Your month-to-month reminder for the TSN15 energy rankings …
We’re rating groups from 1 to 12. Why solely 12? As a result of that’s what number of groups make the playoffs this yr — six within the AL, six within the NL. So, sure, we’ll have six from every league within the high 12, then chat about three extra groups which might be intriguing (for causes good and dangerous).
Let’s soar in.
1. Braves, 91-48
Projected spot: NL East champs
Final month: 1
Ozzie Albies has 29 dwelling runs this season, which ranks eleventh amongst participant who’ve spent their whole season within the NL. His whole would lead your entire NL Central, plus the Giants, Padres, Nationals and Rockies. On his personal workforce, although, he ranks simply fifth. The Atlanta lineup is simply ridiculous.
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2. Orioles, 88-51
Projected spot: AL East champs
Final month: 3
Really feel like I’ve stated this time and again, however even with as nice because the Braves have been this season, the Orioles are proper there, nipping at their heels for one of the best document in baseball. Baltimore is simply three video games behind Atlanta within the win column. Oh, and the Orioles are doing this regardless of not having a single participant with as many homers as Albies. Anthony Santander leads the membership with 27, and Gunnar Henderson (23) is the one different Oriole with at the least 20.
3. Dodgers, 85-54
Projected spot: NL West champs
Final month: 6
Mookie Betts’ unbelievable August was actually one thing to recollect. In 28 video games that month, Betts hit .455 with a .516 on-base share and a 1.355 OPS. He had 11 homers, 30 RBIs, 35 runs scored, 10 doubles and even stole three bases. In all probability not a coincidence the Dodgers went 24-5 that month and elevated their lead within the NL West from 2 1/2 on the finish of July to 13 1/2 by the tip of August.
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4. Rays, 85-56
Projected spot: AL wild card
Final month: 4
What number of occasions can the Rays simply proceed to show that their system shouldn’t be doubted? Wander Franco performed his final sport on Aug. 12, and with out the participant who leads the workforce in WAR, the Rays have gone 14-7, the second-best document within the AL in that span.
5. Mariners, 79-61
Projected spot: AL West champs
Final month: NR
In some way, Seattle’s late-season cost this season appeared much more unbelievable than final yr’s late-season cost. The M’s performed 27 video games in August and misplaced simply six occasions. Of these six Ls, three — THREE — had been in extra-innings and one other was a ninth-inning walk-off win by the Royals in Kansas Metropolis. The opposite two Ls had been by two runs, every.
6. Phillies, 77-62
Projected spot: NL wild card
Final month: 8
The Phillies are wanting powerful proper about now. One of many greatest issues that ought to make Phillies followers completely happy? In 10 second-half begins, Zack Wheeler has a 2.60 ERA, however extra impressively, he’s holding opposing batters to only a .185 batting common and .221 on-base share. Premium Zack Wheeler may very well be big once more in October.
7. Astros, 80-61
Projected spot: AL wild card
Final month: 5
Sounds odd to say contemplating all we’ve seen from the Astros the previous a number of years, however the beginning pitching hasn’t been nice currently. The starters, as a bunch, had a 4.60 ERA in July and a 5.04 ERA in August, and it’s 4.89 in six begins to date this month. Houston’s starters had a 3.26 ERA in Could, as a distinction. The addition of Justin Verlander helps, after all, however Houston can have a tricky time holding onto the division lead if JV and Framber Valdez are the one two dependable starters.
8. Brewers, 77-62
Projected spot: NL Central champs
Final month: 10
Milwaukee’s pitching, alternatively, is trending within the different route. In August, the starters posted a 3.82 ERA, down from 4.44 in July. And the relievers, a stellar 2.82 in August, after 3.83 in July. So, principally, it’s the identical because it ever was with the Brewers: they’ve the pitching to scare any workforce in October, however they’ll should win low-scoring video games. They’ve precisely one participant with greater than 17 dwelling runs (Willy Adames, 23) and plenty of hitters with sub-100 OPS+ marks. Mark Canha has been a superb commerce acquisition, with a 131 OPS+ in 31 video games with the Crew.
9. Cubs, 76-64
Projected spot: NL wild card
Final month: 11
The Cubs have in some way managed to remain underneath the nationwide radar regardless of enjoying excellent baseball for fairly some time now. Since a loss to the Nationals on July 17, a pair days after the All-Star break ended, the Cubs are 33-14. That’s one of the best document in baseball. They’ve scored 283 runs, which is the third-most in baseball, only a hair behind the Braves (287) and Astros (284). And Justin Steele (16-3) has developed into the kind of official ace not many groups have.
10. Blue Jays, 77-63
Projected spot: AL wild card
Final month: 7
The Jays already had one of many higher rotations in baseball, even with Alek Manoah’s struggles — Kevin Gausman, Yusei Kikuchi, Chris Bassitt and Jose Berrios all have made at the least 27 begins and all 4 have ERAs of three.69 or higher — however the return of veteran Hyun Jin Ryu may very well be big down the stretch as Toronto makes an attempt to carry onto one of many AL’s three wild-card spots. He’s posted a 2.65 ERA in his seven begins.
11. Diamondbacks, 72-68
Projected spot: NL wild card
Final month: NR
The race for the final NL wild-card spot ought to be a doozy. We’ll give the nod right here to Arizona, contemplating that Cincinnati’s IL is jam-packed and contemplating Miami simply put Sandy Alcantara and Jorge Soler on the IL and contemplating that San Francisco has misplaced six in a row.
12. Twins, 73-67
Projected spot: AL Central champs
Final month: 12
Mainly, so long as they end .500, the Twins will simply win the division.
Three to debate
Rangers, 76-63
Oops. They’re removed from out of it, however after spending all season in first place within the AL West, they’re simply 4-15 of their previous 19 video games and all of a sudden in third place within the division and simply out of the third AL wild-card spot. Beautiful flip of occasions.
Pink Sox, 72-68
Need to wager on a long-shot making a dramatic run to the postseason? Why not the Pink Sox? The pitching is principally as wholesome because it’s been all season, with teenager Brayan Bello wanting an increasing number of like a top-of-the-rotation kind day by day. And the offense, with rookie Triston Casas persevering with his breakthrough second half, may win some video games by itself, particularly if Trevor Story shakes off the rust and rookie Ceddanne Rafaela continues his scorching begin to his MLB profession.
Cincinnati Reds, 73-69
The Reds have handled sufficient in the way in which of accidents this yr already, so the latest points with Covid that despatched a pair extra gamers to the IL appeared virtually merciless. Nonetheless, they’re within the combine and have a bunch of rookies decided to show they will do extra than simply placed on a great present and end round .500.