In KP’s latest edition of MLB Power Rankings at The Wife Hates Sports, the Detroit Tigers gain some ground on the field, posting a 17-point increase over the last two weeks of games. Detroit’s overall lead on the second place Atlanta Braves increases to 15 ratings points.
Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox posted one of the best two-week spans, gaining 37 ratings points and moving up to third place. Rounding out the top five are the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers. Overall, here are the five teams with the biggest ratings gain over the last two weeks:
Los Angeles Angels: +49 points
Boston Red Sox: +37 points
Kansas City Royals: +27 points
Los Angeles Dodgers: +23 points
Washington Nationals: +22 points
On the other side of the spectrum, the Tampa Bay Rays are the big losers this week, falling 35 ratings points, and overall, here are the five clubs that saw the biggest decline:
Tampa Bay Rays: -35 points
Miami Marlins: -26 points
Cleveland Indians: -19 points
Arizona Diamondbacks: -18 points
Houston Astros: -17 points
The full list is as follows, featuring some key statistics in the month of August for every team in baseball:
Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder and Detroit’s offense have had plenty to celebrate
KP’s MLB Power Rankings: September 3, 2013
Note: Statistics and point totals as of Tuesday morning (9/3/13) and do not include night games
1. Detroit Tigers (196 points) – Last: #1 (+17)
In the month of August, Detroit’s offense led the Major Leagues in batting average (.303), on base percentage (.360), slugging percentage (.459) and on base plus slugging (.819).
2. Atlanta Braves (181 points) – Last: #2 (+8)
MLB Power Rankings: Craig Kimbrel has been lights out for the Braves
Atlanta’s pitching was deadly throughout the month of August, posting Major League highs in saves (14) and opponents’ batting average (.217).
3. Boston Red Sox (177 points) – Last: #4 (+37)
Boston’s +42 run differential for August was the third best mark in baseball, topped by only two teams, the Rangers and Dodgers.
4. St. Louis Cardinals (163 points) – Last: #3 (-9)
The Cardinals’ 69 doubles in August were tied for the most in baseball.
5. Los Angeles Dodgers (161 points) – Last: #5 (+23)
In 29 August games, the Dodgers led all of baseball with a 23-6 record and a 2.07 team ERA.
6. Texas Rangers (141 points) – Last: #6 (+4)
The Rangers finished the month of August with a 20-7 record, but most impressively, Texas was 13-3 on the road and outscored opponents by 75 runs during the month.
7. Oakland Athletics (124 points) – Last: #8 (+21)
Over the last 30 days, Jarrod Parker has 5 quality starts, with one complete game, a 3-0 record, 2.11 ERA and 28 strikeouts.
8. Pittsburgh Pirates (116 points) – Last: #9 (+15)
The Pirates are for real this season, but the team is fading a bit down the stretch. In the month of August, Pittsburgh posted a 14-14 record and was outscored by opponents.
9. Cincinnati Reds (111 points) – Last: #7 (-7)
The Reds’ 34 doubles in August were tied for the fewest in baseball.
10. Kansas City Royals (87 points) – Last: #12 (+27)
In 31 games played in August, Kansas City posted a mediocre 16-15 record, but the team’s pitching staff led the American League with a 2.96 ERA.
11. Baltimore Orioles (67 points) – Last: #11 (-1)
Adam Jones (.301 average, 6 HR, 21 RBI over last month) continues to swing a hot bat.
12. Tampa Bay Rays (65 points) – Last: #10 (-35)
Tampa Bay’s 327 total bases in August were the fewest in the American league.
13. New York Yankees (38 points) – Last: #15 (+1)
Alfonso Soriano posted 11 HR and 31 RBI in August, tied with Miguel Cabrera for the most in baseball.
14. Cleveland Indians (35 points) – Last: #13 (-19)
For the Wild Card hopeful Indians, the pitching staff struggled to throw strikes in August, walking 107 batters. Only the Houston Astros (119 BB) walked more batters.
15. Arizona Diamondbacks (31 points) – Last: #14 (-18)
Over the last 30 days, Martin Prado has led the NL in RBI, knocking in 29 over a span of 111 at bats.
16. Washington Nationals (17 points) – Last: #17 (+22)
Injured for most of the season, Jayson Werth has recently swung a hot bat, posting a .340 batting average, with 6 HR and 22 RBI over the last 30 days.
