Every other week, we ask all of our baseball writers — both the local scribes and the national team, more than 30 writers in all — to rank the teams from first to worst. Here are the collective results, the TA30.
Who scheduled the MLB Trade Deadline for Power Rankings day? Bring me the manager. Or my editor. Or Rob Manfred. Actually, no, keep that last one to yourself and just bring me a cup of very strong coffee, preferably with some Jameson in it. If memory serves, there are at least 10 teams in Major League Baseball, and we have to rank them all.
Some of these teams will have given up on the season by the time you read this. Some of them will have gone all-in. But we’ll look to the past and judge them based on what they’ve done in the first half of this very strange, extremely misshapen baseball season.
Remember that our Power Rankings are based on the combined votes of more than two dozen scribes at The Athletic, which means these rankings are not entirely my fault. Please don’t yell at me in the comments, unless you’re yelling at me for liking my eggs over-hard, because I deserve that one.
Oh, and I’m also going to assign an album to each team, so you can also yell at me if I make fun of your favorite team and/or album.
To the rankings!
1.Los Angeles Dodgers
Record as of 8/30:26-10
Last Power Ranking:1
This is supposed to be a mutant season, filled with sample-size chicanery and surprises. The Marlins in postseason position? Sure. The Tigers threatening to finish .500? Hey, why not, throw it on the pile.
But even in a 60-game season, it took about three games to realize that the Dodgers are the best team in baseball, and they’re talented enough to be nearly sample-size proof. They’re the kind of organization that can fix a broken reliever like Jake McGee, but they’re also the kind of organization that can yawn and call up Gavin Lux, almost as an afterthought halfway through the season. They’re deep enough to trade a veteran starter in the offseason for Brusdar Graterol, a top prospect who can help out in the bullpen this season, and they’re deep enough to bring him along slowly in low-leverage innings.
They’re gross. The Dodgers are gross. I’ve been saying this for years, and now you’re all realizing it. They’re just too good. They’re the first team to get a unanimous first-place ranking in the history of these power rankings. Imagine getting this many writers to agree on anything.
Album analogy: Aretha Franklin’s “I’ve Never Loved a Man the Way I’ve Loved You,” if only because it’s flawless. Top to bottom, front to back, just an impossibly deep album/roster without a soft spot.
2. Oakland Athletics
Record as of 8/30:22-12
Last Power Ranking:4
They can pitch. The starting pitchers have been up and down, but the bullpen has been otherworldly.
They can hit. Dingers ahoy. They have two batters (Matt Olson and Matt Chapman) with 10 homers already, and Robbie Grossman has turned into something of an OBP monster.
What’s scary is how much room they have for improvement. Marcus Semien isn’t doing a lot, and several of their sluggers aren’t slugging all that much. They needed help from the left side, and now they have Tommy La Stella to do just that. Jonah Heim is up and Jesús Luzardo is coming into his own. This is, as the kids say, “a very good baseball club,” but they can get even better.
Album analogy: King Crimson’s “Thrak.” They’ve been molded by a consistent and iconoclastic architect for decades now, and they just keep humming. And while they had some really impressive “Discipline” back in the day, now their bats go thrak.
Thrak. It’s fun to say as an onomatopoeia for a home run. Give it a shot.
3.Tampa Bay Rays
Record as of 8/30:24-11
Last Power Ranking:6
Check this guy out:
Is Tyler Glasnow the third-best starter on the Rays’ staff if Charlie Morton is healthy? What about the fourth-best starter if Ryan Yarbrough is healthy? Glasnow’s ERA is in the 5s, after all. And yet he can still do that.
Even if you think that Glasnow is the 1B to Blake Snell’s 1A, it’s hard not to be impressed with the Rays’ ability to target and acquire the players they think they can work with, from Nick Anderson to Manuel Margot to Yandy Díaz, who is still growing as a hitter.
