The 2017 baseball season is moving into it’s final month of the regular season. The Houston Astros continue to lead in the American League but their buffer has faded to just 3.5 games. Their city is undergoing some serious trauma, so it makes it hard for them to have that on their minds. They are just 4-6 in their last 10 while the Cleveland Indians have vaulted up the standings – and MLB power rankings – with a seven-game winning streak.
In the National League, the Dodgers pace has cooled a little bit as they have lost four straight. The teams right behind them are still significantly far behind but all are playing better. The Washington Nationals have won four straight, the Arizona Diamondbacks have won six straight and the Chicago Cubs have won three in a row.
All stats and standings are prior to the games on Thursday, August 31st.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
Last Week: 1
World Series Championship Odds: +200
The Dodgers lead the National League West by 17 games after lost two of three at home to Milwaukee, and they’ve lost the first two of three games in Arizona. Next, they’ll head to San Diego and then back home to face the Diamondbacks. Yaisel Puig hit .389 for the week, hitting two home runs and four RBIs, while Hyun-Jin Ryu split a pair of starts, allowing seven runs over 10.0 innings for the Dodgers.
2. Houston Astros
Last Week: 2
World Series Championship Odds: +600
The Astros top the American League West by 11 games as they won two of three in Los Angeles against the Angels, but they’ve lost the first two of three at home with Texas. Next, the New York Mets come to town and then the Astros go to Seattle. Josh Reddick batted .350 with no home runs and three RBIs for the Astros, and Dallas Kuechel had a tough week on the mound, going 0-1 in two starts with eight earned runs in 13.0 innings.
3. Cleveland Indians
Last Week: 4
World Series Championship Odds: +600
The Indians are atop the AL Central by seven games as they swept Kansas City at home, and then they took three games in New York from the Yankees (the fourth was postponed). The Indians will travel to Detroit next, and then Chicago to face the White Sox. Francisco Lindor had a big week, hitting .414 with four home runs and seven RBIs. Carlos Carrasco, Mike Klevinger and Corey Kulber all got wins in their starts, allowing two runs over a combined 21.0 innings.
4. Washington Nationals
Last Week: 5
World Series Championship Odds: +800
The Nationals lead the NL East by 15 games as they split four games at home with the Mets, and then swept Miami, also at home. A trip to Milwaukee is up next, followed by a visit to Miami. Adam Lind hit .467 with a pair of homers and five RBIs for the week, while Stephen Strasburg was 1-0 in a pair of starts, giving up no runs over a combined 15.0 innings of work.
5. Boston Red Sox
Last Week: 3
World Series Championship Odds: +800
The Red Sox pace the AL East by 5.5 games after they getting swept by Baltimore at home, then they went to Toronto and swept the Blue Jays. Next, the Red Sox visit the Yankees in New York, and then Toronto comes to Boston. Mitch Moreland hit at a .474 clip, swatting three home runs with nine RBIs. Chris Sale split a pair of starts on he hill, allowing six runs over 10.0 innings.
6. Chicago Cubs
Last Week: 6
World Series Championship Odds: +1000
The Cubs are 3.5 games clear in the NL Central after losing two of three in Philadelphia, then they swept Pittsburgh at home. They’ll host Atlanta next and then head to Pittsburgh. Anthony Rizzo hit .480 with three home runs and 11 RBIs for the week, and on the mound, Jake Arrieta went 1-0 in two starts for the Cubs, keeping a clean slate of runs over 11.2 innings.
7. New York Yankees
Last Week: 7
World Series Championship Odds: +1500
The Yankees trail Boston in the AL East, but they’re the top wild-card team by a game after winning two of three over Seattle, and then losing three games (along with a postponement) to Cleveland, all at home. They’ll stay at home to host the Red Sox, and then the Yankees visit Baltimore. Starlin Castro batted .300 with no homers, but he knocked in three RBIs. C.C. Sabathia and Sonny Gray picked up wins in their starts, allowing a combined two runs in 14.0 innings.
8. Arizona Diamondbacks
Last Week: 8
World Series Championship Odds: +3500
The Diamondbacks are 17 games back of the Dodgers in the NL West, but they top the wild-card race by three games as they swept San Francisco at home, and they’ve won the first two of three at home with the Dodgers. They head to Colorado and Los Angeles next, facing the Dodgers in the latter city. Paul Goldschmidt batted .400 with four home runs and nine RBIs over the week, while Robbie Ray won both of his starts, giving up a pair of runs over 11.2 innings.
9. Colorado Rockies
Last Week: 9
World Series Championship Odds: +4000
The Rockies are 20 games back of the Dodgers in the NL West, but they’re in the second wild-card slot by three games after they won two of three in Atlanta, and then lost two of three at home to Detroit. The Rockies will host Arizona and San Francisco this week. Charlie Blackmon hit .393 with a pair of home runs and five RBIs, and Pat Neshek picked up a pair of wins in three relief appearances, allowing a no runs over 2.2 innings of work, along with a hold.
10. Los Angeles Angels
Last Week: —
World Series Championship Odds: +7500
The Angels are 11 games behind the Astros in the AL West, but they’re only one game back in the race for the second wild-card slot after they lost two of three to Houston, and then swept Oakland, both at home. The Angels head to Texas and Oakland this week. C.J. Cron had a solid week at the dish, hitting .333 with a pair of home runs and five RBIs. Cam Bedrosian had an eventful week on the mound, going 1-1 in four relief appearances, allowing three runs over 3.1 innings of work.
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