MLB power rankings: Even the most mediocre clubs just can't quit NL wild card chase

2024-12-27 14:04:34 My

Sure, it's a football phrase, but as the pigskin season kicks off in earnest, one of that sport's most time-honored utterances can most definitely be applied to Major League Baseball in this 12-team postseason era.

Just win, baby.

Never has that been truer than the National League wild-card race, where four teams toggle between hopelessness and optimism week to week − maybe even day to day.

Take the Miami Marlins. Ten games ago, they were a losing team (66-67), in sixth place in the wild-card standings, needing to make up three games and vault three teams to reach paydirt.

Well, eight wins in 10 games − capped by a comeback win and series conquest Sunday at Philadelphia − has the formerly dead Fish tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the loss column for the third wild-card spot, just a half-game out of the money and up to No. 8 in USA TODAY Sports' MLB power rankings.

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The San Francisco Giants? Also looking like a dead club walking just five days ago, after a Wrigley Field sweep left them at .500 (70-70), in that No. 6 spot and seemingly without hope. Well, a weekend visit from the Colorado Rockies while the Cubs and D-backs were beating each other up, and things look awfully different: Just one game behind Arizona and Miami in the loss column, and four more games with the last-place Rockies this week.

It's no different in the AL, where the Toronto Blue Jays flip-flopped with the Seattle Mariners as they swept Kansas City while Seattle floundered, losing three of four to fall into the No. 3 wild card spot, just a half-game up on Texas.

The message? Take care of your own, and the wild-card gods will probably take care of you.

A look at this week's rankings:

1. Atlanta Braves (–)

Playoffs? Playoffs? Yup, already clinched.

2. Baltimore Orioles (-)

Last major hurdle to AL East title: Four games vs. Rays at Camden Yards.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)

Lose Julio Urías, win four of six on the road.

4. Tampa Bay Rays (-)

Yandy Diaz (.902 OPS, 4.1 WAR) worthy of MVP love.

5. Houston Astros (-)

Is AL West over? Nine of next 12 games against Royals, A's.

6. Milwaukee Brewers (-)

Reliever Abner Uribe (1.52 ERA, .163 average against) will be a problem come October.

7. Toronto Blue Jays (+3)

Kinda seems like as Bo goes, they go.

8. Philadelphia Phillies (+1)

Hockey aficionado Bryce Harper knows you can't grow a playoff beard 'til you shave the old one.

9. Seattle Mariners (-2)

George Kirby should've known better.

10. Texas Rangers (-2)

Second-best run differential in the AL - and currently on the outside of playoff picture.

11. Chicago Cubs (-)

Dansby Swanson, Christopher Morel, Patrick Wisdom and Cody Bellinger all with at least 20 homers.

12. Arizona Diamondbacks (+1)

Five upcoming games with Cubs, Giants may prove pivotal.

13. Boston Red Sox (-1)

Just about out of it.

14. San Francisco Giants (-)

8-1 against Rockies, 65-69 against everyone else.

15. Minnesota Twins (-)

Pablo Lopez tops 200-strikeout mark for first time, second in AL with 213.

16. Miami Marlins (+1)

Four games with Brewers a possible wild-card series preview.

17. Cincinnati Reds (-1)

Not taking care of business against sub-.500 teams.

18. New York Yankees (-)

Jasson Dominguez's UCL tear a bummer.

19. Cleveland Guardians (-)

Lucas Giolito loses to Angels 10 days after they put him on waivers.

20. San Diego Padres (-)

Perhaps they'll have a Cy Young winner - Blake Snell - to show for their dismal season.

21. Los Angeles Angels (+1)

Carlos Estévez notches first 30-save season.

22. New York Mets (-1)

Francisco Alvarez has 22 homers - but just a .292 OBP.

23. Detroit Tigers (-)

Sawyer Gipson-Long wins his major league debut.

24. Washington Nationals (-)

It's just 45 at-bats, but Jacob Young (.311 average, .802 OPS) looks intriguing in leadoff spot.

25. Pittsburgh Pirates (-)

Oneil Cruz not likely to return this season.

26. St. Louis Cardinals (–)

Draft lottery means they have a shot at first No. 1 overall pick ever.

27. Chicago White Sox (–)

A 7-12 finish will give them 100 losses.

28. Colorado Rockies (–)

Have not won a series against NL West foe; 9-32 overall.

29. Kansas City Royals (–)

They actually beat the A's to 100 losses.

30. Oakland Athletics (–)

The record: 44-99. The run differential: -303. Number of petitions to force statewide referendum on Las Vegas stadium funds: One.

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