As we enter the last month of the regular season, it’s showtime for many teams.
Some teams are moving towards the postseason while others are in a tight race for a playoff spot. It should be a great September, with no Game 163 tiebreakers.
The Yankees, after dominating our list for 20 consecutive weeks, have dropped out of the top 5 for the first season. They have lost three of their six previous games. However, the Mariners have been rising steadily as the season progresses and are now in the top 10.
Who is climbing the ranks and which teams nosediving?
Our expert panel combined to rank each team in baseball using a combination what we have seen so far and the knowledge we had going into this 162-game marathon of a complete baseball season. We also reached out to ESPN MLB experts David Schoenfield and Bradford Doolittle as well as Joon Lee, Jesse Rogers, Joon Lee, and Alden Gonzalez for their opinions on the matter.
Week 20 | Second-half preview | Preseason rankings
Record: 90-39
Previous ranking: 1
He was mostly lost among the Dodgers overwhelming greatness, but maybe it’s now that he’s ready to give. Mookie Betts Some MVP consideration. Only Betts Trails Paul Goldschmidt Nolan Arenado In the NL, there is 6.4 fWAR. It is also trending upward. Betts had a August OPS of 1.081, has 11 extra base hits in his 12 last games, and has tied his career high for home runs with 32 after going deep against Jacob deGrom on Wednesday. Trea Turner Freddie Freeman They have been steady forces at the top of their lineup, with neither one missing a game yet. Betts, the Dodgers’ leadoff batter, has been the catalyst lately. — Gonzalez
Record: 83-48
Previous ranking: 3
The Mets are great, but there are concerns about the bullpen. Edwin Diaz. This concern was also shared by Buck Showalter, who twice used Diaz in August’s eighth inning against the opposing heart and then used another player in the ninth. Adam Ottavino It has been solid throughout the season. Trevor May Mychal Givens I have failed, Joely Rodriguez Was the loser Tuesday against the Dodgers Seth Lugo When he pitches, he has an OPS of over 1.000. This could make it a problem in October. — Schoenfield
Record: 84-47
Previous ranking: 2
The age of the universal DH is here. Those in the “pitchers get to pitch” camp may start to campaign for a DF… designated hitter. He would be someone who is always near the mound and ready to jump into action whenever a pitcher needs to field a bunt, or cover first base.
If this happens, it will be too late Justin VerlanderHis Cy Young season was temporarily halted when he sustained a calf strain while covering the first base position during a rundown. The injury does not appear to be serious and the Astros are focusing on getting Verlander ready for the playoffs. Verlander may not be able to have another 20-win season due to Verlander’s stint on the disabled list. Houston fans will be able to view Hunter Brown (23-year-old top pitcher prospect) who was recalled this season from Sugar Land. He was 9-4 with a 2.55 ERA, 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings and a 3.0 WHIP. — Doolittle
Record: 80-51
Previous ranking: 4
The Braves’ rotation is rolling since the All Star break. They have a 3.15 ERA, 4.13 strikeouts to walk ratio and 3.92 ERA, respectively, compared with 2.66 and 2.66 before. Max Fried In seven of his previous seven starts, he only walked five batters. Charlie Morton His second-half ERA has improved from 4.45 to 3.23. He also had 54 K’s over 41 1/3 innings. That includes back-toback games of 12 K and 11 K against the Astros and Mets who are the two hardest majors teams to strike out. He looks like he is getting ready for October. –Schoenfield
Record: 76-55
Previous ranking: 6
The Albert Pujols The show shows no signs of slowing. The veteran added an opposite-field shot to his August résumé when he took his 450th different pitcher deep on Monday in Cincinnati. Pujols is a power hitter, and his 694th career homer gives pitchers a fresh look. He is open to being walked if needed. For the month, he has hit the ball more than 75% of the times. This is what made this homer so much different than his previous 14 years. — Rogers
Record: 79-52
Previous ranking: 5
New York is taking one step forward and two back. The Yankees just finished a five-game winning streak but lost back-to-back games to the Athletics to split a series they had. Aroldis Chapman Is on the IL because of a leg infection due to a tattoo. Frankie Montas His new team is still struggling and he posted a 7.01 ERA over 25 innings. Meanwhile, Aaron Judge His home run streak continues, with his 50th hit of the season. He is on pace to surpass Roger Maris’ AL record for home runs in a single year (61). — Lee
