Energy Rankings: Make method for a brand new No. 1

It was maybe solely a matter of time, however the season-long duel between the Dodgers and Astros for the highest slot in our rankings has seen its first altering of the guard since L.A. overtook Houston again in Week eight. Blame getting Zack Greinke, blame Yordan Alvarez’s newest feats of power, however the Astros have regained No. 1 standing after getting a majority of first-place votes. Since Opening Day, the Dodgers have been within the prime slot in 14 of 19 weeks, the Astros claiming the title within the different 5. Now that they’ve it, can they maintain it?

That change wasn’t the one large improvement this week, even within the prime 5, because the Indians inched one key rung forward of the Twins. And the Mets’ unimaginable in-season comeback noticed them rise seven spots all the way in which again into our prime 10, displacing the Nationals within the voting.

Groups shedding important floor this week included the Cardinals, Phillies, Giants and Pirates, with all 4 golf equipment dropping three spots. It stays to be seen if any of the primary three golf equipment in that sad group could make good on their tenuous postseason hopes. If the Mets can, why not? Because the previous saying goes, it ain’t over until it is over.

For Week 19, our panel of voters was composed of Bradford Doolittle, Christina Kahrl, Eric Karabell, Tim Kurkjian and David Schoenfield.

Houston Astros
2019 file: 77-41
Week 18 rating: 2

Prime hitting prospect Kyle Tucker has performed video games at first base for Triple-A Spherical Rock, however good luck pushing Yuli Gurriel to the facet. Gurriel hit 31 house runs whole in his first two full seasons with the Astros, and entered July with solely eight. Yawn. Then Gurriel had a monster July, with 12 house runs and 31 RBIs, and little has modified this month. Gurriel knocked in eight runs in a house recreation in opposition to the Rockies final week. He’s effectively on his approach to greater than 100 RBIs, and his beginning job is safe. — Eric Karabell

ICYMI: Greinke rocked in Houston debut, however Astros maintain rolling

Los Angeles Dodgers
2019 file: 79-41
Week 18 rating: 1

From the information of the surprising: A few weeks in the past Kristopher Negron was a bench participant for the last-place Mariners (after spending a lot of the season in Triple-A). On Saturday, there was Negron batting third within the Dodgers’ lineup. Even he could not have predicted one thing like that taking place. Dave Roberts was driving a little bit of a sizzling hand, as Negron homered in his first two video games with the Dodgers and hit .345 by means of his first 9 begins. So far as the established stars, Clayton Kershaw has now allowed two runs or fewer in six consecutive begins, with a 1.66 ERA. — David Schoenfield

ICYMI: Rating Dodgers rookies on their October potential

New York Yankees
2019 file: 77-41
Week 18 rating: Three

Masahiro Tanaka had a 9.49 ERA because the All-Star break, worst amongst starters with no less than 5 begins, however tossed eight scoreless innings in Sunday’s 1-Zero win over the Blue Jays, simply the third time a Yankees starter has gone no less than eight innings this season (twice by Tanaka, as soon as by James Paxton). The opposite large information was the continued mashing of Gio Urshela and Mike Tauchman. Urshela had back-to-back two-homer video games and 5 homers throughout the week. Tauchman had a two-homer recreation and in addition had 5 homers throughout the week. — Schoenfield

ICYMI: Severino takes large step in bullpen session

Cleveland Indians
2019 file: 71-47
Week 18 rating: 5

Because the Indians sneak again towards the highest, give the Tribe credit score for banking on what Roberto Perez might do for them in a full-time function whereas selecting up Kevin Plawecki to caddy for him. Past mashing a career-high 19 house runs, Perez is among the many MLB leaders in runs generated by pitch-framing, and he and Plawecki have saved the Tribe 10 runs with their receiving abilities. — Christina Kahrl

ICYMI: The place Tribe ranks amongst contenders after deadline

Minnesota Twins
2019 file: 71-47
Week 18 rating: Four

Eleven Twins have already reached double digits in house runs, leaving them one in need of the large league file set by final season’s Yankees. Who must energy as much as get the Twins to the file? Properly, it is likely to be powerful! Ehire Adrianza and Luis Arraez will not be precisely energy hitters, and Willians Astudillo won’t return from his indirect damage till September. Nonetheless, rejoice the staff cruising to the general house run file and its important depth. Eight gamers have a very good probability for 20 house runs; final season, simply two Twins did it. — Karabell

