Dodgers: Final Power Rankings Released by The Athletic
The Athletic has released their most recent rendition of MLB Power Rankings and the Dodgers appear to be right where they have been nearly all season according to the rest of the league: second place.
While the Dodgers might be the second best team in baseball, they do have an argument for being first above the Houston Astros. For example, ESPN just recently discussed the Dodgers as being more playoff-ready than the Houston Astros, a team many have already crowned as the 2019 World Series champions. The Dodgers will obviously do their best to prevent that from happening.
Here is a link to the full power rankings by The Athletic:
In the final edition of this season's TA30, a new team claims the top spot and we say some farewells. From @ThreeTwoEephus:https://t.co/1fpQ0LNGmo
— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) September 23, 2019
Power Rankings
For those who do not have a subscription to The Athletic, here are the power rankings of teams who expect to be in the playoffs along with their record as of September 23:
- Houston Astros (102-54): AL West winner
- Los Angeles Dodgers (100-56): NL West winner
- New York Yankees (102-55): AL East winner
- Atlanta Braves (96-61): NL East winner
- Minnesota Twins (96-60): AL Central winner
- Oakland Athletics (94-62): AL Wild Card
- Tampa Bay Rays (92-64): AL Wild Card
- Cleveland Indians (92-64): AL Wild Card
- St. Louis Cardinals (89-67): NL Central winner
- Washington Nationals (85-69): NL Wild Card
- Milwaukee Brewers (86-70): NL Wild Card
Analysis
As you can see from the power rankings, the Dodgers may be the team with the clearest path to the Fall Classic. The average rank of American League teams is 5. The average rank of National League teams is 7.2. The AL is pretty fluid, while most of the lower-echelon teams that will be making the playoffs are all from the NL.
October
Frankly, if the Dodgers don’t make it past the NLDS, it will be a huge disappointment. If they don’t make it past the NLCS, the Braves are a worthy suitor for the pennant, but not as worthy as the Dodgers. They need to be in the World Series for a third consecutive season and the power rankings demonstrate it as they have for weeks.
This needs to be the year. 31 years is too long.
It’s all meaningless like Vegas odds
My card reads Astros, Yankees, Dodgers, Braves………..to me the Dodgers have fallen back from the top because our starting pitching is no longer dominant like it was during the majority of the season.
bluz1st, I am in total agreement with you!!!! As a Dodger fan for 65 years, it hurts me to make that statement. BUT, I just do not feel our SP is one you can rely on day-in and day-out. Kersh is especially vulnerable to the home run ball. His record would be far worse if we were not the offensive juggernaut we are. And to an extent, there is the other problem : on any given night, we can score, 8-12 runs, after which, the bats go quiet for a long duration. Houston and the Yankees are perpetual pounders!!!!! And that scares me!!! If we can win the WS this year, no one will be happier and prouder than me, but its going to be a tough slog!!!!! Go Blue!!!!
Hi Lou! Yea, our starting pitching was lights out earlier in the season, but now, as I watch our starters, they just don’t exhibit the pinpoint control they had working for them when they were on that run mid-season. When they miss their spots, they are vulnerable, just like everyone else. As for the home runs, it’s not just Kershaw……a ton of the pitchers in MLB have given up more home runs than usual. And of late, Ryu, Buehler, Maeda, Jansen…..there is just a whole lot of cringing and ducking on the mound when the ball gets hit well. With Kershaw, it’s usually in the first or second inning, then he settles in. But everyone else seems to get hit at anytime. I will be surprised if the Dodgers can even get to the world series, let alone win it. And if “Dave” pulls his starter and goes to the bullpen early, things get even more tenuous.