Album analogy: Guided By Voices, “Bee Thousand.” Sounds like it was recorded on a thrift store tape recorder, and it’s better than almost everything else. That’s part of the appeal. No, wait, that’smost of the appeal. And it never stops being impressive.
4. Minnesota Twins
Record as of 8/30:20-15
Last Power Ranking: 5
Still rolling. Still good. They could use some reinforcements, but they’re still on track. Nelson Cruz is still one of the most remarkable late-career sluggers in baseball history, with more homers after turning 30 than Edgar Martínez, George Brett and Ryne Sandberg hit in their entire Hall of Fame careers. But, like the A’s, there’s a lot of room for them to get better. Most of their hitters haven’t hit their stride yet, and there are some starting pitchers who can improve, too.
This is the right season to be winning with problems, though. Even if the Twins finish in third place, they’ll probably make the postseason. They’d probably face a division winner in that scenario, and they’ll be just as talented as that team, no big deal.
Although the Yankees might be that division winner.
Not being a jerk. Just keeping you on your toes.
Album analogy: Prince, “Dirty Mind.” Because it’s filled with bangers, just like the Twins’ lineup, and there’s a lot of filthy stuff mixed in there, just like the bullpen. Also, Minneapolis.
5.New York Yankees
Record as of 8/30:19-13
Last Power Ranking: 2
The Yankees were threatening the Dodgers for the top spot early in the season, just as they threatened them all last season. But the injuries, man. Giancarlo Stanton looks like his old self (but now he’s on the IL) and Aaron Judge is just as impossible to pitch to as ever (also on the IL), and there’s also (starting pitcher or reliever of your choice, also on IL), who looked great when he was active.
The injuries, combined with COVID-19 weirdness, made for one of the worst two-week stretches in years for the Yankees. Yet they’re still a potential powerhouse. You know this. They know this. It’s just a matter of time. And health. They’ll need deadline help, and their late-inning losses to the Mets added insult to, well, injury.
Album analogy: Derek and the Dominoes, “Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.” An incredible collection of talent. An unspeakably cursed, but incredible, collection of talent.
6. Cleveland Indians
Record as of 8/30:21-13
Last Power Ranking: 8
The Indians made it though Clevinger-Plesac-Gate just fine, which speaks to the remarkable pitching depth this team has built. Shane Bieber will occasionally levitate on the mound when he pitches, with a golden beam of light shooting out of his forehead and blinding every hitter he faces, which seems unfair. He’s not just a Cy Young Award contender but a legitimate MVP candidate.
The hitting … not quite as impressive. The outfield isn’t doing much of anything, but it’s not like anyone could have seen that problem coming unless they watched more than 10 Indians games over the last few years. But the pitching will sustain them, and they are at the top of a division that features two very strong teams chasing them.
Album analogy: Jean Grae, Quelle Chris, “Everything’s Fine.” Because everything’s fine! No problems here, no siree. There’s nothing but an incredible amount of talent on display, and that’s it. Everything’s fine. Don’t pay attention to the hubbub or the general tomfoolery in the news. Everything’s fine.
7. Chicago White Sox
Record as of 8/30:21-13
Last Power Ranking:12
Dingers. Just an unspeakable, ungodly amount of dingers. Look at this dinger:
There are more dingers where this came from. Dingers from first base, dingers from shortstop, dingers from the outfield, dingers from their DH. It wasn’t that long ago that it looked like the White Sox were in danger of flubbing their rebuild. Tim Anderson had a .281 OBP and Yoán Moncada was good-but-not-great for a 100-loss team in 2018, with Lucas Giolito sporting the worst ERA in baseball, and it was fair to ask if that was it for a team that had gambled everything on a rebuild.
It was not it. Oh, and about that Giolito cat …
Our own James Fegan has been on the Giolito-renaissance beat for a long, long time, so it’s no surprise that he dropped a couple of golden articles about the no-hitter here and here. Giolito had already arrived but, well, he arrived again.