ICYMI: 20 superb info from Yr of the Residence Run

Tampa Bay Rays
2019 file: 69-50
Week 18 rating: 6

Here is a reputation to observe in September or, if not, then in 2020: Dylan Cozens. You may recall when Cozens shaped a formidable power-hitting duo with Rhys Hoskins at Double-A Studying. In 2016, Cozens posted 40 homers and 125 RBIs for Studying, whereas Hoskins had 38 and 116. Cozens is a yr youthful than Hoskins. Whereas Hoskins has gone on to grow to be a lineup fixture for the Phillies, Cozens was launched final week. Who picked him up? Tampa Bay, and what occurs when the Rays spot one thing they like in a participant. Cozens has missed all of 2019 with a toe damage, however Josh Tolentino of The Athletic reported there’s a “slim probability” Cozens may return in September. — Bradford Doolittle

ICYMI: Inventory Watch — Rays goal postseason return

Atlanta Braves
2019 file: 70-50
Week 18 rating: eight

This wasn’t the way it was imagined to work out. Lower than two weeks after selecting up the three relievers on the commerce deadline, the Braves immediately have a better controversy as Brian Snitker is exhibiting an absence of endurance, shifting from Luke Jackson to Shane Greene and now to Mark Melancon — who promptly blew a 6-2 lead within the backside of the ninth inning Saturday in his first recreation as nearer (with assist from Greene). The Marlins received the sport within the 10th off Sean Newcomb. Sunday, Snitker acquired a save from Jackson, so keep tuned. — Schoenfield

ICYMI: What deadline gap did the Braves fail to fill?

Chicago Cubs
2019 file: 64-54
Week 18 rating: 9

After a break up with the Reds over the weekend at Nice American Ball Park, the Cubs’ quest to resolve their street woes continues. Chicago is 23-35 away from the Pleasant Confines after Sunday’s victory, and the fault lies nearly solely with the pitching workers. Coming into Sunday’s recreation, Chicago pitching was giving up Three.78 per recreation at Wrigley Subject and Four.98 away from it. The primary offender over a big physique of labor has been Kyle Hendricks (1.98 house ERA, 5.16 street). The Cubs play all six of their video games on the street within the coming week, with three every at Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. — Doolittle

ICYMI: Why cannot the Cubs win away from Wrigley?

Oakland Athletics
2019 file: 67-51
Week 18 rating: 7

What’s holding the A’s within the American League wild-card race? Maybe greater than the rest, beginning pitching. Anticipated to be a weak point earlier than the season, to not point out after the suspension of Frankie Montas, they’re as a substitute getting nice turns each fifth day from each Mike Fiers and Chris Bassitt. The duo has mixed for 9 high quality begins in 12 turns because the All-Star break, combining for a 1.89 ERA. — Kahrl

New York Mets
2019 file: 61-57
Week 18 rating: 17

Take into consideration what has modified for right-hander Zack Wheeler previously few weeks. He was on the injured record with shoulder hassle, nonetheless prime trade-bait materials, and his ERA was an ugly Four.71. Since then, he acquired wholesome, averted a commerce and has received his previous three begins, allowing nary a run in the newest two. He additionally lowered his ERA to a season-best Four.20. The schedule exhibits Wheeler dealing with the Braves and Royals this coming week, each on the street. If he and Steven Matz proceed thriving, maybe a playoff berth is just not so daunting. — Karabell

ICYMI: Key matchups for Mets, different contenders down the stretch

Washington Nationals
2019 file: 62-55
Week 18 rating: 10

The Nationals salvaged the ultimate recreation of the Mets sequence with a 7-Four victory, however the horrendous loss Friday and eighth-inning loss Saturday turned what might have been a 6-Zero week right into a Four-2. They did end 5-Four on the street journey and now get six at house in opposition to the Reds and Brewers. Max Scherzer will throw a simulated recreation Tuesday, and if that goes effectively he may very well be again quickly. — Schoenfield

ICYMI: How ‘Child Shark’ helped Nats bounce again

Boston Purple Sox
2019 file: 62-58
Week 18 rating: 12

After placing out 13 batters Thursday, Chris Sale handed Gerrit Cole with a league-best 13.2 Okay’s per 9 innings, the third-highest charge by a qualifying starter in historical past. Sale’s season has been a disappointment — too many hits with runners on base — however he and the Cy Younger contender Cole have similar stroll charges and similar house run charges. — Sam Miller

ICYMI: Toast of MLB final yr, 2019 Sox are toast

Milwaukee Brewers
2019 file: 62-57
Week 18 rating: 14

The Brewers earned numerous grit factors previously week. After limping out of Chicago on the heels of a three-game sweep, Milwaukee’s file had slipped to only one recreation over .500. Worse, the again woes that plagued MVP Christian Yelich earlier this season resurfaced, forcing him out of the lineup. How did the floundering Brewers reply? With 5 consecutive wins, in fact. Challenges stay, reminiscent of determining how one can squeeze each little bit of worth from nearer Josh Hader with out grinding him into hamburger, however the Brewers aren’t accomplished but. — Doolittle

