2024 MLB Power Rankings: Week 20

Week 20 brings some more movement among our glut of teams in the middle of the standings, while not too much has changed at the bottom or the top.

Remember, when I do my rankings, I factor in past performance, the current level of performance, overall talent, injuries, and schedules -- as many factors as possible.

Keep reading to find out where your favorite team ranks and which teams moved up and down the rankings the most this week. Let's get into it already. Here are my Week 20 MLB Power Rankings!

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The Worst Team Ever?

30. Chicago White Sox (28-89)

Last Week's Ranking (30)

The good news is that the White Sox broke their losing streak at 20 games, but the bad news is that they are still very much on pace to win the fewest games ever in a 162-game season. They just fired their manager...I am sure that will help!

Bottom Dwellers

29. Colorado Rockies (42-74)

Last Week's Ranking (28)

28. Miami Marlins (43-73)

Last Week's Ranking (29)

My prediction that Miami would fall further behind Colorado isn't going so well, as Miami has actually been scoring some runs since the deadline, and they've been competitive even in games they are losing.

27. Oakland Athletics (48-68)

Last Week's Ranking (26)

26. Los Angeles Angels (51-64)

Last Week's Ranking (27)

The Angels and A's flip-flop again this week, as the Halos have been playing quite well, especially on offense where shortstop Zach Neto has been leading the way.

ZACH NETO GRAND SLAM 😤 pic.twitter.com/aBrIaRkZtM

— MLB (@MLB) August 8, 2024

25. Washington Nationals (52-64)

Last Week's Ranking (24)

24. Toronto Blue Jays (53-62)

Last Week's Ranking (25)

These teams are swapping spots as well, with the Nats continuing their slide down the standings, winning only three of their last ten games. Toronto has been carried by the big bat of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. who continues to crush baseballs on a nightly basis and is setting himself up for a big contract.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. during his 20-game hit streak:
.507 AVG (37-for-73), .575 OBP, 1.068 SLG, 1.643 OPS

It's completely ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/B845X2JZjF

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) August 9, 2024

At Least We're Not Those Guys

23. Detroit Tigers (55-61)

Last Week's Ranking (23)

22. Texas Rangers (54-61)

Last Week's Ranking (22)

The only difference here is that Detroit knows they're not in contention, while the Rangers continue to hold onto some hope that they can make a late-season run at the AL West title. I don't see any chance of that happening with Seattle and Houston playing well, so it's very likely the defending champs will end up sitting out this postseason.

21. Pittsburgh Pirates (56-58)

Last Week's Ranking (16)

I am ready to waive the white flag. My Buccos looked poised to compete for a Wild Card spot, but after a brutal week against San Diego and Arizona, where their bullpen blew multiple games, I think it's all over for them, and the focus should be on next season.

20. Chicago Cubs (57-60)

Last Week's Ranking (21)

19. Cincinnati Reds (56-59)

Last Week's Ranking (20)

I keep waiting for the Reds to make a run at it, but they can't seem to get over the hump. They're beating up on bad teams but are only 27-40 against teams over .500 this season. The future is bright with all the young talent, but they look like they're probably out of the mix this year.

18. St. Louis Cardinals (59-57)

Last Week's Ranking (17)

I don't think a second NL Central team makes it into the playoffs. The Cards are only 2.5 games back right now, but it's hard for me to imagine they can pass up the Braves or catch the Brewers for the division. They have played admirably this year and better than I expected. They were so bad the first two months that I really thought they might be sellers at the deadline.

17. Tampa Bay Rays (58-56)

Last Week's Ranking (19)

The Rays have an 8% chance of making the postseason, which isn't even something they seem concerned with after trading away talent at the deadline. As a small market team, they are going to continue to try to develop their young players and open up another window for contending here - possibly as soon as next year. When are we going to see Junior Caminero, damn it?

So You're Telling Me There's A Chance?

16. San Francisco Giants (59-58)

Last Week's Ranking (18) 

The Giants have roughly the same odds of making the playoffs as the Cardinals (15%) and are still a longshot, but at least they have the pitching to make it happen. Blake Snell has been untouchable lately, Logan Webb gives you a chance to win every night, and Robbie Ray can be a shutdown guy, too.

Having given up only 2 earned runs over 5 appearances (with 4 scoreless efforts including a no-hitter in his most recent start), Blake Snell has been on fire since just before the All-Star Break. Just 5 have posted a better ERA on this list of lefties with the @SFGiants franchise pic.twitter.com/O9UEVpflpJ

— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) August 7, 2024

15. Seattle Mariners (57-53)

Last Week's Ranking (15)

The Mariners and Astros are going to battle for the division down to the last week or two of the season. It's a huge race, as the second-place finisher is not a shoo-in for a Wild Card spot, thanks to the solid play of Minnesota, Kansas City, and Boston. I still like Seattle's chances based on their pitching staff.