The White Sox can mash, and they can pitch. What’s not to like?
Album analogy: Power Trip, “Nightmare Logic.” A modern classic with more power than anyone should rightfully have. Rest in peace, Riley.
8.Atlanta Braves
Record as of 8/30:19-14
Last Power Ranking:7
Quietly humming along, without the gaudy winning percentage of the Dodgers or A’s, but doing plenty right. The rotation took a huge hit with the loss of Mike Soroka. But as Yoda looks to the sky, he whispers, “No, there is another.”
Ian Anderson was tremendous in his debut, and he’s a reminder of how deep this organization is. They can take some punches and still be scary. Except they’re notthat deep, and they can definitely use some more help. Mostly on the pitching side. OK, fine, they might be a little desperate for it, even if they’re doing fine for now.
Album analogy: Jethro Tull’s “Stand Up.” I’ve never actuallyheard it, but the Braves aren’t quite “Thick as a Brick” or “Aqualung” quality yet, so they get one from their earlier years. They’ll be that good soon, though, and Anderson made it impossible to choose another band for this spot.
9. San Diego Padres
Record as of 8/30:21-15
Last Power Ranking:9
Back in the early aughts, the Padres scared other teams with their prospect depth. You could make an entire lineup out of it. There was Ben Davis at catcher, Tagg Bozied at first, Jake Gautreau at second … and that’s before you got to the pitching. You just knew that one day Xavier Nady and Jake Peavy would win World Series rings. And they did! Just not with the Padres.
This is like that, except all of the prospects are REALLY GOOD and there are DOZENS MORE coming and they’re POACHING OTHER TEAMS’ UNDERRATED TALENTS and they’re MAKING ALL OF THE TRADES. They aren’t satisfied with sneaking in the back door of an expanded postseason; they’re looking to push the Dodgers into a ravine. A Chavez Ravine, if you will.
This is a good team, and they’re only going to get better.
(Now just imagine the White Sox with Fernando Tatis Jr.)
(James Shields, man.)
Album analogy: D’Angelo, “Brown Sugar.” Just an amazing accomplishment for someone that young, with a promise of even better things to come. Also, D’Angelo Jiménez could have played short on that all-prospect lineup for the Padres, so it all fits.
10. Chicago Cubs
Record as of 8/30:20-14
Last Power Ranking:3
Yu Darvish is back. Like,back back. And the timing is especially good, considering that the rest of the Cubs rotation is having a tough time. The team is scuffling lately, winning just two games last week, and the owners are crying poor when it comes to adding at the deadline.
Right. But as of now, the Cubs are in first place and they’re doing plenty of good things, even if Javier Báez is broken. They could fix him, and they could roll through the postseason. Unless they’re bounced in the first round by the Marlins or Rockies or something.
Album analogy: Liz Phair, “Whip-Smart.” Still amazing, but there are no guarantees that the future will have as many peaks as the past, so maybe go for it now? (And when the peaks are that high, you’re justified in telling everyone who complains to get bent.)
11. Houston Astros
Record as of 8/30:19-14
Last Power Ranking:11
They’re out of the top one-third in this ranking, but I’d like to share a hot take with you: They’re probably still pretty good. José Altuve is the only full-timer in the lineup who is struggling mightily, and a good rule of thumb is that when a Hall 0f Fame-caliber talent is struggling over 30 games or so, maybe ignore it and expect things to get better.
Even with Justin Verlander out for an indefinite stretch, the Astros are still getting ace-quality work from Framber Valdéz, and they can always add bullpen help at the deadline, even if the farm system is a little thin because of recent win-now moves. This used to be the obvious choice for No. 2 or 3 in rankings like this, which makes me think that 11th is disrespectful, especially when they’re 19-14.
You should be scared of the 2020 Houston Astros, everyone. They could win the 2020 World Series and tick everyone off. Actually, I’m kind of expecting it now that you put it that way. It’s going to happen.
