MLB Power Rankings: Aaron Judge returns for stretch run, Braves and Phillies on collision course

Featured in this week’s MLB Power Rankings, the Dodgers attempt to get Shohei Ohtani right, Aaron Judge and Corbin Burnes are back, the Guardians and Blue Jays jockey for playoff position, and umpire Doug Eddings creates an entirely avoidable controversy.

As a reminder, this article is a combination of current performance and long-term outlook.

Let’s get into it!

Note: Rankings are from the morning of Tuesday, September 8

1) Milwaukee Brewers

Last week: 1

The Brewers have been taking care of business against the Cubs over the past week, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to worry about here. The starting rotation owns an 8.01 ERA over their last nine games and Kyle Harrison looks to have hit a wall.

2) Los Angeles Dodgers ⬆️

Last week: 4

Shohei Ohtani returned to the Dodgers’ lineup on Monday after missing four games with knee and biceps issues. The Dodgers won all four of those games, but of course they need Ohtani’s bat if they are going to win it all again. With that plan in mind, it now appears that Ohtani won’t pitch again this season.

3) Tampa Bay Rays ⬇️

Last week: 2

Freddy Peralta had his best start as a member of the Rays as he squared off against the Mets last week. Imagine that? Getting the best version of him — or close to it — takes on more importance now that Shane McClanahan is on the IL with a forearm issue.

4) Atlanta Braves ⬇️

Last week: 3

In a fun potential playoff preview, the Braves and Phillies split their four-game series over the weekend. Ronald Acuña Jr., who hit his 200th career homer earlier in the week, also delivered a clutch three-run homer in Sunday’s victory. He enjoys the role of the heel.

5) New York Yankees

Last week: 5

It’s weirdly appropriate that Aaron Judge ended up missing 99 days with his right rib stress fracture. The Yankees went 45-39 during his absence and sit four games behind the Rays in the AL East. Will there be any rust for Judge? Can the Yankees close the gap with 19 games to play?

6) Philadelphia Phillies

Last week: 6

The series against the Braves also included a gem from Jesus Luzardo, who delivered a two-hit shutout in a tidy one hour and 51 minutes on Saturday. It was the first time Luzardo’s career (165 starts) that he threw a pitch in the ninth inning. Maybe the Phillies won’t be able to chase down the Braves for the NL East crown, but they should feel really good about where they’re at going into the postseason.

7) Chicago Cubs

Last week: 7

Clay Holmes was the headliner of the trade with the Mets at the deadline, but Tyrone Taylor has been anything but a throw-in. He’s hitting .407 (22-for-54) with a homer and six doubles through 22 games with Chicago.

8) Boston Red Sox

Last week: 8

The Red Sox are hot again, winning five in a row while effectively snuffing out the Orioles’ playoff hopes along the way. The big highlight from the week was Adley Rutschman’s emotional and memorable return to Camden Yards.

9) Arizona Diamondbacks ⬆️

Last week: 10

As the D-Backs cling to that third Wild Card spot in the NL, Corbin Burnes is set to make his long-awaited return from Tommy John surgery on Tuesday. He hasn’t pitched in a major league game since June 1 of last year. He’ll likely have some abbreviated outings out of the gate, but what a lift he could provide for these playoff hopefuls.

10) Chicago White Sox ⬇️

Last week: 9

Colson Montgomery launched his 31st homer on Saturday, but the guy who caught this ball was the real star of the show.

11) San Diego Padres

Last week: 11

The Padres took two out of three from the Yankees over the weekend, highlighted by going back-to-back-to-back off Gerrit Cole on Sunday.

12) Houston Astros

Last week: 12

Yordan Alvarez has just two homers since August 14 and just three since July 28. He might win the Triple Crown yet, but he’s lucky he’s not in the National League. So are the Astros, for that matter.

13) Cleveland Guardians

Last week: 13

Gavin Williams registered a career-high 13 strikeouts against the Blue Jays last Monday and followed that up with 11 strikeouts in a win over the Tigers on Sunday. That gives him three starts (three!) of at least 11 strikeouts in his last four.

14) Toronto Blue Jays ⬆️

Last week: 15

Tough loss against the A’s on Monday aside, the Blue Jays have won seven out of nine to put themselves right back into playoff contention. Alejandro Kirk has played a key role in the turnaround, hitting .318 with five homers and 17 RBI over his last 22 games.