14. New York Mets (61-54)

Last Week's Ranking (14)

The Mets have overtaken the Braves in the standings, and it's quite impressive. Obviously, Atlanta is having one of their worst-case outcomes this season, but it's still been fun to see New York compete the way they have after many of us (myself included) had left them for dead.

13. Houston Astros (59-55)

Last Week's Ranking (12)

Houston continues to win ballgames, and I am really at a loss for how they've kept this season from being a complete disaster. Justin Verlander could return soon, but Kyle Tucker sounds like he's still a month away from coming back. I think Seattle ultimately edges them out, as they are healthier and playing better ball in the second half.

12. Boston Red Sox (61-52)

Last Week's Ranking (11)

The Red Sox might mess around and make the playoffs. They've got the lowest probability of the contenders (45%) but their fans have to be happy that they are at least in this race and playing some good baseball.

Contenders, Maybe?

11. Atlanta Braves (60-54)

Last Week's Ranking (9)

The Braves have dropped five in a row and are now the lowest in the standings that they have been in all season. They will probably hold on to the final Wild Card spot, but this season continues to be tough for Atlanta.

10. Arizona Diamondbacks (63-53)

Last Week's Ranking (13)

Despite losing to the Phillies last night, the Snakes are 8-2 over their last ten games, and the offense has been fantastic. Josh Bell is filling in nicely for Christian Walker, and Arizona is getting contributions from their entire lineup, as well as platoon guys like Joc Pederson and Randal Grichuk. They still get Merrill Kelly back at some point and are looking like a team that could make some noise in the postseason.

9. San Diego Padres (64-52)

Last Week's Ranking (10)

The Padres have won five in a row, including a sweep of my Pirates that was hard to watch. Their bullpen has been fantastic, giving them a huge edge in the late innings. This team is on an upward trajectory and might end up being a tough out in the playoffs for one of the top-tier NL teams.

The San Diego Padres have won 14 of their last 16 games

Yes, that’s a real stat…

THIS TEAM pic.twitter.com/oMHib3VpDE

— Padres Nation (@NationPadres) August 8, 2024

8. Minnesota Twins (63-50)

Last Week's Ranking (8)

7. Kansas City Royals (64-52) 

Last Week's Ranking (6)

Only a half-game separates the Twins and Royals for second place in the AL Central AND the second Wild Card spot. It's a coin flip here for me as far as which team could be more dangerous in the postseason. The Royals have the better offense, but Minnesota has a better rotation. I think both teams get in and either of them could be favored over the AL West winner in the first round.

6. Milwaukee Brewers (65-49)

Last Week's Ranking (7)

The Brewers have won three in a row and pushed their run differential up over +100 in the process. That's notable as only three teams have a run differential that high (MIL, PHI, and NYY). I thought they might slump a bit here and let the other NL Central teams make a run at them, but it's looking like they are on track to seal up this division nicely and early.

Contenders, For Sure

5. Los Angeles Dodgers (66-49)

Last Week's Ranking (4)

The Dodgers dropped one spot this week but are still the favorites to win the World Series at 16% odds. We know they are only playing at around 75%, and that's scary because they are pretty darn good, even without Mookie Betts and a healthy starting rotation.

4. New York Yankees (68-48)

Last Week's Ranking (5)

If we want to talk projections and probabilities, the Yankees have the second-best odds to win it all at 14% according to FanGraphs. They are all locked up with Baltimore right now and the winner of that division is going to get a crucial first-round bye.

3. Cleveland Guardians (67-47)

Last Week's Ranking (2)

The Guardians have lost five in a row and were humbled by the Orioles in a recent series. This team is prone to offensive droughts and has a real issue with their rotation after the top three. Triston McKenzie returns today, but I don't have much faith that he or Ben Lively or Carlos Carrasco can win you a playoff game.

2. Baltimore Orioles (68-48)

Last Week's Ranking (3)

The Orioles made some puzzling moves at the deadline but are still in a great spot here to finish out the season and push for an AL East title and perhaps the overall #1 seed. Jackson Holliday looks like the top prospect once again as he's mashing the baseball since coming back up, now can Coby Mayo start doing the same thing?

"Oh my word! That ball's out to Saskatchewan!"

MLB's No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday becomes the youngest player in AL history to homer in three straight games (20 years, 247 days) with this 424-foot shot for the @Orioles: pic.twitter.com/40s3aS3nTA

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 8, 2024

1. Philadelphia Phillies (69-46)

Last Week's Ranking (1)

The Phils just keep rolling right along. While they hit a bit of a rut right after the break, they've bounced back nicely and handled the Dodgers in what looked to be a preview of the NLCS. This is just such a complete team on offense and on the mound, my only true concern is the bullpen once we get to high-leverage situations in the postseason!

I'll see you next week for my newest batch of rankings -- feel free to let me know what I got right and wrong!

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