postseason, Barry Zito is doing everything in his power to make sure he is not left off the playoff roster this time around.
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| 8 |
Yankees |
83-63 | - | 1/11 |
The Yankees took four of six last week against Boston and Tampa to hold onto first in the East … for now.
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| 9 |
Angels |
80-67 | 1 | 2/25 |
Albert Pujols hit his 475th home run on Wednesday, tying him with Stan Musial and Willie Stargell for 28th all-time. Not bad company.
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| 10 |
White Sox |
80-66 | 2 | 3/25 |
A weekend sweep in Minnesota gets the White Sox one step closer to the AL Central title.
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| 11 |
Tigers |
77-69 | 2 | 1/21 |
Miguel Cabrera hit .407 with three bombs and seven RBI en route to AL Player of the Week, but the Tigers still can’t seem to gain ground on the White Sox.
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| 12 |
Brewers |
74-72 | 5 | 12/25 |
Wily Peralta, ladies and gentleman. The 23-year-old has improved with each start since being called up on Sept. 4 and gives hope to the future of the Brewers rotation.
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| 13 |
Rays |
78-68 | 4 | 1/15 |
Losing two of three to the Yankees in the Bronx pushed the Rays further back in the East, but the club was greeted by supportive fans at the airport upon returning. That might just be the spark they need.
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| 14 |
Phillies |
73-74 | 1 | 5/27 |
Dropping three games to the worst team in baseball is no good, but Roy Halladay keeps it in perspective: "If we let three games get the best of us, we wouldn't be where we are right now."
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| 15 |
Cardinals |
77-70 | 1 | 2/19 |
Perfect timing? The Cardinals have nine games with the two worst clubs in the National League, playing Houston six times and Chicago three. Oh, and Chris Carpenter is set to join the starting rotation. So there is that.
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| 16 |
Dodgers |
76-71 | 5 | 1/19 |
In a tight race for the second wild card position, losing Clayton Kershaw hurts. But if Andre Ethier can continue his September tear, the offense could possibly carry them through.
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| 17 |
Pirates |
73-72 | 1 | 5/27 |
The Buccos decided to pull James McDonald from the starting rotation and insert rookie Kyle McPherson. Too bad they can’t clone Wandy Rodriguez, who has been fantastic of late.
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| 18 |
Diamondbacks |
72-74 | - | 4/22 |
Can the D-backs capitalize on a favorable schedule to close out the season and claim the second wild card position?
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| 19 |
Padres |
71-76 | 2 | 19/30 |
The friendly confines of Petco Park? The Padres boast a 9-1 series record at home since the All-Star break.
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| 20 |
Blue Jays |
66-79 | 1 | 7/25 |
Spoiler alert: John Farrell’s Jays might be out of it, but they have a chance to play spoiler as 14 of their remaining 17 games are against AL East foes battling for the playoffs.
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| 21 |
Mariners |
70-77 | 1 | 18/26 |
“The Bartender,” Tom Wilhelmsen has been nearly automatic at the back-end of the bullpen, including three more saves last week. Could Semisonic’s “Closing Time” ever be more relevant?
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| 22 |
Marlins |
65-82 | 2 | 6/26 |
After his win on Friday, Jacob Turner, 21, became the youngest pitcher in baseball history to log wins for both National League and American League teams in the same season.
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| 23 |
Mets |
66-80 | 1 | 5/27 |
Can R.A. Dickey get to the 20-win mark? That’s about the only thing worth talking about when it comes to the Mets at this point.
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| 24 |
Royals |
66-80 | 1 | 13/29 |
Kelvin Herrera continues to pitch well out of the bullpen in September for the Royals. The young righty is 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in his first nine appearances this month.
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| 25 |
Red Sox |
66-81 | - | 10/26 |
For the second consecutive year, it looks like a September to forget in Beantown. On the bright side, they did win three games last week.
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| 26 |
Cubs |
58-88 | 2 | 24/30 |
Anthony Rizzo continues to prove that he is the real deal for the Cubbies while Alfonso Soriano quietly reached the century mark in RBI.
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| 27 |
Twins |
60-87 | - | 22/30 |
Matt Capps, out since July 16 with shoulder inflammation, joined the Twins’ instructional league team last week, in hopes of a return to the bigs as early as Sept. 24.
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| 28 |
Indians |
61-86 | 2 | 6/29 |
It has been quite a fall from grace and optimism in Cleveland during the second half. At one time considered contenders, the Indians have the worst winning percentage in the AL since the All-Star break.
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| 29 |
Rockies |
58-87 | - | 16/29 |
Chris Nelson is crushing the ball while the starting rotation could get a morale boost with the return of Jorge de la Rosa, who last pitched for the Rockies on May 24, 2011, before undergoing Tommy John surgery.
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| 30 |
Astros |
48-99 | - | 22/30 |
Is there any other manager out there who is having more fun with extended rosters than Tony DeFrancesco?
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