Album analogy: Ozzy Osbourne, “Bark at the Moon.” After two amazing albums, there was a scandal involving Osbourne tinkling on the Alamo. A scandal involving a beloved Texas institution! If that’s not a direct, obvious analogy, I’m not sure what is. But even after all that, “Bark at the Moon” was still pretty good.
12. Toronto Blue Jays
Record as of 8/30:18-14
Last Power Ranking:25
Nowthat’sa Power Ranking jump. Last time, the Blue Jays were 25th. Now they’re in the top half and threatening the Yankees. They’ve already signaled that they’re all-in by trading for Taijuan Walker, and they could stand to add some bats, too. Even with the injury to Bo Bichette, the Second Generation Mashers are doing some terrifying things.
It’s not just the bats, either. The offseason signing of Hyun-jin Ryu looks absolutely inspired, and the front office seems to have a knack for finding bat-missing relievers, which is helping them push through the Ken Giles injury.
More than any of this, they look like they’re having fun. Baseball is supposed to be fun! Look at this fun:
So much fun. This isn’t to suggest that they’ll be the team hoisting the Commissioner’s Trophy in front of an awkward Ford executive this October, but they’re fun and pointed in the right direction. Blue Jays fans will take it.
Album analogy: Rush, “Roll the Bones.” It’s not great, or even that good, but it sure is a hackneyed and shoehorned Canadian reference that kinda sorta fits with what the Blue Jays are doing at the deadline.
13. St. Louis Cardinals
Record as of 8/30:12-13
Last Power Ranking: 15
They’re still about a week away from the halfway point to their season, which is wild. What do we even know about this team? Paul Goldschmidt looks rejuvenated, which can’t be a bad sign, and while we should probably ignore the Cardinals Devil Magic that Brad Miller represents … maybe it’s smarter to pay extra attention to it? It’s hard for a player to fluke his way into walking more than he strikes out, even in just a couple dozen games, so who knows what sort of creepy stuff the Cardinals are working on at their alternate site?
The hitters are struggling against the slider, and the defense is only now getting some of their stars back. But they might be an elite team. Or they might be a huge disappointment. They’ve only played about three weeks’ worth of games, after all.
This season is a mess. Our incomplete thoughts about the Cardinals are a pretty good example of why.
Album analogy: The Eagles, “The Long Run.” Everyone seems to despise them, but they have more gold records than you, and they’ll keep getting more whenever they’re in the mood.
14. Philadelphia Phillies
Record as of 8/30:14-15
Last Power Ranking:19
The Phillies should be a mess. Scott Kingery got a long-term deal before he did anything in the majors, and he’s been maddeningly inconsistent. The bullpen imploded so often, so spectacularly, that they were forced to trade for Brandon Workman, who immediately lost the first game he appeared in for his new team. That bullpen also inspired one of my favorite headlines of the week:
A new-look Phillies bullpen can’t mask the festering Héctor Neris concern
An absolutely tremendous headline. And yet the Phillies are still hanging around. You might even say that they’re thriving. Bryce Harper continues to look like the kind of young player that a team might want to sign to a long-term deal, and they’re having fun.
Fun, you say?
this might be the best gif ever pic.twitter.com/YfI3jMgGB2
— Absolutely Hammered (@AH_Pod) August 29, 2020
Fun! Not bad for a team that looked like they were threatening to implode so completely they would have been eliminated from 2021 contention, too.
Album analogy: Héctor Neris, “Festering Concern.”
Well, it should be a real album.
Fine, give me Hall & Oates, “H2O.” I used to laugh at it, but now I realized that I was ignorant. There’s a lot of great stuff happening, even if it’s OK to laugh at some of it. Also, Philadelphia.
15. Colorado Rockies
Record as of 8/30:17-17
Last Power Ranking:10
This is a confusing baseball team. They’re up! They’re down! They started the season 11-3, and then they went 2-11 over their next 13 games. Then they won four of five before getting absolutely pummeled by the Padres on Sunday.
