MLB Power Rankings Week 25: At the Finish Line Before the Finish Line

For September, the Yankees are playing mere .500 ball (11-11). There are still a few games left in the month, but they’ll want to avoid matching their monthly-low winning percentages of April and June (.426 both months). With a firm 2-game grip on the second AL Wild Card spot, they seem to be most in control of their own destiny to retain that spot. They have the remainder of the Sox series, then the aforementioned Blue Jays staredown, and finish against the Rays. They are only 7-9 against Tampa Bay this season, but if the Rays are “relaxing” a little after clinching a berth, maybe the Pinstripes can make a last move. In his last 12 games, Giancarlo Stanton has 6 homers; Aaron Judge has 6 bombs in his last 13 games. The big dudes are mashin’ right now.

The Sox were riding a 7-game win streak but decided to let the Yanks come into Fenway and kick their butts 8-3 on Friday night. I know I almost had an aneurysm in just a touch over 2 innings of that game before I turned it off. Worst of all is the indignation that Friday moved a whole game in the wrong direction and the possibility of New York having home-field advantage come October 5th.

Finishing the season with 3-game series against the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals could give them an advantage over New York, strength of schedule-wise. The Sox offense has the second-highest September OPS (.848) in the AL, just behind the Jays. Their pitching staff has the third-best ERA (3.94) in the month, as well. Although, 4 blown saves don’t bode well. Matt Barnes is worrisome. In his last 10 appearances, he has a 10.80 ERA with an opponent OPS of 1.130.

Chicago became the second AL team to clinch a playoff berth, but the first to clinch their division. That kept them treading water in the Power Rankings. They’re not quite limping to the finish line, but a 10-11 record for September is their weakest monthly showing this season. Surely, some guys might be getting some rest, like Tim Anderson. In his 8 September games coming off the IL, he’s slashing .343/.361/.571. And we all know that when Anderson is on the field, the Sox are just magically that much better of a team. They shouldn’t be too worried, they have the breathing room to rest guys and get set for the playoffs. They’ll need to get prepared for Houston, who they are 2-5 against this season.

Houston just keeps rolling. The offense is still in contention with the Jays’ sluggers as the most potent in all of baseball. Kyle Tucker leads the way with a 145 OPS+, with four other regulars over 125. Yordan Alvarez is quietly having a monster season with 32 homers and 101 driven in; direct echoes of his 2019 Rookie of the Year campaign. Once again, it seems that their only glaring weakness is in close games. In one-run games, they are only 18-17 (as opposed to a blistering 35-11 in blowouts). Blowouts are harder to come by in the postseason.