Ben Verlander
FOX Sports MLB Analyst
The dust from the MLB trade deadline is starting to settle, and it seems like some teams are starting to stand out from the rest.
A few contenders in the American League had a strong week, with the two teams atop the AL East looking like the best in baseball. But there was also a battle between the National League’s heavyweights in Los Angeles this past week that showed who is currently the king of the hill in the senior circuit.
Another exciting week of baseball is in the books, so let’s take a look at my most recent power rankings with World Series odds from FanDuel Sportsbook.
10. Houston Astros (62-55, last week unranked)
World Series odds: +1300
The Astros had another major week, sweeping fellow contender the Boston Red Sox over the weekend. Yordan Álvarez was a big reason for that, hitting three homers over two of those games and five homers this past week. Alex Bregman is also heating up, hitting two homers at Fenway. He’s batting .359 with a 1.057 OPS since the beginning of August.
9. Arizona Diamondbacks (66-53, LW 10)
World Series odds: +2200
The Diamondbacks keep winning. They took three of four from the Phillies and are just 3.5 games back of the Dodgers in the NL West. Jake McCarthy has arguably been the best hitter of late. He launched three more homers over the weekend and has hit .356 since the start of July. Corbin Carroll also hit a pair of homers over the weekend and appears to be turning things around after a rough first half.
8. San Diego Padres (66-53, LW 8)
World Series odds: +2100
San Diego remained in lockstep with Arizona as its lineup has clicked on all cylinders recently while winning 16 of 19 games. Jackson Merrill had a big week, hitting .417 with four homers. He would be the favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year if Paul Skenes didn’t exist. Martín Pérez has also been terrific in his first two starts with the Padres, allowing just three runs over 13 innings.
7. Minnesota Twins (65-52, LW 6)
World Series odds: +1500
The Twins could’ve taken the lead in the AL Central this weekend, but lost the final two games of a four-game set with the Guardians. Still, Minnesota is hanging in the divisional battle with major help from its rotation. Bailey Ober extended his quality starts streak to eight outings, but Joe Ryan was placed on the injured list and will be sidelined for “weeks to months.”
6. Milwaukee Brewers (67-50, LW 7)
World Series odds: +2400
After a so-so couple of weeks, the Brewers added some cushion to their lead in the NL Central with their sweep of the Atlanta Braves early last week. Their offense had a stellar showing in Atlanta, scoring 34 runs over the three-game set. Just about all of the key players in Milwaukee’s lineup had a big week, with Willy Adames hitting .348 with four homers.
5. Los Angeles Dodgers (69-49, LW 5)
World Series odds: +310
The Dodgers got Freddie Freeman back, great news both for the team on the field and for his family off it after a scary health episode involving his 3-year-old son Max. But this past week was still a mixed bag — L.A. failed to make a statement against the Phillies in a matchup of the National League’s best, dropping two out of three to Philadelphia. And while the Dodgers bounced back with a sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates, they lost rookie revelation River Ryan to a forearm injury that will cost the young pitcher at least the remainder of the season.
Teoscar Hernández smacks walk-off single vs. Pirates
4. Cleveland Guardians (69-49, LW 3)
World Series odds: +1800
Can the Guardians fend off the Twins and ride their AL Central lead out for another six weeks? They did just enough this weekend, rallying to split a four-game series with Minnesota and snap a seven-game losing streak. But more will be needed from Stephen Vogt’s squad, especially on offense.
3. Philadelphia Phillies (69-49, LW 2)
World Series odds: +450
The Phillies looked like they had righted the ship against the Dodgers in Los Angeles at the beginning of the week, only to get demolished by a Diamondbacks team that beat Philadelphia in the NLCS last season. The Diamondbacks outscored the Phillies 23-6 over Saturday and Sunday.
2. New York Yankees (70-49, LW 4)
World Series odds: +500
The Bronx Bombers are officially back. Credit Jazz Chisholm for being the lineup spark he was brought over to be at the trade deadline. Not only has Chisholm continued to mash, but in even more welcome news to Yankees fans, more of New York’s lineup is starting to heat up outside of the Juan Soto-Aaron Judge tandem, including Giancarlo Stanton, who hit a crucial home run in Friday’s win over the Rangers.
Aaron Judge crushes 42nd HR of season vs. Rangers
1. Baltimore Orioles (70-49, LW 1)
World Series odds: +750
Don’t look now, but the O’s are hot again. They became the first MLB team to cross the 70-win threshold this season, and not only did Baltimore fortify its enviable depth at the trade deadline, but Jackson Holliday finally looks big-league ready with five home runs in less than two weeks since returning to the majors.
Out: Kansas City Royals (65-43, LW 9) World Series odds: +4600
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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