It’s only right on Player’s Weekend that we highlight some big stars in these power rankings.
In Kansas City, Bobby Witt Jr. appears to be solidifying himself in the upper tier of current stars. In Houston, Yusei Kikuchi appears dead set on proving the majority of trade deadline graders wrong. In Los Angeles, the greatest baseball player of all time is still doing his thing.
With that said, let’s take a look at my most recent power rankings with World Series odds from FanDuel Sportsbook.
10. Kansas City Royals (69-55, last week unranked)
World Series odds: +3500
Bobby Witt Jr. continues to solidify himself as one of the next faces of Major League Baseball. Not only has he gone out of his way to shout out one of the greatest sports video game characters ever and honor his “four moms” this MLB player’s weekend, he also went 5-for-12 with a home run and three RBIs to help the Royals to a three-game sweep over the Reds, capping off a week in which he slashed .444/.546/1.056.
9. San Diego Padres (70-55, LW 8)
World Series odds: +1700
San Diego, the land of fish tacos, craft beer, perfect weather and … dropping two out of three to the Colorado Rockies? Not a good way for the Padres to end a week that began with an impressive sweep of the Pirates at home.
8. Houston Astros (67-56, LW 10)
World Series odds: +1100
I’m still not thrilled with what Dana Brown gave up for Yusei Kikuchi at the trade deadline, but it’s hard to argue with Kikuchi’s performance since coming to Houston. The Japanese southpaw has a 2.70 ERA over three starts as an Astro, and Houston has won all three of his outings.
7. Minnesota Twins (70-54, LW 7)
World Series odds: +1700
Joe Ryan is out indefinitely with a shoulder strain, the bullpen is showing signs of fraying and the Royals remain right on Minnesota’s heels. Still, the Twins did well to take three of four from the Rangers. Now, a pivotal series against the Padres in San Diego awaits.
6. Cleveland Guardians (72-52, LW 4)
World Series odds: +1700
The middle of my weekly top 10 has largely remained the same, but when one division leader sweeps another, there will be a shakeup. The Guardians are under .500 since the All-Star break, and after a rough weekend in Milwaukee, Cleveland’s reprieve is a trip to the Bronx to face the Yankees.
5. Philadelphia Phillies (73-51, LW 3)
World Series odds: +450
Speaking of teams that can’t seem to recapture early-season magic, it was inconceivable over the first half of this year that Philadelphia would ever fall this far in my power rankings. The Phillies still hold a comfortable lead in the NL East and took care of business at home against bottom-dwellers Miami and Washington this week. But this is hardly the same Phillies team that was a first-half juggernaut.
4. Milwaukee Brewers (72-52, LW 6)
World Series odds: +1900
The Brewers finally got off the mat against the Dodgers with back-to-back late rallies that ensured a series split at home against Los Angeles, then flexed their muscles by sweeping the AL Central-leading Guardians. Christian Yelich is officially out for the season, which is a huge blow, but this is a team that has overcome the odds all year long.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers (73-52, LW 5)
World Series odds: +330
Mookie Betts returned with a bang and Shohei Ohtani is still doing unbelievable things nightly, but L.A.’s injury issues remain as Tyler Glasnow hit the injured list with elbow tendinitis. The hope that extended layoffs for Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller would help the right-handed fireballers regain some of their pre-injury form has not manifested. Clayton Kershaw has turned back the clock of late, but the Dodgers invested too much in this roster to pin their postseason rotation hopes on the 36-year-old.
2. New York Yankees (73-52, LW 2)
World Series odds: +500
The Bronx Bombers had a golden opportunity to seize not only the top spot here but the best record in the majors. And then they lost consecutive games to the Tigers. It’s been that sort of month for New York, which has yet to win more than three games in a row despite playing exclusively losing clubs. That won’t be the case this week, as the Yankees host the Guardians, who are also vying for the top record in the American League.
1. Baltimore Orioles (73-52, LW 1)
World Series odds: +750
The Orioles are treading water, which would be much more acceptable if they weren’t going blow for blow with the Yankees in the AL East standings. Baltimore heads to New York — to play the Mets — needing to keep pace with the team across town.
Out: Arizona Diamondbacks (69-56, LW 9) World Series odds: +1800
Ben Verlander is an MLB Analyst for FOX Sports and the host of the “Flippin’ Bats” podcast. Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Verlander was an All-American at Old Dominion University before he joined his brother, Justin, in Detroit as a 14th-round pick of the Tigers in 2013. He spent five years in the Tigers organization. Follow him at @BenVerlander.
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