MLB Power Rankings: Where Sox stand with playoffs approaching
As we gear up for the final stretch of the 2021 MLB regular season, there are a number of major storylines to keep tabs on.Atop the list is the intense National League West race between the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers. L.A. -- the defending World Series champs -- trails the cinderella story by only one game.Over in the American League, a handful of teams are fighting tooth and nail for wild card spots. If the season were to end today, the Boston Red Sox would host the Toronto Blue Jays in the one-game playoff. The New York Yankees (1 1/2 games back) and Oakland Athletics (two games) still have plenty of time to sneak their way in.Before the calendar flips to October and we're treated to playoff baseball, here's how all 30 teams stack up.
The O's have lost 100+ games for the third time since 2018 after being swept by the Red Sox over the weekend. When will the rebuild finally be complete?
Tomase: Who closes any potential Sox playoff games is anyone's guess
Another member of the 100-loss club for 2021, the D'Backs now have the second-most losses in franchise history. They lost 111 games in 2004.
Texas wraps up its rough season against the Yankees, Orioles, Angels, and Indians as it looks to stay under the 100-loss mark.
No one expected the Pirates to be competitive this season, so the fact they're approaching the 100-loss threshold isn't much of a surprise. Their next loss will mark the most they've had in a season since 2010.
Don't let the Nationals' awful season and fire sale at the trade deadline distract you from Juan Soto having another monster season at the plate. The 22-year-old is hitting .315/.459/.531 with 26 homers, 86 RBI, and a league-leading 124 walks.
The entire AL Central outside of the White Sox has been a dumpster fire, but the Twins' season wasn't supposed to go this way. They're undoubtedly one of the biggest disappointments of the 2021 campaign.
The Cubs' season went down the drain a long time ago, but one bright spot for Chicago has been rookie Patrick Wisdom. He broke Kris Bryant's record for most home runs in a season by a Cubs rookie (27).
Sandy Alcantara is doing all he can to keep the Marlins out of the NL East cellar. The right-hander has been outstanding since the All-Star break and boasts a 3.05 ERA with a 1.06 WHIP on the season.
Shohei Ohtani, Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Fernando Tatis Jr. have been getting most of the attention this season, but we need to appreciate what Salvador Perez has accomplished. The veteran Royals catcher has a whopping 45 homers and a league-leading 113 RBI. His previous highs for his career were 27 homers and 80 RBI. What a year.
The Rockies have sneakily been a solid team since the start of the summer, though they've been pitiful on the road this season (25-52). CJ Cron has been a revelation, hitting .267/.366/.886 with 27 homers and 83 RBI.
It's a typical season in Anaheim. The American League MVP almost certainly will be an Angel, but the team still just can't find a way to sneak into the postseason. It's a shame.
Detroit absolutely has exceeded expectations in 2021. In fact it has a 63-54 record since May 7 and could make a run for a second-place spot in the AL Central. This is a team to monitor this upcoming offseason.
You just knew the Mets' hopes were dashed as soon as Jacob deGrom was shut down. They're 3-7 in their last 10 games and are losing ground in both the division (5 1/2 games back) and wild card race (seven games back).
As great of a season Jose Ramirez is having, it's clear the Indians need to add a bat or two this offseason if they hope to avoid another mediocre campaign in 2022. On the pitching side, they appear to be in great shape. Cal Quantrill (2.89 ERA, 1.18 WHIP) has been a pleasant surprise.
The Phillies will be fighting tooth and nail for a playoff spot during this final stretch as they sit two games behind the Braves in the NL East and 3 1/2 games out of the wild card. Bryce Harper might be on the verge of his second MVP award.
Like the Phillies, the Reds will need to play their best baseball down this final stretch if they hope to make it into the playoffs. The division is out of reach, so they'll have to overtake the Cardinals for the second NL wild-card spot.
The Padres, who many had pegged as World Series favorites, may be about to miss the postseason entirely. On top of that, we've got some drama in the San Diego clubhouse with Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. getting into it over the weekend. Talk about a freefall.
The enigmatic Mariners have reached the 80-win mark and are four games out of a wild card spot, which is amazing considering their -62 run differential. Even if they miss the postseason, this season has been a surprising success in Seattle.
The Braves struggled throughout the season to simply stay above .500. Now, they're on the brink of an NL East title. Their home series against the Phillies next week could have major implications.
As of Monday, the Yankees are the odd ones out in the AL wild-card race with the Red Sox and Blue Jays currently in the driver's seat. This is a crucial final stretch of games vs. the Rangers, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Rays. Get your popcorn ready.
The Cardinals have been on a tear as of late, winning nine of their last 10 and stealing the second NL wild-card spot in the process. They'll be challenged in this final stretch as they'll have two series vs. the NL Central-leading Brewers.
The A's are right there in the AL wild-card race, two games behind the Blue Jays for the second spot. They'll wrap up their season against division foes Seattle and Houston.
The White Sox are about to clinch the AL Central with ease and will be a tough out in the postseason, especially if they're finally at full strength. They'll finish off their campaign with series vs. the Tigers, Indians, and Reds.
Toronto is getting hot at just the right time after scuffling for a bit post-trade deadline. This is one of the scariest offenses in baseball and the pitching staff has stepped it up with AL Cy Young candidate Robbie Ray leading the charge. No team wants to see the Blue Jays in a playoff series.
It's tough to take anything of value away from a sweep of the lowly Orioles, but perhaps it was exactly what this Red Sox team needed to boost their confidence entering the homestretch. Currently, the AL wild-card game goes through Fenway Park. That may be a disappointment considering Boston held a division lead for most of the year, but it's exciting if you think about what this team was projected to be back in March.
Tomase: Why Cora's OK with belief team was never that good
The Brewers are a team people tend to sleep on, regardless of how well they perform in the regular season. They deserve your attention though. With one of the league's best rotations and a bullpen that won't things any easier on opposing hitters, this is a club to watch out for come playoff time.
The Rays have been mediocre at best in September but still appear to have locked up the AL East, barring a wild collapse. Their upcoming series vs. the surging Blue Jays will be a fun one.
The Astros have the second-best run differential (+201) and will be a team no one wants to go up against in the postseason. The experience factor alone should have them favored over their AL East counterparts. That said, there are some question marks. Can Zack Greinke find his groove in October? Will Michael Brantley be healthy?
The NL West race is reaching its climax as the Dodgers trail the Giants by one game. L.A. will look to steal the division lead in the final stretch it wraps up with series vs. the D'Backs, Rockies, and Padres.
Regardless of whether they're able to hold off the Dodgers for the division title, what a story the Giants have been in 2021. This is a group that was +11000 on most sportsbooks back in March to win the World Series. Now, they find themselves at the top of our rankings with many believing they have what it takes to win it all. Just an incredible feat no matter the final result.
