Week 21 MLB Power Rankings

We are reaching a point in the season where the contenders are separating themselves from the pretenders. There isn't a lot of shifting up at the top. I think we know who the best of the best are. Barring any collapses you can expect to see the top few teams in the postseason this year. You can also plan on seeing them atop my rankings the rest of the way.

1. Washington Nationals (75-46) They have the best run differential in all of baseball (+108) and the best record in all of baseball. I think one has something to do with the other don't you? (Last Week's Ranking 1)

2. Cincinnati Reds (74-48) Ryan Ludwick has been a beast for about a month now. In August he has a slash line of .333/.408/.746 with 12 extra base hits and 17 RBI in 18 games. The Reds are closing in on the Nats for the best record in the game. (LWR 2)

3. New York Yankees (72-49) The Yankees have been playing better of late winning seven of their last ten. They still maintain a five game lead in the division and are a virtual lock for the postseason. (LWR 3)

4. Atlanta Braves (70-51) The Braves always seem to pull starting pitchers out of nowhere. Since Kris Medlen was reinstated to the starting rotation he is 3-0 and has given up three runs in 25 2/3 innings. (LWR 5)

5. Texas Rangers (70-50) Rotation, rotation, rotation. If Texas can't get more stability from the likes of Yu Darvish, Ryan Dempster and Roy Oswalt they may struggle to make it to the World Series for a 3rd consecutive year. (LWR 4)

6. Tampa Bay Rays (67-54) They were perfectoed by Felix Hernandez and then swept the Angels on the road. The Rays are coming and while I don't think they will catch the Yankees they should secure another postseason bid this year. (LWR 8)

7. Los Angeles Dodgers (67-55) Since putting on the Dodger Blue Hanley Ramirez has been on fire. He has 27 RBI in 24 games and looks like the superstar he used to be in this league. (LWR 10)

8. Pittsburgh Pirates (67-54) The Pirates will assure themselves of a .500 season with a mere 14 wins. That might not be enough to satisfy the fans in Pittsburgh this year as they have a legit shot at a playoff spot. (LWR 6)

9. San Francisco Giants (66-55) Losing Melky Cabrera, the National League hits leader, for the rest of the season to a PED suspension really hurts the Giants playoff chances. They need all the offense they can get. (LWR 7)

10. Chicago White Sox (65-55) The White Sox haven't done a whole lot since the second half of the year started but neither has anyone else in their division. Thus, they remain on top no matter how uninspiring their play has been. (LWR 9)

11. St. Louis Cardinals (65-56) The Nationals have the best run differential in the league as I mentioned earlier. The team right behind them? Yup. The Cardinals at +106. (LWR 11)

12. Baltimore Orioles (66-55) The O's shocked everyone by calling up top prospect Manny Machado a few weeks ago and he has played exceptionally well. Will they call up top pitching prospect Dylan Bundy to help out the club in September as they chase a postseason berth? Weirder things have happened. (LWR 12)

13. Oakland Athletics (65-55) The surprising A's just got Brandon McCarthy back from the DL and should also get Brett Anderson back soon too. They just might be a legit playoff contender. (LWR 14)

14. Detroit Tigers (64-57) The Tigers have the top two pitchers in baseball in strikeouts with Justin Verlander (180) and Max Scherzer (178). At least they have that going for them. (LWR 13)

15. Arizona Diamondbacks (62-59) No team stands to gain more with Melky Cabrera's loss than the D'Backs. They are only four games behind San Fran for a possible playoff spot. (LWR 16)

16. Los Angeles Angels (62-60) The sun sets in the west and it may be setting on the Angels season. The main reason? Their team ERA has been over 6.00 for the last month. (LWR 15)

17. Boston Red Sox (59-63) The Sox season appears to be over. Carl Crawford sure thinks so at least as he has been rumored to have asked permission to undergo Tommy John surgery. (LWR 17)

18. Seattle Mariners (58-64) King Felix threw the first perfect game in M's history last week and they haven't lost since. Winners of five straight they are closing in on .500 for the year. (LWR 19)

19. New York Mets (57-64) I mentioned last week how bad Johan Santana has been lately. His last start was more of the same (5IP, 6 ER). It might be time to shut him down. (LWR 18)

20. Philadelphia Phillies (56-65) They are only one game out of 3rd place in the division. That said they are only 14 games out of 2nd place. (LWR 20)

21. Toronto Blue Jays (56-65) Slugger Jose Bautista is swinging a bat again and may be close to a return. Too bad the Jays season is close to over. (LWR 21)

22. Miami Marlins (55-67) Giancarlo Stanton hit a ball 494 feet in Colorado. That....is a manly man. (LWR 24)

23. Milwaukee Brewers (54-66) Ryan Braun has already matched his home run total (33) from his MVP season last year. The Brewers poor season will probably cost him a lot of votes this year though. (LWR 25)

24. Kansas City Royals (54-66) Jeremy Guthrie was flirting with a no-hitter against the Central leading White Sox on their way to a sweep. All of a sudden they are in third place in the division. (LWR 27)

25. Cleveland Indians (54-67) The Indians just snapped an 11-game losing streak last week and now sit in a 5-game skid. Things are ugly right now in Cleveland. (LWR 23)

26. San Diego Padres (53-70) Last week I gave the Padres some dap. Then they went 2-5 and lost in ugly fashion. (LWR 22)

27. Minnesota Twins (50-70) The Twinkies are 1-9 in their last 10 and are back in the basement in the AL Central. (LWR 26)

28. Chicago Cubs (47-73) The Cubs have locked up their star shortstop Starlin Castro with a 7-year deal that will take him to his age 29 season. There is one bright spot for the Cubs. (LWR 28)

29. Colorado Rockies (46-73) Last week Michael Cuddyer was activated from the DL. That didn't last long as he is back on the shelf. (LWR 29)

30. Houston Astros (39-83) Houston cleaned house over the weekend firing the manager, first base coach and hitting coach. The new front office is setting themselves up to appoint their own regime for the 2013 season. (LWR 30)