These rankings reflect team power, not individual hitters’ performance; we have dedicated rankings for that on MLB.com. However, it’s impossible to compile these power rankings weekly without being struck by the incredible array of superstar talent currently showcased. This week brought yet another series of impressive reminders: from Shohei Ohtani achieving the 40-40 milestone to Aaron Judge hitting his 50th and 51st home runs, and Bobby Witt Jr. attempting to maintain a batting average above .400 at home. The top four teams in this ranking have maintained their positions for several weeks, albeit in different orders. The finest consistently rise to the top, regardless of the circumstances.
These rankings are crafted from the contributions of various MLB.com writers, whose names appear at the end of this (and every) article, but the commentary is solely mine. If you find fault with the rankings, direct your frustrations at all of us. Conversely, if you take issue with the writing, please direct your comments to me.
1. Dodgers (previously: 4)
Season high: 1 | Season low: 6
When future generations recount Shohei Ohtani’s remarkable achievements, let’s not overlook this notable event: just one day after becoming the first MLB player to hit the 40-40 milestone in August, he completed his first bullpen session off a mound since undergoing Tommy John surgery. “It went well,” said Dave Roberts, just in case you weren’t already feeling anxious.
2. Yankees (previously: 2)
Season high: 1 | Season low: 7
It’s extremely difficult not to repeat “Aaron Judge Aaron Judge Aaron Judge” endlessly in the Yankees’ section this week. What he’s accomplishing is possibly unprecedented in baseball history. He may very well be experiencing the finest season ever recorded by a right-handed hitter. And there have certainly been many illustrious right-handed hitters throughout baseball’s past!
3. Phillies (previously: 1)
Season high: 1 | Season low: 8
Fortunately for the Phillies, neither the Braves nor the Mets have shown much form lately, leaving room for both teams to make a comeback. The Phillies have enjoyed a comfortable margin in the division standings, yet they haven’t fully utilized that advantage. This weekend, we’ll see how much they can handle when they take on the Braves for four games in Philadelphia, followed by three matches against the Astros before Thursday.
4. Orioles (previously: 3)
Season high: 1 | Season low: 5
Before his significant three-run double in the sixth inning that secured a victory over the Astros on Saturday, Jackson Holliday had been 0-for-20. Although his impressive performance upon returning to the Majors in late July had come to a halt, he tends to be a streaky player at this point in his development. It wouldn’t be surprising if he embarks on another hitting streak soon. The Orioles will undoubtedly hope for his hot bat to be in full swing come October.
5. Brewers (previously: 6)
Season high: 5 | Season low: 19
How are the Brewers achieving this? How can they be performing better than last year despite their losses? The reasons are numerous, but here’s a subtle one: as of Sunday, they led the league with 262 runs scored with two outs. That illustrates a crucial aspect of their game.
A lot has been said about their ability to succeed despite numerous injuries and departures.
6. Astros (previously: 9)
Season high: 5 | Season low: 26
Jeremy Peña, a former World Series hero, has quietly become a key player for the Astros this season. He is just one home run shy of achieving a 15-15 season. Here’s an interesting tidbit from the MLB Network’s research team: “Peña’s 12.1 WAR through his first three seasons ranks 10th among shortstops in the past 50 seasons. By the end of the year, he might surpass Cal Ripken Jr. (8th, 12.4) and Trevor Story (7th, 13.1).” Didn’t see that coming, did you?
7. Guardians (previously: 5)
Season high: 2 | Season low: 21
The exceptional seasons of Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt Jr. shouldn’t overshadow José Ramírez, who many believe deserved the MVP award in 2020. While he may not be able to compete with those two in 2024, this year marks the best of his career, as he is on track to set personal records in home runs, RBIs, and steals. He still has a shot at achieving a 40-40 season as well.
8. Diamondbacks (previously: 9)
Season high: 8 | Season low: 19
The Diamondbacks have been performing so well lately that they are now projected to achieve 92 wins, which would mark their fourth-best winning percentage in franchise history, even exceeding the 2001 and 2023 teams, both of which made it to the World Series.