Record: 73-58
Previous ranking: 9
The Phillies were just cruising along, getting Bryce Harper After winning six consecutive games against the Reds & Pirates, we hit some bumps. Zack Wheeler He was suffering from forearm tendinitis and landed on the IL. Although it doesn’t seem serious, he was determined to stay safe. He’ll still miss at least two starts. Aaron Nola He then allowed eight runs to Arizona in a loss, continuing his strange streak of great starts mixed with poor ones. He has only allowed one run or five runs in his last nine starts. — Schoenfield
Record: 72-57
Previous ranking: 8
Wander FrancoRays remain uncertain about’s future, but the Rays’ superstar shortstop said that he is feeling “super healthy” and will resume his rehab assignment in near future. But injuries may continue to be a problem in Tampa Bay. Shane McClanahan before Tuesday’s game against the Marlins, was scratched. Tyler Glasnow The Rays have suggested that he could be back before the end, which would give a boost to their rotation. — Lee
Record: 72-58
Previous ranking: 11
The Seattle Times reported that the biggest news in Seattle this week was the long-term extension For Julio RodriguezHe could be kept in Seattle throughout his career and receive up to $470 million, depending on all available options. The Mariners celebrated their win by winning three of the four games against Cleveland, despite only 19 hits throughout the series. On Tuesday, the bats finally got on board with a nine-run demolition in Detroit. Schoenfield
Record: 73-59
Previous ranking: 10
The Padres are still struggling in the second quarter, with an average of.500 ball since July’s beginning. There are also serious concerns about Josh HaderThe ninth inning was solidified by the acquisition of, who was acquired before the deadline for trades. Hader allowed 12 earned runs and had only 14 outs his seven first appearances with the Padres. But he took control of the ball with a one run lead against the Giants on Wednesday, and secured the save. Hader was a Brewers pitcher for 10 games before his struggles in San Diego. He posted a 14.04 ERA. The Padres will continue to work over the next five week in order to secure a wild-card spot. But it’s going to be very difficult if Hader doesn’t succeed. They hope Wednesday was a step in Hader’s direction. — Gonzalez
Record: 70-59
Previous ranking: 7
Toronto seemed to be finding its feet after a streak of seven wins and eight games, before the Angels swept it. The Orioles are now chasing the Jays for the final wild-card spot. Their performance this season has been consistent with the recent games: there have been moments of brilliance, followed by frustrating struggles that have resulted in inconsistent results on the field. — Lee
Record: 68-60
Previous ranking: 12
Do you want to know how baseball’s youngest team became the division leader after the trade deadline, without actually making any trades? Let’s start by taking a look at the incredible work that Cleveland’s bullpen did in August. In August, Guardians relief pitchers posted a MLB-best 1.87 ERA. However, that doesn’t reflect what has been happening at the back end of the pen. Trevor Stephan James Karinchak Join elite closers Emmanuel Clase The formation of a three-headed, game-closing powerhouse. The trio combined for seven saves (all Clase), ten holds and a 0.78 ERA in 34 1/3 innings. There were 14.02 strikeouts every nine innings. All this without recording a single blown save. — Doolittle
Record: 68-61
Previous ranking: 15
Two games remain for the Orioles at this time Behind the Blue Jays in the last wild card spot. This begs the question: What position would the team be in if it was kept? Trey Mancini Jorge Lopez at the trade deadline. They promoted DL Hall to the Orioles after he was recently promoted by them. called up top prospect Gunnar Henderson As they push for the playoffs, Wednesday will see them. Baltimore could also be able to call up a top prospect in pitching Grayson RodriguezHe recently began his rehabilitation stint in the minor leagues. Baltimore’s starting pitchers have a top-10 ERA since the beginning of the second half. — Lee
Record: 69-60
Previous ranking: 13