15) Texas Rangers ⬆️

Last week: 17

The Rangers are running out of time to show that they are more than a fringe .500 team, which has basically been their identity all season. Cal Quantrill has stepped up for their battered rotation with three scoreless outings in his last four.

16) St. Louis Cardinals ⬆️

Last week: 18

On Friday, we saw the ultimate ump show, as home plate umpire Doug Eddings stopped play to instruct Hancel Rincon to straighten his hat. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with tilting your cap. Countless players have done it over the years, with Dontrelle Willis and Fernando Rodney serving as prominent examples. Yet, Rincon, who was major his major league debut at the time, was the target. It was heartening to see Cardinals players and even some Rockies players where their hats tilted on Saturday in a show of support for the rookie.

17) Miami Marlins ⬇️

Last week: 16

Eury Pérez isn’t exactly finishing his season on a high note. After Monday’s loss to the Mets, he now owns an ugly 12.34 ERA with 10 walks and four homers allowed in 11 2/3 innings over his last three starts.

18) Pittsburgh Pirates ⬆️

Last week: 19

So, Luke Weaver has mostly struggled since coming over from the Mets, posting a 5.79 ERA over 10 appearances. Now we have the context. Ouch.

19) Baltimore Orioles ⬇️

Last week: 14

The Orioles finally snapped their six-game losing streak on Monday, but they’ve effectively put themselves out of playoff contention. And the good vibes with Luis Robert Jr. didn’t last long, as he’s already on the IL.

20) Cincinnati Reds ⬆️

Last week: 21

The Reds have begun ramping down Chase Burns after a ridiculously successful first full season in the majors. He was pulled after three no-hit innings against the Dodgers on Monday, which places him at 148 1/3 innings for the year. The 23-year-old threw 107 1/3 innings between the majors and minors combined last season, so it’s time to protect him and look ahead to next year.

21) Minnesota Twins ⬇️

Last week: 20

If you’re wondering why the Twins haven’t been able to bridge the gap in the Wild Card race, consider that the starting rotation has a 5.16 ERA dating back to the All-Star break. It would take an unlikely run to make it happen, but Joe Ryan’s return was welcome on Monday.

22) Seattle Mariners ⬆️

Last week: 23

Losing three out of four to the A’s is not what a playoff team does. The writing is on the wall at this point, but at least we can see a bunch of Lazaro Montes and Michael Arroyo to finish out the season.

23) Washington Nationals ⬇️

Last week: 22

CJ Abrams reached the 30-homer mark for the first time in his career on Sunday. Still, it’s been a struggle for him of late. He’s slashing .172/.246/.279 over his last 30 games dating back to the start of August.

24) New York Mets ⬆️

Last week: 26

If you look at Bo Bichette’s season on the whole, it’s been a disappointment. However, including this dramatic go-ahead three-run homer on Saturday, he’s hitting .306/.348/.479 with 11 homers over his last 81 games. In other words, very Bo Bichette-like. Assuming he sticks around next year, the Mets’ lineup has a bunch of nice pieces.

25) Detroit Tigers ⬇️

Last week: 24

The Tigers lost three out of four to the Guardians — all of the losses coming in walkoff fashion — so it’s all but over here. It’s still shocking to see that Detroit owns a +51 run differential. The Guardians, who occupy the third Wild Card spot at the moment, hold a -16 run differential. Wild.

26) Kansas City Royals ⬇️

Last week: 25

Carter Jensen hasn’t received much attention nationally, but the rookie backstop is red-hot to begin September (.391 with three homers and a 1.505 OPS) and leads all AL rookies with 53 extra-base hits.

27) San Francisco Giants

Last week: 27

After a slow start, Rafael Devers has been one of the best hitters in baseball over the past four months. With two doubles in Monday’s extra-inning win over the Cardinals, Devers became the first Giants player to reach at least 35 homers and 35 doubles in a season since Hall of Famer Jeff Kent did it in 2002. There’s a lot that’s wrong with the Giants right now, but Devers is an exception.

28) Athletics

Last week: 28

Jeff McNeil was hitting .226 going into the All-Star break, but he’s dramatically turned his season around by hitting .338 over his last 43 games.

29) Colorado Rockies ⬆️

Last week: 30

Yes, the center fielder fell down, but I will choose to ignore that. Inside-the-park homers never get old.

30) Los Angeles Angels ⬇️

Last week: 29

The Angels have been eliminated from postseason contention, extending their MLB-worst streak to 12 seasons. With new ownership coming, you have to wonder about Mike Trout’s future with this team.