ICYMI: MLB Awards Watch replace

St. Louis Cardinals
2019 file: 61-55
Week 18 rating: 11

A 3-game sweep by the Dodgers to start the previous week took the Cardinals from the Nationwide League’s wild-card result in a half-game again, because the staff totaled simply two runs in these three contests. The returns of Matt Carpenter and Marcell Ozuna from the IL have not injected as a lot life into the offense as rapidly as hoped: Ozuna has two house runs in seven video games since activation, however simply 5 whole hits, whereas Carpenter has added just one extra-base hit. — Tristan H. Cockcroft

Arizona Diamondbacks
2019 file: 59-59
Week 18 rating: 15

Arizona went Three-Three previously week, fittingly: The Diamondbacks have been at precisely .500 27 instances this season, together with proper now. Since they beat the Dodgers to enhance to 40-40 on June 24, they have been precisely even at 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 47, 50, 51, 52, 54, 54, 56, 57 and now 59 wins. — Miller

Philadelphia Phillies
2019 file: 60-58
Week 18 rating: 13

Whereas Rhys Hoskins and Bryce Harper might end the season 1-2 within the NL in walks, it’s honest to surprise what occurred to once-patient second baseman Cesar Hernandez, who entered the season with a 10% profession stroll charge. Final season, Hernandez drew free passes in 13.Four% of his plate appearances, and solely seven large leaguers drew extra walks. This yr, Hernandez won’t attain half of his 95 walks from 2018. The Phillies want him to guide off, however that’s going poorly as a result of Hernandez is swinging at so many non-strikes. A return to endurance would actually help the struggling lineup. — Karabell

ICYMI: Phillies fail to fill each gap at deadline

Cincinnati Reds
2019 file: 56-60
Week 18 rating: 20

The Reds are winners of seven of 11 video games because the three-team commerce that introduced beginning pitcher Trevor Bauer from Cleveland and despatched Yasiel Puig there. Rookie Aristides Aquino, Puig’s substitute, has been on a historic tear, his three-homer outburst Saturday capping what has been a run of homering seven instances in his first 10 video games (counting his one-game debut final season) to tie Trevor Story’s file for probably the most homers by means of that many profession video games. — Cockcroft

ICYMI: Whoa! Rookie Aquino homers three extra instances

Texas Rangers
2019 file: 59-58
Week 18 rating: 18

Texas bookended a four-game shedding streak with a pair of 1-Zero victories this previous week, its first two 1-Zero wins of the season. The Rangers have been hanging on for pricey life all season, however they’re right down to a single thread: Baseball Prospectus has their playoff odds at Zero.1%. — Miller

San Francisco Giants
2019 file: 59-60
Week 18 rating: 16

Jeff Samardzija has been steadily nailing down 2019 as a whole bounce-back season from an injury-shortened 2018. In his previous eight begins, he is given the Giants a 1.95 ERA, six high quality begins (all S.F. victories) to convey his ERA down nearly a full run down to three.55. If he retains it up, that ERA can be his finest since his breakthrough marketing campaign in 2014 break up between the Cubs and A’s. — Kahrl

ICYMI: Like Giants, Sandoval not able to be counted out

Los Angeles Angels
2019 file: 58-61
Week 18 rating: 19

The Angels proceed to wrestle to seek out competent beginning pitching, making a wild-card run appear daunting. Proper-hander Felix Pena, the membership chief in innings, suffered a torn ACL in his most up-to-date outing. Rookie right-hander Griffin Canning is out with elbow irritation. Jaime Barria, Jose Suarez and others haven’t stepped up. Can Mike Trout pitch? The Angels have struggling gamers and accidents on offense as effectively, however holding the workers’s ERA on the nice facet of 5.00 continues to be an issue. — Karabell

ICYMI: Mike Trout’s one rule for hitting

San Diego Padres
2019 file: 55-62
Week 18 rating: 21

The Padres have gotten good hitting after the commerce deadline, their 5.6 runs per recreation common since rating sixth-best. Rookie Fernando Tatis Jr., who hit leadoff homers in back-to-back video games throughout the previous week to provide himself a franchise-record six for the season, continues to set the tone. He simply had a 14-game hitting streak snapped Sunday, throughout which era he has batted 19-for-60 (.317) with six homers. — Cockcroft

