During last week’s checkup with the MLB power rankings, the Houston Astros were slipping a little bit. While the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians – two teams hot on their tale – continue to play well, the Astros have picked up the pace a little bit. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games and maintain a four-game lead in the American League.
As far as the National League goes, the story hasn’t changed much as the Dodgers are still red hot. They are 8-2 in their last 10 games and are still an impressive 53 games over .500. The Washington Nationals, who are an impressive 75-49, are still 13.5 games out of first place.
All stats and standings are prior to the games on Thursday, August 24th.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
Last Week: 1
World Series Championship Odds: +200
The Dodgers have opened up a 21-game lead in the National League West as they won two of three in Detroit, and they’ve won the first two of three with one game left in Pittsburgh. Next, they’ll return home to host Milwaukee and then it is off to Arizona. Chris Taylor hit .409 with no homers and five RBIs as the Dodgers hit just .238 as a team. Rich Hill split his two starts with a 2.57 ERA and almost had a perfect game, but ended up with a loss against the Pirates.
2. Houston Astros
Last Week: 2
World Series Championship Odds: +600
The Astros lead the American League West by 12.5 games after winning two of three at home against Oakland, and they’ve split the first two of three home games with Washington. The Astros visit the Los Angeles Angels next, and then they host Texas. Alex Bregman batted .333 with three homers and six RBIs, while Dallas Kuechel combined for 13.0 scoreless innings in wins for the Astros, who had a 2.00 ERA as a staff.
3. Boston Red Sox
Last Week: 3
World Series Championship Odds: +600
The Red Sox pace the AL East by 4.5 games as they won two of three at home against the New York Yankees, and have done the same against Cleveland on the road with one game left. Baltimore comes to town next, and then Boston is off to Toronto. It was a good week for Jackie Bradley Jr., who hit .438 with a homer and seven RBIs, while Drew Pomeranz was 1-0 in two starts and didn’t allow a run in 8.2 innings.
4. Cleveland Indians
Last Week: 4
World Series Championship Odds: +600
The Indians are atop the AL Central by 4.5 games after winning two of three in Kansas City, and they’ve lost two of three of the first four against Boston at home. Next, they’ll host Kansas City and then it’s off to New York to visit the Yankees. Jay Bruce hit .290 with three home runs and nine RBIS for the week and on the mound, Corey Kluber split a pair of starts with a 2.08 ERA for the Indians.
5. Washington Nationals
Last Week: 5
World Series Championship Odds: +800
The Nationals have a 13.5-game lead in the NL East as they won three of four in San Diego, and they’ve split the first two of three games in Houston. Washington will stay home next week to host the New York Mets and then Miami. Washington hit just .181 as a team, but Howie Kendrick hit .333 with a homer and five RBIs. They did have an ERA of 2.36, with Gio Gonzalez tossed a five-hitter over 6.2 scoreless innings of a win in San Diego.
6. Chicago Cubs
Last Week: 6
World Series Championship Odds: +1000
The Cubs lead the NL Central by 3.5 games as they swept Toronto and have won the first two of three against Cincinnati, both at home. They’ll head to Philadelphia next and then it is back home for Pittsburgh. Alex Avila batted .438 with a home run and six RBIs. On the hill, Mike Montgomery went 1-0 in two appearances, including a start, and tossed 10.1 innings of scoreless ball for the week.
7. New York Yankees
Last Week: 7
World Series Championship Odds: +1500
The Yankees trail Boston by 4.5 games in the AL East as they lost two of three on the road to the Red Sox, and then won the first two of three in Detroit. They’ll go back home to host Seattle and Cleveland next. Gary Sanchez has been mashing, hitting .296 over the week with five home runs and 13 RBIs. Luis Severino won both of his starts for the Yankees as he gave up a single run over 10.1 innings of work.
8. Arizona Diamondbacks
Last Week: 8
World Series Championship Odds: +5000
The Diamondbacks trail the Dodgers by 21 games in the NL West after getting swept in Minnesota, but they’ve won two of the first three of four road games against the New York Mets. They’ll return home to host San Francisco and Los Angeles next. Arizona hit just .216 as a team, and J.D. Martinez hit .217 with two home runs and six RBIs. Patrick Corbin won both of his starts over the week, allowing a run in 16.2 innings of work.
9. Colorado Rockies
Last Week: 9
World Series Championship Odds: +5000
The Rockies are a half-game behind the Diamondbacks in the NL West as they lost two of three at home to Milwaukee, and they’ve lost the first two of three games in Kansas City. The Rockies will travel to Atlanta next, and then it is back home for Detroit. Charlie Blackmon hit .400 with three home runs and five RBIs. German Marquez was the only starter to pick up a win this week as he did so against Milwaukee, even though he gave up three home runs in 5.2 innings, along with four runs in total.
10. Los Angeles Angels
Last Week: —
World Series Championship Odds: +6000
The Angels are 12.5 games behind the Astros in the AL West after winning two of three in Baltimore, but they’ve lost two of the first three of four home games with Texas. Houston visits next, followed by Oakland. Luis Valbuena hit .429 over the week with three home runs and eight RBIs for the Angels, who hit just .238 as a team. On the mound, Cam Bedrosian was 1-0 with a hold in three appearances, allowing no runs and no hits in three innings of work.
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