MLB Power Rankings: Red Sox Crack Top 4, Marlins Catching Cubs

With the final week of August here, the MLB playoff picture is beginning to take shape. The final month of the regular season will feature several critical divisional matchups, with teams battling head-to-head for postseason positioning. With playoff spots on the line, it's time to separate the contenders from the pretenders as every game carries added weight.

Third-order wins remain a useful tool for providing additional context when evaluating each team. Based on Clay Davenport's adjusted standings, the metric looks beyond a club's actual record by considering run differential, strength of schedule, and ballpark effects. It provides another perspective on how teams have performed and whether their records accurately represent their overall level of play.

These Power Rankings place a greater emphasis on sustainable performance than short-term results. The arrows indicate which teams are gaining momentum, moving in the wrong direction, or maintaining their position as the regular season moves toward its most important stretch. With the postseason approaching, every win becomes more valuable, and the remaining weeks will determine which teams are ready to make a run in October and which will be watching from home.

1. Brewers — 82.1-47.8 (.632)

Biggest Weekly Storyline: NL Cy Young frontrunner Jacob Misiorowski lowered his MLB-best ERA in a duel versus Chris Sale as the Brewers outlasted the Braves 2-1. He allowed no earned runs on four hits with six strikeouts to bring his ERA down to 1.68.

2. Dodgers — 80.4-49.5 (.619)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: In the midst of the Dodgers’ four-game winning streak, center fielder Andy Pages broke his hand after being plunked by a 100 mph pitch. He’s expected to miss 4-5 weeks.

3. Yankees — 74.4-54.5 (.577) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Giancarlo Stanton strained his left calf while running the bases as he is recovering from a strained right calf. His return to the Yankees this season is in doubt.

4. Red Sox — 73.0-55.9 (.566) ⬆️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Sonny Gray and Tim Wakefield are the only Sox hurlers in the last 50 years to win at least 16 of their first 24 starts with Boston. On Friday, he moved to 16-4 with a 2.79 ERA this season.

5. Rays — 72.0-56.4 (.561) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Tampa Bay Rays, the city of Tampa and Hillsborough County reached an agreement on a $2.3 billion ballpark proposal located across from Raymond James Stadium.

6. Cubs — 72.8-57.1 (.560)

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Shortstop  Dansby Swanson is expected to miss 4-6 weeks due to oblique strain. There is a chance that he doesn’t return for the rest of the regular season. 

7. Marlins — 72.2-57.8 (.555) ⬆️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Miami has struggled versus teams with above .500 records. They have posted a 23-36 record when facing winning teams.

8. Pirates — 71.8-59.1 (.549)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Paul Skenes turned in another concerning start this week. He was removed after just 81 pitches after Pirates gave him extra rest leading into the appearance.

9. Tigers — 70.6-58.3 (.548) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Keider Montero had his most recent start pushed back because he isn’t recovering well enough to throw his bullpen sessions between starts.

10. Braves — 69.9-60.1 (.538) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Grant Holmes took a no-hitter into the 7th inning on Thursday as the Braves held the White Sox to one hit in a 2-0 win.

11. White Sox — 65.5-63.5 (.508)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Catcher Jake Rogers hit a tiebreaking two-run homer off Jefry Yan with two out in the ninth inning on Friday. Earlier in the game, Miguel Vargas, Randal Grichuk and Colson Montgomery hit back-to-back-to-back homers.

12. Phillies — 65.1-64.9 (.501) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Philadelphia trailed the Cardinals 4-0 on Sunday and had a 0.5% win probability. Kyle Schwarber capped the improbable comeback with a walk-off two-run homer for the club's ninth straight win.  

13. Nationals — 65.4-65.6 (.499) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Catcher Keibert Ruiz has a career-high 107 wRC+ and has worked with new catching coach Bobby Wilson to turn into a slightly above average defensive catcher.

14. Padres — 64.7-65.3 (.498)

Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Padres won their eighth straight home game on Saturday. The Padres have gone 45-17 in games when they record eight or more hits.

15. Blue Jays — 65.1-65.9 (.497) ⬇️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was activated this weekend after being placed on the seven-day concussion injured list.

16. Orioles — 65.1-66.9 (.493) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Pete Alonso stirred up a new technology controversy with a near home run that was ruled foul. Some are calling for MLB to fix fair-foul technology for critical plays. 

17. Diamondbacks — 64.1-65.9 (.493) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Many were concerned for Ketel Marte after he didn't show up during the Diamondbacks' Monday night game despite being in the lineup. He was moved to the injured list, and this past week, he was seen liking a post on Instagram saying that he no longer wanted to play for the Diamondbacks

18. Guardians — 63.1-66.9 (.485) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Rookie Travis Bazzana tied a career high with four hits on Friday night. For the season, he has a 101 OPS+, a 1.7 rWAR, and 18 steals.

19. Cardinals — 63.1-67.9 (.482) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: The Cardinals had a six-run rally in the 9th that led to a comeback win. Jordan Walker had the biggest knock with a three-run homer. 

20. Mets — 62.6-67.4 (.482) ⬇️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Right fielder Carson Benge adjusted his stance at the end of April. He has a slugging percentage of .453 since May 1, which puts him in the top 50 among qualified hitters.

21. Mariners — 61.5-68.5 (.473) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: On Saturday, Seattle called up their top pitching prospect Kade Anderson to face the Cubs. He pitched 5 2/3 innings while allowing three runs on five hits with five strikeouts and two walks. 

22. Giants — 60.6-68.4 (.470) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Infielder Rafael Devers got booed by Red Sox fans in his first game at Fenway Park since being traded to the Giants. He quieted the crowd a little by hitting a homer. 

23. Twins — 60.0-70.0 (.462)

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Minnesota completed a three-game sweep of the Braves on Wednesday. It moved the Twins into the AL’s final Wild Card spot. 

24. Rangers — 60.0-70.1 (.461) ⬆️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Jacob deGrom collected his 2,000th career strikeout. He became the second fastest pitcher in MLB history to reach the milestone by both games and innings pitched. 

25. Angels — 59.2-70.8 (.455) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Shortstop Zach Neto had a career-high five hits and seven RBIs, tying Freddie Patek for the most RBIs in a game by an Angels shortstop while going a triple shy of the cycle.

26. Astros — 58.4-71.7 (.449) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Shortstop Jeremy Pena missed multiple games this week. He suffered a right-hand contusion after being hit by a 100 mph pitch.

27. Royals — 56.8-74.3 (.433) ⬆️

Biggest Weekly Storyline: Despite a disappointing season, general manager J.J. Picollo told reporters that he didn't expect any "wholesale changes" to the coaching staff this winter. 

28. Reds — 54.5-75.6 (.419) ⬇️
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Outfielder Dane Myers missed a routine putout in left-center field that would have ended the game. Instead, Myers dropped the final out, and the Cardinals scored the game-tying and go-ahead runs in a crazy ninth inning.

29. Rockies — 49.0-80.1 (.380)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Starter Kyle Freeman left his most recent start after clutching his back in the fourth inning. The Rockies broadcast later announced that Freeland departed due to neck tightness.

30. Athletics — 47.3-82.8 (.364)
Biggest Weekly Storyline: Shortstop Jacob Wilson is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to a left shoulder injury. Wilson dislocated his left shoulder in May and has dealt with the injury, and several others, ever since.

What storylines stood out this week? Do you agree with the rankings above? Leave a comment and start the discussion.