The postseason Power Rankings aren’t about regular-season records, but rather who’s hot, who’s healthy and who’s likely to go deep into October. So here goes …
1. Padres: They were 41-17 since starting 50-50, and have Yu Darvish and Mets tormentor Joe Musgrove back to combine with Dylan Cease and Michael King to compose a superb rotation and front a shutdown bullpen, thanks to deadline acquisitions Tanner Scott, Bryan Hoeing and Jason Adam. Manny Machado is on fire, too. Impossible to believe this club, which also had Juan Soto, Blake Snell and Seth Lugo last year, was .500 in 2023 — and for the first 100 games this year.
2. Phillies: Their front four of Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez and Cristopher Sanchez is special, and their lineup is super deep. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber are October dynamos.
3. Yankees: Their rotation is easily the AL’s best, and the dynamic duo of Aaron Judge and Soto is getting more help with Giancarlo Stanton healthy and Jazz Chisholm Jr. here. The bullpen looks better lately but isn’t overwhelming.
4. Astros: They’ve somehow put together a decent rotation to go with a star-studded core and bullpen, and are again the Yankees’ biggest hurdle.
5. Brewers: “They are one team that plays baseball — they do the little things,” says an NL scout. “It’s no coincidence their manager [Pat Murphy] is an ex-college coach. The issue is the rotation (“a little short,” says the scout).
6. Dodgers: They have the most exciting everyday talent and a collection of experienced relievers, so they could pull it off. But the rotation of new ace Jack Flaherty, a returning Yoshinobu Yamamoto and a shell of Walker Buehler, with rookie Landon Knack waiting in the wings, is dicey.
7. Guardians: If it’s a bullpen game, they will be hard to beat. Like the Brewers, the rotation is average.
8. Mets: After their slow start, they’ve been among the best.
9. Orioles: They’re talented but missing Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez and two other starters. Limping in.
10. Braves: They can pitch, and that’s why they are still in this. However, their offense was way down even before Ronald Acuña Jr. and Austin Riley went down.
11. Tigers: They have the best pitcher (Tarik Skubal), the hottest manager (A.J. Hinch, who’s working bullpen magic) and youthful enthusiasm. Could make waves.
12. Diamondbacks: The D-Backs can really hit, but the two high-priced lefties (Eduardo Rodriguez and Jordan Montgomery) have been busts.
13. Royals: Assuming they get it, their rotation can be scary good. Dangerous in short series.
14. Twins: Strangely, they stopped hitting once they got healthy. Will need miracle just to get in.
