MLB Power Rankings

We're heading into the last month of the regular season. Who will make that last push?

1. Boston Red Sox: With a tough series loss to the Rays, the Red Sox fell off their pace for 116 wins. Their schedule isn't getting easier: They will have to face the Astros, Yankees, and Braves in September.
2. New York Yankees: Believe it or not, the Yankees are 6.5 games back of the Red Sox. Considering New York's 8-2 in their last ten games while Boston's 4-6 in their last ten, the Yankees can gain some distance on the Red Sox with a favorable schedule before their West Coast trip.
   
3. Houston Astros: As promised, the Astros are on a six-game winning streak and are establishing themselves as the kings of the AL West. Alex Bregman (.458 BA, one homer, six RBIs, three doubles in past seven days) has been on a tear and a big part of Houston's resurgence.
   
4. Chicago Cubs: Like the Astros, the Cubs are in postseason form, riding a six-game winning streak. During their six-game winning streak, the Cubs are averaging 7.33 runs a game. Maybe getting a pure contact hitter like Daniel Murphy (8.5% K rate this season) helped Chicago find their groove.
   
5. Oakland Athletics: Just when the Athletics were rolling into October, they received some bad news. Sean Manaea could be out for the season with rotator cuff tendinitis. The A's also placed Brett Anderson on the disabled list, leaving the rotation in a bit of pinch. It doesn't help, especially in the middle of a tough series with the Astros.
   
6. Cleveland Indians: The Indians actually gave the Red Sox hell a week ago and are gearing up for October baseball with a runaway lead in the AL Central. Getting Edwin Encarnacion back (28 homers, 89 RBIs) adds an intimidating presence in the lineup for Cleveland.
   
7. St. Louis Cardinals: The other day, Matt Carpenter had four doubles in a game. Four doubles. That's video game material right there. Anyways, Mike Shildt is now the full-time manager for St. Louis. If Tyler O' Neill can fix his strikeout-to-walk rate (35 to 3), he can add another bat to an emerging Cardinal lineup.
   
8. Atlanta Braves: Ronald Acuna Jr. (.288 BA, 21 homers, .357 OBP) has cooled off in terms of home run power since his lead-off homer streak. However, he is batting .385 with two doubles in his last 13 at-bats.
   
9. Seattle Mariners: The run differential looks awful (-42), yet the Mariners are managing to hang around somewhat in the Wild Card race. They took the series against Arizona and nearly completed a comeback against Houston a couple days earlier. They have a critical series against Oakland coming up.
   
10. Milwaukee Brewers: A week ago, the Brewers appeared to be in free fall. The Brew Crew were especially fearful of the surging Cardinals, who were riding the flaming bat of Matt Carpenter. With the Phillies now in a bit of a funk, Milwaukee is back in the thick of things.
    

In the Hunt: Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks, Philadelphia Phillies