17. Los Angeles Angels (17 points) – Last: #20 (+49)
Opposing hitters batted .271 against the Angels in August, which was good for the third worst mark in Major League Baseball.
18. Colorado Rockies (-7 points) – Last Week: #18 (+6)
Catcher Wilin Rosario has been crushing the ball over the last month, batting .379, with 6 HR and 22 RBI over 87 at bats.
19. New York Mets (-18 points) – Last: #16 (-14)
Jonathon Niese has helped replace the injured Matt Harvey, posting a 3-0 record and 2.14 ERA in August, with 32 strikeouts over 33 2/3 innings.
20. Toronto Blue Jays (-43 points) – Last: #19 (-13)
Toronto hitters struck out 174 times in August, the third fewest in baseball during that span.
21. Milwaukee Brewers (-48 points) – Last: #22 (-7)
Milwaukee base runners were caught stealing 12 times in August, the second most in the National League for the month.
22. Chicago Cubs (-51 points) – Last Week: #21 (-16)
The Cubs stole just five bases in the entire month of August, which was easily the fewest total in the National League during that span.
23. San Francisco Giants (-52 points) – Last: #23 (-6)
The Giants and Padres were the only two teams with zero blown saves in the month of August.
24. Minnesota Twins (-69 points) – Last: #26 (-1)
Minnesota pitches to contact – and the team’s 3.70 pitches per plate appearance was the lowest mark in the American League for the month of August.
25. Chicago White Sox (-76 points) – Last: #27 (-7)
This may be a last place team, but the White Sox are playing for pride, and Chicago’s 16-13 record in August was better than division rivals in Kansas City, Minnesota and Cleveland.
26. Seattle Mariners (-77 points) – Last: #24 (-14)
The Mariners finished a very uneven month, posting an abysmal 2-10 record in front of its home fans, while managing to win 10 of 16 contests on the road.
27. San Diego Padres (-78 points) – Last: #25 (-15)
Will Venable (.345 average, 7 HR, 14 RBI over last 30 days) has been one of the hottest bats in baseball.
28. Philadelphia Phillies (-83 points) – Last: #28 (-5)
Cole Hamels is still not getting enough run support, but his numbers over the last 30 days (2-0, 2.25 ERA, 6 QS and 40 K’s in 44 IP) have been lights out.
29. Miami Marlins (-122 points) – Last Week: #29 (-26)
Miami’s pitching staff performed well in August, but the offense struggled, posting Major League lows in total bases (295), HR (14) and hits (204).
30. Houston Astros (-195 points) – Last: #30 (-17)
Houston’s pitching staff gave up 136 earned runs in August, tied for the most in baseball.
* All stats per MLB.com
Note: RED = Falling 3+ spots from last poll, GREEN = Rising 3+ spots from last poll
The Wife Hates Sports MLB Power Rankings system has a method to its madness, attempting to be different and not just rank by popularity and record. It mixes a secret formula of six completely different categories, meshed into a points system. The categories don’t just include team results regarding record, but how each team has performed recently, as well as incorporating some statistics on both a team’s offense and pitching staff, too.
It’s frustrating, Top, but I have been a die-hard fan for my entire life and that will continue. What can I say… I’m a glutton for punishment, I guess.
Hope you’re right about Machado, Top…. they are saying the injury is not as bad as originally anticipated, though no surgery. That always worries you… rehabbing knee injuries without surgery.
The O’s are close… best defense, some good young pitching… good core… tons of power. Just a piece or two, perhaps an ace for the staff and a few bats that are more disciplined at the plate and get on base a lot, and this could be a World Series team in 2014.
That killed the momentum gathered by the Orioles . Machado will be back for next season and even better than this year .
Yeah, TOP… the O’s laid a major egg in that Tampa Bay series, and then got worse news when Machado went down with that injury. Hopefully he can come back fully recovered next season. That team needs a top of the rotation guy and some more plate discipline on offense… and if they can find a way to get that, they are World Series contenders in 2014. But that’s an IF…
Yeah, the O’s lead baseball in solo shots and it seems that lately, that’s all the team does… is not take pitches and swing for the fences.
Here’s another stat for you.
Prior to last night’s win, 21 of the Rays’ last 22 home runs were solo shots.