Milwaukee is playing better after last week’s series loss to the Dodgers. But it could be too little too late. St. Louis has a large division lead over them. The offense is starting to find its groove. October baseball is all about the home runs. Milwaukee can hit the long ball. Nine different players have at least 10 home runs. In the last seven days, eight different players have hit at least one home run. Milwaukee is still in the wild-card race thanks to this production. — Rogers
Record: 67-62
Previous ranking: 14
The Twins’ strong homestand allowed them to be close to Cleveland in the AL Central race, even though they are not playing. Byron Buxton Buxton was back in the IL, where he still holds a reservation. Buxton appeared in 92 of Minnesota’s first 128 games. That is the most contests Buxton has participated in since 2017. The Twins are now two games above.500 in games Buxton has not appeared in. This is a solid showing, but it won’t be enough to overcome Buxton’s current hip malady. Minnesota is about embark on its most challenging road trip this season. It will play three games against the White Sox and four against Judge, the Yankees. — Doolittle
Record: 61-68
Previous ranking: 17
The Giants’ 2021 season was a talebook. They are now a disaster in 2022. They are now 24-41 since June 19. Only the Nationals and rebuilding Pirates have a worse win percentage. Their relievers are the seventh-highest ERA majors during this stretch. Their defense is tied for second worst — With the Phillies — In outs exceeding average. It will be interesting to see Farhan Zaidi (Giants president of baseball operations), assess this roster in the offseason. — Gonzalez
Record: 63-68
Previous ranking: 18
Boston continues to limp to victory, falling behind the Orioles as they try to secure last place in the AL East. Red Sox designated relievers Hirokazu Sawamura Austin Davis Assignment. The Athletic has just heard from Sam Kennedy, team president. He said that Alex Cora and Chaim Bloom, chief of baseball officers, will be back for the 2023 season. But they still have a lot of work ahead. — Lee
Record: 64-66
Previous ranking: 16
You can hear the White Sox digging together to find their true rock bottom moment for the 2022 season on the South Side. This week marks the literal sunset of Chicago’s playoff hopes. The next step is to figure out what went wrong with the season’s most disappointing teams. While the sweep against Arizona at home was the end of the campaign, expectations for a turnaround may have been overstated. Since April 17, the White Sox has not seen a positive run differential. — Doolittle
Record: 61-68
Previous ranking: 20
The 2023 option on Torey Lvullo’s contract was purchased by the D-backs earlier this week. This will bring the 57-year old skipper back for a seventh year. Lovullo is the longest-tenured franchise manager. It was a sign of appreciation for the club’s improvements since their 2021 loss of 110 points. The D-backs are far from contention in the division, particularly with the Dodgers & Padres leading it. However, they have received some positive signs from their core team of players lately. Christian Walker, Daulton Varsho, Carson Kelly, Zac Gallen Merrill Kelly. — Gonzalez
Record: 58-71
Previous ranking: 19
As expected, the offense of the Rangers had a great week. Nathaniel LoweOn Monday, he was named player of the Week. Over the course of five games, he hit four home runs with an OPS of 1.600. Corey Seager A few long balls were also contributed by him. All of this added up to a MLB-leading.900+ team OPS in seven days that began Aug. 23. Unfortunately, the Rangers’ season was not the same as theirs. Their pitching and hitting were not on the same page. Over the course of a week, which ended on Tuesday at 2-2, they surrendered 29 runs. Due to their lack of consistency, Texas has no chance of reaching.500. — Rogers
Record: 57-74
Previous ranking: 21
Although the Angels may be out of contention, they have one of the most intriguing storylines going into the final month of the regular season. Shohei Ohtani Judge will be the AL MVP for the second consecutive year. Ohtani hit.317/.386/.653 for the month of August. On Wednesday, he scored a game-winning run with three runs against Judge’s Yankees. He also pitched to a 2.20 ERA which further cements his two-way greatness. With September upon us, Ohtani has accumulated 7.2 fWAR, while Judge checks in at 8.3 — on a championship-contending Yankees team. Ohtani might need to push it further down the stretch. — Gonzalez
Record: 55-75
Previous ranking: 22
