Braves remain atop as Mariners surge up Power Rankings

With only 38 games left in the season, The Braves continue atop of Our Esquina’s Power Rankings. Atlanta is the lone 80-win team thus far. They are also the only team to reach over 200 home runs. 

The Braves have hit 235 home runs. The next closest team is the Dodger with 194. Matt Olson is tied for first in the majors with 43 home runs. Austin Riley has 29, and Ronld Acuña Jr. has 28. 

The Braves rank first in OPS with .843, while the Rangers are second on the list at .799.

No. 2. Los Angeles Dodgers

The red hot Dodgers have lost only twice so far in August. They have won 17 of their last 19 games. 

Mookie Betts’ versatility on the diamond is a major reason for the Dodgers’ success. Being able to play middle infield and the outfield has granted Betts additional playing time and allowed his power-hitting to receive more at-bats. 

Betts has belted 34 home runs of his own and sports a 165 wRC+.

No. 3. Baltimore Orioles

After losing two out three against the Padres, the Orioles rebounded by sweeping the Oakland Athletics. 

In the second game against Oakland, Felix Bautista got the win following a shutout inning in the ninth. In the next half inning Baltimore erupted with five runs in the 10th to secure the win.

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The next day, Gunner Henderson was making a bid to become the first rookie in franchise history to record a cycle. However he chose to hustle out a double.

That hustle and grit shown by the young core is a major reason the Orioles are first in the AL East and third in our rankings. 

No. 4. Texas Rangers

The Rangers didn’t extend their lead in the AL West since they were swept by the Milwaukee Brewers. However, that doesn’t eliminate the fact that they have one of the best offenses in baseball. 

It starts with Adolis Garcia, whose 30 home runs and 92 RBIs are the best in his team. The Ciego de Avila, Cuba, native is building off from last year’s success.

It’s been a career year for Garcia. He is one home run shy from his career high and is closing in on surpassing his career best 101 RBIs in a season. He also has a career best 4.3 WAR. 

Garcia is surely an important player the Rangers need to have success in October. 

No. 5 Tampa Bay Rays

With Shane McClanahan done for the season after requiring season-ending surgery, the Rays have relied on their offense to win games recently. The Rays took two out of three from the Giants and the Angels. 

Against the Giants they scored 16 runs in three games. They scored 33 against the Angels. Huge home runs from Isaac Paredes, Jose Siri and Randy Arozarena were just what the Rays needed. 

Tampa Bay is 6-4 in its last 10 games. The Rays have a five-game advantage in the wild-card race. They will look to rely on their streaky offense against the Rockies and the Yankees. 

No. 6 Seattle Mariners

The Mariners have won six straight games and are 15-18 in August. Fresh off a sweep over the defending World Series champion Houston Astros, Seattle holds the final wild-card spot in the American League. 

A major key to their success has been Julio Rodriguez’s historic run. Rodriguez broke Milt Stock’s record for hits in a four-game span with 17 hits in a four-game span. The record had stood since 1925. In those four games Rodriguez had three four-hit games and a five-hit game.

History for Julio! #SeaUsRise pic.twitter.com/r0pvmP87oU

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 20, 2023

Seattle will look to gain ground on the Astros and the Rangers as they prepare to face the White Sox and the Royals. 

No. 7. Blue Jays, No. 8. Astros, No. 9 Phillies, and No. 10 Brewers

The Astros fall to eighth after being swept by the Mariners in dominant fashion. The Phillies rise to ninth, and the Brewers fall back to 10th.