It’s a confusing team. But the Rockies usually are.
What we do know is that they’re not messing around when it comes to improving the team in the short term:
So the Rockies gave up a haul to the Orioles for RHP Mychal Givens, a setup man with one year left before free agency. In Tyler Nevin and Terrin Vavra, that's a No. 12 and 7 prospect, plus a ptbnl… https://t.co/y4X1rLHdgL
— Nick Groke (@nickgroke) August 30, 2020
That’s a big prospect expenditure for a team that looked like the world’s worst team for two weeks! Still, they like the parts that are working, and they’re confident enough to support them during a strange 2020 season. You absolutely have to respect that.
Album analogy: Frank Zappa, “Francesco Zappa.” No idea if it’s actually good, but I’m at least interested and willing to learn more.
16. Miami Marlins
Record as of 8/30:14-15
Last Power Ranking: 13
The Marlins were swept by the Rays over the weekend in the Jorge Cantú Invitational, so we might be witnessing the fall and decline of a once-surprising team that wasn’t supposed to do much this year. They were playing with house money, after all.
Sixto Sánchez looks like an absolute star, though, and Pablo López is also looking like a rotation cornerstone. The entire organization has been building toward something beyond 2020 for a while. It would have been entertaining if it had happened this year — especially considering how they were the first team to be waylaid by COVID-19 — but it was never the blueprint. Their lineup is on the older side, but the youth movement is coming.
Just not in 2020. Probably.
Album analogy: Weyes Blood, “Titanic Rising.” Mostly because of the album’s title, but also because I’m looking for an excuse to bring it up whenever possible.
17. New York Mets
Record as of 8/30:15-19
Last Power Ranking:18
After two scintillating wins against the Yankees, the Mets have metsed all over the place, and they keep slipping on the liquid mets. They’re four games under .500, and they keep screwing up in a fantastically visible way. If the Mets did not exist, it would be necessary to invent them.
I think a lot about Mets/Jets/Knicks combo fans. There might be a million of them, a literal million. That’s terrifying! They’re just walking among us!
But in a 60-game season, there is still the potential for a hot week or two to change everything, so don’t make too many jokes. It was just a week ago that the Phillies looked like they were stuck in the swamp of NL East misery, and now they’re having fun in the top half of the rankings.
Still, the Mets are just alot to process, at all times, and they have been for a while now. And they still might be a good team! That’s not a joke or a gag. There are a few teams below them that are similarly confusing, but this is a team with a lot of name-brand talent. They will never not be the Mets, though, which seems like something of an obstacle.
Album analogy: King Woman, “Created in the Image of Suffering.” You don’t need an explanation for this one.
18. Cincinnati Reds
Record as of 8/30:15-19
Last Power Ranking:16
One of the more disappointing teams in this short season, the Reds were the trendy surprise team of the 2020 season back in the Before Times, mostly because of their combination of strong starting pitching and powerful bats.
The starting pitching is strong, alright. The powerful bats are a complete flop, though, with Jesse Winker and Nicholas Castellanos the only players doing good things in a lineup that doesn’t have a lot to offer right now. I won’t tell you which Reds hitters are on my fantasy team, but just know that I am VERY upset right now.
The disclaimer about a hot week or two goes here, and we’re all just a six-game winning streak from all paying homage to the brilliant construction of the 2020 Reds. José García is up, despite never having an at-bat above Class A, and he might spark the resurgence that we’ll talk about for years. But from here, the Reds are a bit of a disappointment.
Album analogy: Metallica, “St. Anger.” Boy, was I excited. And then … well, maybe there’s still time for it to grow on me. Just a few more spins, let’s see where it goes.
19. Washington Nationals
Record as of 8/30:12-19
Last Power Ranking:14
This was supposed to be the season the Nationals wore gold-numbered jerseys and stomped around the National League, all deservedly smug and proud. The fans would go wild for Howie Kendrick, and everyone would remember the first time they solemnly uttered the words, “Lo, but it will be Howie Kendrick, not Bryce Harper, who shall lead them.” We were all thinking it at one point or another.