Sandy Alcantara The Dodgers’ worst start of the season saw him throw six runs and 10 hit in 3 1/3 innings. On Aug. 21, he lost to them. Alcantara has now thrown four complete games, more than any other major league team. Sixteen teams are yet to play a complete match. He remains the Cy Young favourite. Schoenfield
Record: 56-75
Previous ranking: 24
Although the Rockies were only 10-18 in August but that was not a bad result. Ryan McMahon‘s fault. The 27-year old third baseman signed a $70 million six-year extension in March. He batted.311/.351/.533 last week, increasing his OPS by 40 points. This renewed hope that he will be a productive member the Rockies’ core team of players. The same can be said about the 27-year-old third baseman. German MarquezThe quality start by, which was in four of his five August starts, including seven scoreless innings against, was impressive. Max Scherzer Sunday, the Mets. — Gonzalez
Record: 56-75
Previous ranking: 23
A year of debuts has been had by young Cubs players, including starters. Javier Assad. Just a few days after his victory against the Cardinals, the 25-year old shut down the Blue Jays’ offense on Monday. Assad threw nine innings in the two games. He gave up eight hits, six walks, and no runs. Another good outing for a sneaky-good starting rotation, provided it is healthy. — Rogers
Record: 51-78
Previous ranking: 25
Cincinnati will almost certainly not have a rostered pitcher reach 20 home runs. Joey Votto It was taken down. Brandon Drury Tommy Pham were traded. In reality, the Reds do not currently have a player with more than 10 home runs. Kyle Farmer Jonathan India Each have eight. The roster is not “Big Red Machine”-worthy. At the very least, it’s rookie Nick Lodolo They have had some success lately and it gives them hope. — Rogers
Record: 53-78
Previous ranking: 26
This might be it Nick Pratto It is going to all work out in the end. After a slump of eight games without a hit, the rookie first-baseman’s average dropped to.163. His difficulties to adapt to the majors was most likely due to his low swing-and-miss rate. This is especially true considering similar bat-on ball issues experienced by top prospects such as Detroit’s. Spencer Torkelson Seattle’s Jarred Kelenic. Pratto was then gone. Pratto was 8-for-17 in those games with three homers and 10 RBIs. Pratto scored twice in Chicago and totaled 11 bases. — Doolittle
Record: 50-80
Previous ranking: 28
A young righty has some good news for the Tigers of 2022. Matt Manning He has already shown signs of his ability to figure things out. Manning missed four months because of shoulder and arm pains that occurred early in the season. Manning made his comeback in August and pitched over five innings before being thrown against Seattle on Aug. 30. Manning had a 2.40 ERA, striking out 27 batters and walking nine, while allowing only two homers in 30 innings. Manning should not get complacent. But the good pitching streak is the best we have ever seen in the majors since the ninth pick of 2016. — Doolittle
Record: 49-81
Previous ranking: 27
If Oneil Cruz He’ll be a formidable force if he can harness this incredible talent. Cruz blasted a ball off the right-field wall last Wednesday, making it the most powerful Statcast ball ever. It reached 122.4 mph. You can see why the Pirates love him so much. Cruz’s rookie season is averaging.200 with a strikeout/walk ratio of over five. While the highlights are impressive, maturity at plate is required. — Rogers
Record: 49-82
Previous ranking: 29
Oakland has some shining spots. Strong performances by the team, which won back-to-back games against the Yankees this weekend, were rewarded. Adam Oller Adrian Martinez. Although the A’s have the worst record in all of the AL, their attendance is still lagging. Oakland is last in baseball for average attendance, with less than 10,000 people attending every game. They also have the lowest percentage of capacity filled. This puts them behind the Marlins by nearly 10% at 20%. — Lee
Record: 44-86
Previous ranking: 30
When things go wrong, they get worse. Nationals call up top prospect Cade Cavalli After solid work in Triple A (3.71 ERA over 20 starts, 104K’s in 97IP, three home runs allowed), he struggled in his debut. He allowed seven runs and hit three batters in just 4 1/3 innings. Then he was placed on the IL for shoulder inflammation. The catcher will be off the field for two weeks before being reevaluated. However, given the timeframe, it is possible that he won’t return until 2023. Schoenfield