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Atlanta Braves: August 12th MLB Power Rankings have some familiarity at the top

By James Kunkle

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 14: Detail of stadium signage promoting the 2018 Major League Baseball Postseason on Fox and FS1 during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals at SunTrust Park on September 14, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 14: Detail of stadium signage promoting the 2018 Major League Baseball Postseason on Fox and FS1 during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals at SunTrust Park on September 14, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 11: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros pitches during the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 11, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 11: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros pitches during the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 11, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

10. New York Mets

Just a short few weeks ago, I had them at 26 on these rankings. They were in turmoil, and Mickey Callaway was as good as gone. Here we are though, in the middle of August and they may be the Braves biggest challenger in the division?

9. Oakland Athletics

Mike Fiers is pitching like an ace and has really put the A’s on his back and they are right in the thick of the AL Wild Card chase. They start a rivalry series with the Giants on Tuesday.

8. Chicago Cubs

If the Cubs end up making the playoffs, perhaps no play might loom larger than the three run shot by Kris Bryant on Sunday to take the lead against the Reds?

7. Minnesota Twins

The standings show that they are still tied for the AL Central lead, but it surely doesn’t seem like it. The Twins got beat around pretty good in a 4 game set with the Indians this weekend and that was after the Braves clobbered Jose Berrios last Tuesday.

6. Tampa Bay Rays

Tampa Bay will not go away. If they end up as one of the wild card teams, the question may become if they pitch Blake Snell (if he is even healthy) or line up Charlie Morton. I myself, would probably go Morton.

5. Atlanta Braves

We all know and agree that these bullpen blowups have to stop and stop now. If this is how the bullpen is going to be even after the three acquisitions, it may be time to see if some of these young starters could handle the load at the back end of a game.

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4. Cleveland Indians

The Indians have to be the clear favorite at this point for the AL Central, especially if Corey Kluber comes back anything like he should be. Jose Ramirez bouncing back has been huge for the Tribe.

3. New York Yankees

The Bronx Bombers had won 9 in a row before losing back to back to the Jays. They now start a series with the Orioles, and I’ve said this before, but it feels like the Yankees play the Orioles 122 games a year.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers hit well. They pitch well. The only part of this team that is shaky is the bullpen, so maybe a team can manage their starters and get to the pen in a playoff series? That might be the only way to beat them.

1. Houston Astros

You see everything above about the Dodgers? Take out the shaky bullpen comment and you have the Houston Astros. On a serious note, how about Yordan Alvarez and the debut to his career he is having?

Here comes Acuna. dark. Next

So that is our MLB Power Rankings for this week. Let us know who is too high and who is too low in the comments below. And how big of a gap is there between the Atlanta Braves and those at the very top?

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