But even with Juan Soto on a freaky, Mike Trout-like path to super-super-super stardom, the Nationals are one of baseball’s biggest disappointments. The Stephen Strasburg injury was a brutal blow, but they’ve been outscored by just five runs through Sunday, which means they have a better run differential than the Marlins and Rockies, both ahead of them on this list. They should probably be a .500 team, with the potential to overtake the Braves with a hot stretch.
It’ll take more than a simple hot stretch to take the NL East, but it won’t take much to get back into one of the many wild-card slots. It just doesn’t look good at the end of August.
Album analogy: Queen, “Flash Gordon (soundtrack).” They were the champions, alright. Now here’s this. You figure it out.
20. Milwaukee Brewers
Record as of 8/30:15-18
Last Power Ranking:17
This seems like a cruel ranking, as the Brewers are probably on the rise. Maybe. At least a little. They’re 4-6 in their last 10 games, and they’ve been outscored by plenty this season, but they’re elbowing their way into the middle of a crowded bad-but-maybe-not-that-bad National League postseason picture. And, hey, their starting pitching might get even better.
Christian Yelich has rebounded from a ghastly start, but his .202 batting average is one of the better averages on the team. Consider that Keston Hiura is hitting .227, and he has the second-best batting average on the team among qualifying starters. That’s appalling. Yelich, Ryan Braun, Eric Sogard, Justin Smoak and Omar Narváez are all under the Mendoza Line, and Ben Gamel just crept over it with a 1-for-2 on Sunday.
Batting average isn’t a statistic that tells you how to build your team. But it sure is a statistic that tells you how muchfun a team is. And right now, the Brewers sure aren’t a lot of fun.
Album analogy: Lou Reed, “Metal Machine Music.” Just not seeing a lot of hits here.
21.San Francisco Giants
Record as of 8/30:17-19
Last Power Ranking:28
Like the Rockies, the Giants have been up and down, down and up, but they’ve spent the last couple weeks shuffling into the postseason conversation.
Note: We’re at 21, and we’re still talking about the postseason. Curse you, Manfred. CURSE YOUUUUUUUU!
The 2020 Giants are a fun team to watch — I do it for a living, and it’s fine, I promise! — even if they’re maddeningly inconsistent. For a while, it looked like all of their even-year shenanigans were going to come from newer additions like Mike Yastrzemski and Donovan Solano, but now Brandon Belt and Evan Longoria are hitting a little, for old times’ sake. The offense is a net positive, against all odds.
They still need a lot of bullpen help, though, and Joey Bart has quietly disintegrated into a not-ready-for-prime-time player. This is a team that will need some help to get to the postseason, whether it’s external help or internal.
Album analogy: Richard Buckner, “Devotion + Doubt.” Because even when the Giants are going right, that’s the combination that drives every last one of their fans. There’s devotion. But, oh, is there doubt. Even when Salvador Pérez is down to two strikes, there is doubt.
22. Detroit Tigers
Record as of 8/30:16-16
Last Power Ranking:24
Not that bad! The rebuild is most definitely in full swing, and it’s going fine, just fine. Casey Mize was electric in his first start, but mortal in his second, which hints at the growing pains to come. The strikeout-to-walk ratios of most of the hitters in the lineup are a mess, which hints at the kind of slump that could last a week or two or three.
The Tigers’ latest winning stretch came against the Twins and Cubs, with a series win over the Indians for good measure. They were thumped by the White Sox before that, but if you’re looking for optimism, there’s some to be found here.
Just note that the team leader in WAR, according to Baseball-Reference, is Spencer Turnbull, the only starting pitcher with an ERA under 6.75. Did we mention growing pains? They will be sharp and piercing. Turnbull has been a walk machine who hasn’t missed a ton of bats in his six starts, so it’s not like he’s a future ace, either.