9. Padres (previously: 8)
Season high: 7 | Season low: 21
For the Padres to secure a playoff spot — and Fangraphs currently gives them a 92 percent chance of doing so — they will need to utilize every bit of pitching strength available. Hence, the positive news about Yu Darvish beginning to face hitters and gearing up for a likely return around mid-September could be fortuitous timing.
10. Royals (previously: 9)
Season high: 6 | Season low: 24
The Royals are set to kick off a crucial series in Cleveland on Monday, but they are currently intriguing for reasons beyond their team’s performance. If you’re following Aaron Judge’s pursuit of the Triple Crown, the only player hindering his path is Bobby Witt Jr., who is currently 12 points ahead of him in batting average, although the gap is narrowing.
11. Twins (previously: 7)
Season high: 7 | Season low: 23
The Twins have a great opportunity to gain ground in the AL Central this week: The Royals and Guardians will face each other in four games over the course of three days, while the Twins host the Braves. Winning their games will help them make up ground on their competitors.
12. Braves (previously: 13)
Season high: 1 | Season low: 13
Charlie Morton has reached that stage where he shares an age with several former teammates returning for Alumni Night. He delivered a vintage Morton performance on Saturday in front of those old friends, which must have made them feel even more nostalgic. The reality of Charlie Morton is that while he ages, his current teammates seem to remain perpetually the same age.
13. Red Sox (previously: 14)
Season high: 11 | Season low: 22
The Red Sox are clinging to their Wild Card aspirations, and each painful loss resonates more deeply as the season winds down. On a brighter note, Rich Hill pitched two hitless innings over the weekend against younger opponents, who were often half his age. It will be exciting to see if he can return to the Majors and potentially contribute to the team.
14. Mets (previously: 14)
Season high: 10 | Season low: 25
It’s hard to fathom that Francisco Lindor hasn’t appeared in an All-Star Game since 2019. This season, he is performing at an MVP-caliber level again. Although Shohei Ohtani poses a significant challenge for him in the award race, Lindor is undoubtedly a top-three candidate—and perhaps even higher if the Mets secure a playoff spot. If successful, this would mark the sixth time he ranks within the top 10 for MVP voting and his third consecutive season in that position.
15. Mariners (previously: 15)
Season high: 6 | Season low: 21
Seattle experienced a whirlwind week with the dismissal of manager Scott Servais and the appointment of former Mariners catcher Dan Wilson as his replacement. Although the journey back to the top of the AL West is lengthy, Wilson is inspired by the right figure: Lou Piniella. “He demanded our best every day,” Wilson remarked at his introductory press conference. “Those are qualities I hope to instill as well.”
16. Giants (previously: 16)
Season high: 12 | Season low: 23
It was concerning to see Camilo Doval sent down to the Minors due to his recent struggles, so his strong return on Saturday was a positive sign. He navigated a tough situation in the seventh and added a scoreless eighth inning in a victory over the Mariners. Although he hasn’t reclaimed his closer role, he showed glimpses of his former self: it’s a promising start.
17. Cubs (previously: 18)
Season high: 8 | Season low: 22
The Cubs have finally crossed the .500 mark for the first time since June, positioning themselves in second place in the NL Central following a commanding 14-2 victory on Saturday. While it may be slightly late for the Cubs to re-enter the playoff race, their recent performance resembles what fans expected from the team.
18. Rays (previously: 19)
Season high: 9 | Season low: 24
The initial excitement surrounding Taj Bradley seems to be waning. After a stellar July where he went 3-1 with a 1.45 ERA, August proved challenging as he struggled with a 0-3 record and an 8.14 ERA.
19. Cardinals (previously: 17)
Season high: 12 | Season low: 27
What was already a bleak season for the Cardinals became even worse on Saturday when Willson Contreras, their standout hitter this year, was placed on the IL due to a broken finger. This marks Contreras’s second unusual upper body injury this season—he sustained a broken arm from a bat in May—adding to the mounting troubles for a team that could see its second consecutive losing season for the first time since…
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