It’s time for Player’s Weekend to highlight some big stars in these Power Rankings.
In Kansas City, Bobby Witt Jr. seems to be cementing his place in the upper echelon of current stars. In Houston, Yusei Kikuchi seems determined to prove most evaluators wrong at the trade deadline. In Los Angeles, baseball’s greatest player of all time is still in the game.
Now let’s take a look at my latest power rankings with World Series odds from FanDuel Sportsbook.
10. Kansas City Royals (69-55, not ranked last week)
World Series odds: +3500
Bobby Witt Jr. continues to establish himself as one of the next faces of Major League Baseball. Not only has he gone out of his way to pay tribute to one of the greatest sports video game characters of all time and “Four mothers” of this MLB player weekendHe also hit 5-for-12 with a home run and three RBIs to help the Royals to a three-game sweep of the Reds, capping a week in which he hit .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… losses to the Colorado Rockies in two out of three games? Not a good end for the Padres after a week that began with an impressive home win against the Pirates.
8. Houston Astros (67-56, LW10)
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 left-hander has a 2.70 ERA in three starts as an Astro, and Houston has won all three of his appearances.
7. Minnesota Twins (70-54, LW7)
World Series odds: +1700
Joe Ryan is out indefinitely with a shoulder strain, the bullpen is showing signs of weakness and the Royals remain hot on Minnesota’s heels. Nevertheless, the Twins have done well, winning three of four games against the Rangers. Now a crucial series against the Padres in San Diego awaits.
6. Cleveland Guardian (72-52, LW4)
World Series odds: +1700
The middle of my weekly top 10 has remained largely the same, but when one division leader beats another, there will be a shakeup. The Guardians have been below .500 since the All-Star break, and after a rough weekend in Milwaukee, Cleveland’s respite is a trip to the Bronx to face the Yankees.
5. Philadelphia Phillies (73-51, LW3)
World Series odds: +450
Speaking of teams that can’t recreate the magic of the beginning of the season, it was unthinkable in the first half of this year that Philadelphia would ever slip this far in my rankings. The Phillies still hold a comfortable lead in the NL East and have performed well at home this week against bottom-place teams Miami and Washington. But this isn’t the same Phillies team that was so outstanding in the first half.
4. Milwaukee Brewers (72-52, LW6)
World Series odds: +1900
The Brewers finally got back into the swing of things against the Dodgers, pulling off two late comebacks that secured a series tie at home against Los Angeles, and then flexed their muscle by sweeping the AL Central-leading Guardians. Christian Yelich is officially out for the rest of the season, which is a big blow, but this is a team that has overcome adversity all year.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers (73-52, LW5)
World Series odds: +330
Mookie Betts returned with a bang and Shohei Ohtani is still doing incredible things every night, but LA’s injury problems remain, as Tyler Glasnow went on the injured list with elbow tendinitis. Hopes that extended rest for Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller would help the right-handed Fireballs regain some of their pre-injury form have not been realized. Clayton Kershaw has turned back the clock of late, but the Dodgers have invested too much in this roster to pin their hopes of a postseason rotation on the 36-year-old.
2. New York Yankees (73-52, LW2)
World Series odds: +500
The Bronx Bombers had a golden opportunity to not only secure the top spot here, but also the best record in the major leagues, and then they lost two games in a row to the Tigers. It’s been that kind of month for New York, which has never won more than three games in a row despite losing exclusively to losing teams. 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, LW1)
World Series odds: +750
The Orioles are treading water, which would be much more acceptable if they weren’t neck and neck with the Yankees in the AL East standings. Baltimore heads to New York – to play the Mets – and has to keep up with the team on the other side of town.
Out of: Arizona Diamondbacks (69-56, LW9) World Series odds: +1800
Ben Verlander is an MLB analyst for FOX Sports and host of the “Damn bats” Podcast. Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Verlander was an All-American at Old Dominion University before joining 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 on @BenVerlander.
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