Still: Not that bad! You’ll take it.
Album analogy: Hamish Imlach, “Cod Liver Oil and Orange Juice.” It’s a lot to swallow, but it’s probably good for you. Probably.
23. Arizona Diamondbacks
Record as of 8/30:14-21
Last Power Ranking:21
The Diamondbacks, who spent a lot of money on a slightly dinged Madison Bumgarner this offseason without a lot to show for it, are apparently selling. By the time this is published, they might have already sold. It’s a shame, considering how close the team is to being a strong contender, but it also makes sense.
The bullpen is a hot mess and there isn’t much they can do about it. Not only was Bumgarner ineffective and hurt, but Merrill Kelly is out, too. Eduardo Escobar has scuffled all season, and their rotation has been one of the most confusing Jekyll and Hyde outfits we’ve seen in years, with a Cy Young Award contender and three starters with ERAs of 7.84 or higher.
In a 162-game season, the Diamondbacks would be a hot month away from salvaging the season. As is, they’re another cold week from sinking into the abyss.
At least they gave us this.
Album analogy: Van Halen, “Van Halen III.” Poached a key contributor from an inferior rival, and it worked out even worse than the most cynical fan could have expected.
24.Baltimore Orioles
Record as of 8/30:14-19
Last Power Ranking:22
The last time I did these power rankings, people got mad because the Orioles were at the bottom, even though they started the season relatively hot. They have since descended into viscous, sticky Orioles-dom, and there will be less yelling this time.
Still, there’s plenty to be happy about.They got a hefty return for Mychal Givens, a 30-year-old strikeout maven out of the bullpen, which is exactly the kind of trade a rebuilding team shouldmake, and the entire lineup is under 30, except for the guy hitting .400. There are positive developments afoot.
Themost important reminder of the week, though, comes from a look at players whom the Orioles might trade:
I include him here simply to appease the one random fan who still says, “Why don’t they just trade Chris Davis?” The answer is he has absolutely no value. None. Zero. Not if they picked up the entire $50 million or so left on his contract. Not if they threw in the Inner Harbor, Lamar Jackson and a lifetime supply of crab chips. And that was before he landed on the IL with a knee injury. It’s either cut him and eat the salary or keep him around and keep praying for better.
Sounds bad. But at least they’re better than the Red Sox, who looked like an unstoppable juggernaut after winning the 2018 World Series. Oh, how things can change in a couple of years. The Orioles are counting on it.
Album analogy: ABBA’s “The Visitors.” Oh, they’re just a joke to you? Well, maybe they’re about to get serious on you while you’re busy ignoring them, and it’ll be better than you think.
25. Kansas City Royals
Record as of 8/30:13-21
Last Power Ranking:26
Brad Keller is up and impressing, and he’s even distinguishing himself from Kyle Zimmer and Brady Singer, which is something that I figured was absolutely impossible for my moth-infested brain. Like a lot of teams in the bottom tier of these rankings, there’s enough going on for the Royals to maintain some measure of optimism here, and they just dealt closer Trevor Rosenthal to the Padres, which confirms they’re aware of their place in the current baseball hierarchy.
They’ve been better. They’ve been worse. As far as rebuilding Royals teams go, this is a mild one, and it’s more watchable than it has to be.
Sometimes it’sway more watchable. Just don’t research what happened after this.
Album analogy: Hurray For the Riff Raff, “Small Town Heroes,” which might be the best album-artist name combo in this entire power ranking.
26.Seattle Mariners
Record as of 8/30:14-22
Last Power Ranking: 29
Two of the best Mariners stories of this short season were a) old friend and reclamation project Taijuan Walker and b) catcher Austin Nola. Both of them are gone now, traded for prospects. That’s to be expected, and the Mariners got a substantial haul from the Padres, so everything is going according to plan.
