September 14th Power Rankings: Atlanta Braves stay steady
In two short weeks, the Atlanta Braves and all the rest of the eligible teams will know their fate for the playoffs.
It’s hard to believe we have already made it to this point already.
The Atlanta Braves finished last week off strong but was it enough to move them up the rankings? We will find out and in this publishing, we are going to reveal what every team should be playing hard for in these last two weeks.
With that being said, let’s get started
30. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Bucco’s are back down at the bottom. Pittsburgh needs to try and figure out who is a keeper long term and who will be part of their next contending team whenever they plan for that to happen.
29. Detroit Tigers
Give the kids playing time. Young building blocks like Casey Mize and Daz Cameron will greatly benefit in the future by getting all the playing time they can get right now while the Tigers are not contending.
28. Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks need to get the high priced veterans back on track and hopefully for them setting up success for them all in 2021. The snakes remain probably my most disappointing team this year.
27. Texas Rangers
For the Rangers who have long been out of it. They can get hot now to end the season and wreck the Houston Astros season. The two teams still have two series left against each other.
26. Boston Red Sox
For the Red Sox, it’s easy. Get the kids some playing time setting them up well for the future and giving time to all the injured stars where they can hopefully come back in 2021 and be the Red Sox we all expect.
25. Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles need to just stay out of the way of the Atlanta Braves and let the Braves stay hot in the series that begins tonight. Seriously, just keep doing what they have been doing and letting the kids grow.
24. Kansas City Royals
The Royals are hot as they have won six straight. They just need to keep winning and building momentum towards a return to prominence in 2021. Winning would also help get the Royals out of the AL Central basement.
23. Washington Nationals
Do everything wrong!! No really, they need to seriously contemplate shutting down some of their aging pitchers and try and get out of 2020 mostly in tact for what they hope will be a bounce back year next season.
22. Colorado Rockies
If the Rockies get on a hot streak and win like 4 in a row or 7 out of 8, they still have a shot at the playoffs. It will not be easy though as they still have series with the Athletics, Dodgers, and Giants on the horizon.
21. Los Angeles Angels
The Angels much like the Rockies still have an outside shot at the playoffs, when you factor in Houston leaving the door wide open for other teams to pass them, perhaps Mike Trout wills the Angels into October?
20. Cincinnati Reds
It’s simple for the Reds. Win, win, and win some more. The first key to that though would be a sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates. If they do that, they still have lots of life left.
19. Seattle Mariners
Whether they complete the big comeback and make the playoffs is irrelevant to the progress of this young team who is playing great ball. These kids will look back on this in a couple years and be better prepared.
18. Milwaukee Brewers
Get the big boys going and who knows what can happen. The Brewers offense has been terrible this year and it’s obvious when you realize the Brewers have yet to be above .500 at all this year. A third straight trip to October is dimming.
17. New York Mets
Get the pitching staff behind Jacob deGrom figured out if they want to have any shot. On the other hand, it appears the Atlanta Braves are catching a big break as it looks like we will miss deGrom in our series next weekend.
16. San Francisco Giants
Hold off the Rockies. With the NL Central struggling badly, it’s starting to look like third in the NL West will get the last playoff spot. If the Giants hold them off, they very well might surprise and be playing in the postseason.
15. Houston Astros
Get it figured out and get healthy. We have not heard word about Justin Verlander, so one has to presume he is not coming back. For the Astros sake, they need Jose Altuve to get back and be productive. The Astros are now below .500.
14. St. Louis Cardinals
Play .500 ball to stay afloat. Obviously the goal is to play better than that, but if the Cardinals achieve that level of play. They will almost assuredly be playing in the postseason again as it looks likely .500 will get you there.
13. Philadelphia Phillies
Get the bullpen better. It’s really been the only weakness for the Phillies all year long and despite trades at the deadline, it’s only marginally gotten better. If they want success this fall, the bullpen is crucial.
12. Miami Marlins
Stay aggressive and act like you have been here before. The Marlins are not going anywhere and are one of the feel good stories this year. If they play halfway decent, they are in the tournament. Lastly, Sixto Sanchez looks like a sure fire ace.
11. Cleveland Indians
Rough week for the tribe as they fell a way behind their AL Central counterparts. The solution is simple though as it all runs through the offense for Cleveland. We all know the pitching will be just fine for them.
10. Toronto Blue Jays
Stay ahead of the Yankees for second in the AL East. In the American League this year, it’s very top heavy and the easier path for Toronto to make playoff noise would be obviously being the higher seed. The two teams start a series on Tuesday.
9. New York Yankees
A big week last week is allowing the Yankees to breathe again. A big boost is expected this week as well as it looks likely Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge are healthy and looking to make the Yankees lineup terrifying once again.
8. Chicago Cubs
Keep getting pitching from the bottom half of the rotation like they did Sunday when Alec Mills threw a no hitter. It would also help if the big names on offense would get rolling more steady as well.
7. Atlanta Braves
No doubt the Atlanta Braves need to win the division. The path is much easier than having to potentially play both San Diego and Los Angeles. For the first time in weeks, the Atlanta Braves have to feel at least ok about the rotation as well.
6. Oakland Athletics
Tough tough blow for the A’s as they will now need to find someone to replace Matt Chapman’s absence in the lineup the best they can. Very easy to figure out why they went out and got Jake Lamb off waivers.
5. Minnesota Twins
The lineup mashes with the best of them. So obviously that would lead to where the Twins need to tighten up and that is getting the rotation a little more balanced as it has been a very streaky group so far this year.
4. Tampa Bay Rays
Stay healthy and do not let either Toronto or the Yankees come up and take the division from them. Being a high seed in the AL is going to be huge and it would be a shame if Tampa blew it this late.
3. Chicago White Sox
For the White Sox, they need to go out and play the big boys of the AL as tough as they have the bottom feeders. Chicago has thrived off of the Tigers, and Royals but finish the year with a tough stretch of games.
2. San Diego Padres
Catch the Dodgers. How big of a blow would it be for the Dodgers to blow the NL West this late. On the flip side, how big would it be for the Padres? The two teams start a HUGE series Monday evening.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
It sounds a little crazy but this is a big week for the team with the best record and their playoff hopes. If the Dodgers come out and put up a dud against the Padres, all the late season and playoff collapse talk will start earlier than expected.
Next. Open your eyes. dark
So that is our rankings this week. Let us know in the comment section below who is too high and who is too low.