There was a minimal amount of movement around the MLB power rankings this week. However, the teams at the top are performing quite differently these days. The Houston Astros continue to struggle in the second half of the season as they are just 3-7 in their last 10 games. They still lead the American League by four games but that lead is far tighter than before. The Boston Red Sox could conceivably catch up to them by the end of the year. They are 8-2 in their last 10 games. As for the third-place Cleveland Indians, they are riding a six-game winning streak.
As for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League, they continue to run away with it. They already have 85 wins and are a whopping 51 games over .500. They hold a 13.5-game lead.
All stats and standings are prior to the games on Thursday, August 17th.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
Last Week: 1
World Series Championship Odds: +200
The Dodgers have rolled to an 18.5-game lead in the National League West as they won two of three in San Diego and then swept the Chicago White Sox, both at home. Next, they head on the road to Detroit and Pittsburgh. Justin Turner batted .320 with a pair of home runs and seven RBIs, while Yu Darvish has been solid on the mound since coming from Texas. Last week, Darvish was 1-0 in two starts with an ERA of 4.09, along with 12 strikeouts in 11.0 innings.
2. Houston Astros
Last Week: 2
World Series Championship Odds: +600
The Astros are 12.5 games up in the American League West after losing two of three in Texas, and then then winning two of the first three of a home-and-home with Arizona. Houston will host Oakland and Washington next. Jose Altuve hit .357 with a homer and two RBIs for the Astros. On the mound, Dallas Kuechel got his first victory since returning from injury, allowing a run on six hits over 6.2 innings in a 2-1 win over Texas.
3. Boston Red Sox
Last Week: 5
World Series Championship Odds: +600
The Red Sox lead the AL East by 4.5 games as they won two of three on the road against the New York Yankees, then lost a home makeup game with Cleveland and then swept a two-game home set with St. Louis. The Yankees come to Boston next, and then it is off to Cleveland. Andrew Benintendi hit .333 with four homers and 10 RBIs in an excellent week. Craig Kimbrel, who is known for his saves, got a pair of wins in his two starts this week.
4. Cleveland Indians
Last Week: 4
World Series Championship Odds: +650
The Indians have a 5.5-game lead in the AL Central as they won three of four in Tampa Bay, then won their makeup game in Boston, and they’ve won the first of three games in Minnesota (Thursday is a doubleheader). They’ll travel to Kansas City next, and then Boston visits. Edwin Encarnacion batted .304 with five home runs and seven RBIs, while the Indians had a 1.94 ERA as a staff last week. Carlos Carrasco and Mike Clevinger both got wins as they didn’t allow a run in 15.0 combined innings.
5. Washington Nationals
Last Week: 3
World Series Championship Odds: +800
The Nationals lead the NL East by 5.5 games as they won two of three at home with San Francisco (the fourth was postponed), and then split two home games with the Los Angeles Angels. They’ll head off to San Diego and Houston this week. Howie Kendrick had a solid week, hitting .286 with three homers and six RBIs, while Washington had a 1.94 ERA as a staff. Gio Gonzalez tossed six scoreless innings in a win over the Angels and has now allowed one run in his last 21.0 innings.
6. Chicago Cubs
Last Week: 6
World Series Championship Odds: +1000
The Cubs top the NL Central with 1.5 games as they won two of three in Arizona and they’ve won two of the first three of a four-game set with Cincinnati at home. Toronto visits next, and then they head to Cincinnati. Kris Bryant was on fire, batting .524 with a pair of homers and six RBIs, while John Lackey was 1-0 in two starts, giving up four runs over 11.1 innings last week.
7. New York Yankees
Last Week: 7
World Series Championship Odds: +1500
The Yankees trail the Red Sox by 4.5 games in the AL East as they lost two of three at home to Boston, but they’ve won the first three of four games in a home-and-home with the New York Mets. Gary Sanchez hit ..391 with a trio of homers and six RBIs, while Sonny Gray split a pair of starts for the Yankees. Gray had an ERA of 3.00, allowing four runs in 12.0 innings.
8. Arizona Diamondbacks
Last Week: 9
World Series Championship Odds: +4000
The Diamondbacks are 19.5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West after they lost two of three at home to the Chicago Cubs, and they’ve lost two of the first three of their home-and-home with Houston. They’ll travel to Minnesota next, and then the Diamondbacks visit the New York Mets. Paul Goldschmidt batted .280 with three home runs and five RBIs for the week. Zack Greinke and Patrick Corbin both posted wins in their starts, combining to give up no runs over 13.1 innings of work.
9. Colorado Rockies
Last Week: 10
World Series Championship Odds: +5000
The Rockies are 18.5 games back of the Dodgers in the NL Central after getting swept in Miami, but they’ve won two of the first three of four games at home with Atlanta. They’ll host Milwaukee next, and then travel to Kansas City. Trevor Story batted .353 for the week with three home runs and seven RBIs. Jon Gray gritted through the week, going 1-0 in two starts with an ERA of 3.86, allowing five runs in 11.2 innings.
10. Kansas City Royals
Last Week: 8
World Series Championship Odds: +5000
The Royals trail Cleveland by 5.5 games in the AL Central as they won two of three on the road against the Chicago White Sox, and then two of three in Oakland. They’ll host Cleveland and Colorado this week. Mike Moustakas batted .393 with three home runs and four RBIs, while the Royals had a staff ERA of 6.09. However, Kelvin Herrera managed to pick up a pair of saves in his two appearances this week.
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