Except those were two of the limited fun players the Mariners had to offer in 2020. Now they’re gone. Back to the salt mines, Mariner fans.
In those salt mines, though, there’s still a whole lot of Kyle Lewis, and he is an absolute delight. This is the best part about watching a team that’s struggled for a few years or longer. Lewis is a human dream. He is hope personified, and every hit he gets brings the Mariners closer to where they want to be.
Album analogy: Green Apple Quick Step, “Wonderful Virus.” You’ll forget all about it before you know it, but the bones … the bones of the whole scene are strong. Kyle Lewis will save you, everyone.
27. Texas Rangers
Record as of 8/30:12-21
Last Power Ranking:20
Before we start, let’s take a moment to recognize another achievement in the field of headline writing:
Assuming you like character development, the Rangers’ season is still interesting.
Here’s where the Rangers are, currently: They’re considering a Joey Gallo trade. And what’s worse is that itmight make sense. There’s just so much going on with the organization, from top to bottom, and hope is hard to find.
Note that Gallo is one of only three players with more than two home runs on this team. The other two are Shin-soo Choo, a reminder of the optimism of a previous era, and Rougned Odor, a reminder that something went impossibly wrong, and everyone is scrambling to figure it out. Everyone else has two home runs or fewer. That seems like a problem.
Lance Lynn will probably be gone by the time you read this or shortly after, and there will be prospects coming back. You will be interested in those prospects. Maybe one of them will be like Joey Gallo! And the rebuilding continues apace.
Album analogy: Jayhawks, “Tomorrow the Green Grass.” It’ll probably be green tomorrow. If not tomorrow, the next day. One of these days, certainly.
28. Los Angeles Angels
Record as of 8/30:12-23
Last Power Ranking:23
I have studied this team’s Baseball-Reference page for an hour now, missing my deadline, to figure out why they’re so awful. Why is this team so awful? They have Mike Trout! That’s the best head start that any team can possibly have, even if he’s in a minor slump! Anthony Rendon has a .450 OBP! That seems good!
This team annoys me! I can’t stop using exclamation points to write about them!
The Angels have already started their reload-not-rebuild by trading Jason Castro and Tommy La Stella, and they’ll pick it up where they left off. With Rendon and Trout as a core, they can’t afford to futz around too much longer, but they sure are lousy right now. Hopes were high. Hopes were dashed.
Album analogy: Metallica and Lou Reed, “Lulu.” Sure seems like there’s a lot of talent here. Historically impressive talent, even. Be a shame if it weren’t used well at all.
29. Boston Red Sox
Record as of 8/30:12-22
Last Power Ranking:27
The rotation is a collection of warm bodies, and the warmth is suggested, but not required. Also, get loose, you’re starting tomorrow. The team ERA is over 6.00, which means that not only can the 2020 Orioles laugh at them, but the 2018 Orioles can laugh at them, too. And their best hitter this season, Mitch Moreland, was just traded to the Padres, so the drubbings will continue until morale improves.
If there’s good news, it’s that Jackie Bradley Jr. can make them proud, but this is one of the roughest Red Sox teams that Boston haseverhad to watch.
Album analogy: Nas’ “Nastradamus.” Weren’t the Red Sox just good? Like, five seconds ago? What is this? What happened?
30. Pittsburgh Pirates
Record as of 8/30:10-21
Last Power Ranking:30
They’ve won six out of their last 10 games, you jackals. They aren’t dead yet. You’ll rue the day, I tell you. Rue the day. Unless they’re just this bad.
Album analogy: Dee Dee King, “Standing in the Spotlight.” There’s a legendary backstory somewhere in there, but the present just isn’t great.
This came out the same year as Nirvana’s “Bleach,” if you’re keeping score at home:
Bold prediction: The Pirates won’t finish the season in this slot.
Who will? For that, you’ll have to tune in for another episode ofThe Athletic’s MLB Power Rankings. Until next time.
(Top photo of Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy: Tom Pennington / Getty Images)