Colorado Rockies
2019 file: 53-65
Week 18 rating: 22

A five-game street shedding streak to start the previous week dropped the Rockies’ file on to street to Three-15 since July 1, and plunged the staff additional into final place within the NL West. It additionally now has Colorado nearer to the NL’s worst file than the league’s second wild card. The staff’s pitching workers has been an actual letdown in August, with a 6.99 ERA. — Cockcroft

Chicago White Sox
2019 file: 52-64
Week 18 rating: 25

We’ve not heard as a lot about ebullient White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson these days, however he continues to offer proof he is taken his offense to a brand new stage. After sitting out a month with a foul ankle sprain, Anderson’s second-half manufacturing stays on par with what he put up throughout his breakout begin to the marketing campaign. He is hitting .360 because the break and stands at .324 on the season, hitting .323 at house and .325 away. He is hit .327 in opposition to righties and .316 off lefties. All of that is proof of a brand new stage of consistency. — Doolittle

ICYMI: Why Luis Robert cannot hit when Keith Legislation is there

Toronto Blue Jays
2019 file: 49-72
Week 18 rating: 24

Toronto phenom Bo Bichette, who debuted July 29, has extra doubles this season than Justin Smoak, the Blue Jays’ on a regular basis first baseman. And in addition greater than Khris Davis, and for that matter Chris Davis. — Miller

ICYMI: Bo is aware of hitting — and Jays rookie has file to show it

Seattle Mariners
2019 file: 48-71
Week 18 rating: 27

Justus Sheffield, the important thing man acquired within the James Paxton commerce, struggled a lot in Triple-A that he was demoted to Double-A, the place he has dominated with a 1.49 ERA in 10 begins, averaging 6.6 innings per outing with out permitting a house run. Extra necessary, he is throwing strikes once more (1.9 walks per 9 in comparison with 6.7 in Triple-A). He made one aid look earlier this season for the Mariners, and it is sensible for them to advertise him in September and provides him 4 or 5 begins down the stretch. — Schoenfield

ICYMI: M’s Beckham suspended for PEDs

Pittsburgh Pirates
2019 file: 48-69
Week 18 rating: 23

It is honest to ask when this staff may win once more. The Pirates are mired in a Four-24 skid because the All-Star break, sinking them from 2½ video games again within the NL Central race to 15½ again, to not point out putting them simply 4 video games forward of the Marlins for the NL’s worst file. Josh Bell’s hitting woes have set the tone; till Sunday’s pair of homers, he hadn’t hit one because the All-Star break. — Cockcroft

ICYMI: Cervelli begins rehab from newest concussion

Kansas Metropolis Royals
2019 file: 43-69
Week 18 rating: 28

Mike Montgomery threw seven shutout frames with 12 strikeouts in Detroit on Saturday, leading to a recreation rating (81) that ranks because the second-best amongst Royals starters this season. If we copied that sentence and mailed it again to 2010, it will hardly appear shocking. With the gem, nevertheless, the onetime elite Okay.C. prospect has formally come full circle. It was an encouraging step in Montgomery’s quest to lastly grow to be a rotation staple; his ERA over 5 begins (Four.63) will not flip any heads, however he acquired 24 strikeouts in opposition to simply three walks over 23⅓ innings in these outings. — Doolittle

Miami Marlins
2019 file: 44-73
Week 18 rating: 26

Together with his first 20-homer season already below his belt and his OPS now above .800, the emergence of Brian Anderson as a stable starter at third base or proper subject creates some fascinating decisions for the Fish so far as what to do with him. He’ll be 27 subsequent season, and the Marlins will not contend for years but, however he will not be arbitration-eligible till after 2020, making him an fascinating, cost-controlled goal for contenders on the lookout for assist on the corners this winter. — Kahrl

ICYMI: Dad mid-interview as son Isan Diaz homers in MLB debut

Baltimore Orioles
2019 file: 39-78
Week 18 rating: 29

The dangerous enjoyable truth for the Orioles: After a 23-2 drubbing Saturday, they’ve allowed six or extra house runs in a recreation seven instances this yr, greater than the remainder of the American League’s groups mixed. The great enjoyable truth: Their walk-off win Sunday was their first of the yr, so they will not be the primary staff and not using a walk-off win since 1995. — Miller

Detroit Tigers
2019 file: 35-80
Week 18 rating: 30

After shedding JaCoby Jones for the season to a fractured wrist, the lone comfortable observe left within the lineup is likely to be Niko Goodrum exhibiting he may very well be an efficient on a regular basis participant at second or quick. So so long as he is nonetheless in motion, there is no place to go however up for everyone else, proper? The Tigers’ charge of scoring because the All-Star break has improved barely, rating 29th amongst MLB groups, however their offense remains to be in final place general within the Yr of the Residence Run. — Kahrl