2015 MLB Power Rankings: Indians making a play for playoffs?
Aug 25, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12), left fielder Michael Brantley (center) and second baseman Jose Ramirez (11) celebrate an 11-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
When the Cleveland Indians took three out of four from the New York Yankees two weeks ago, they appeared to be a team that could play spoiler to some of the playoff hopefuls in the American League. Fast forward to today and they have now won eight of their last 10 and sit just five games out of a second Wild Card spot that no team seems to want this season.
Their offense has been paced by 2014 MVP candidate Michael Brantley. While his numbers don’t quite put him in that category this season, his .325 average, 40 doubles and 73 RBIs are all team-highs. A strong bounce-back year from Jason Kipnis and recent surges from Lonnie Chisenhall and Francisco Lindor have lead to this Indians offense averaging 5.4 runs per over the last 10 games.
Carlos Carrasco, Corey Kluber and Danny Salazar have led the way on the mound but the return of Josh Tomlin has taken the rotation to another level. Since rejoining the team, Tomlin is 3-1 with a 3.08 ERA and opponents have hit just .188 against him. His play has made up for Trevor Bauer who since the All-Star break, can’t seem to figure things out.
Bauer is 2-5 with a 5.44 ERA in his last nine starts. If he can get on track, the Indians rotation becomes the most dangerous in the AL heading down the stretch.
This is all familiar territory for Terry Francona and the Indians. In 2013, they won 15 of their final 17 games to force their way into a one-game playoff with the Tampa Bay Rays (which they ended up losing).
With a hot streak heading into September and one of the best managers in baseball at the helm, I would say they have as good a chance as any team to win that second AL Wild Card.
Here are your power rankings for the week.
Next: AL East battle coming down to the wire
Aug 17, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha (52) throws to a San Francisco Giants batter during the fifth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
1. team. 33. The St. Louis Cardinals currently do not have a starting pitcher in their rotation with an ERA below 2.92. That is ridiculous.. 84-46. Previous: 1st. St. Louis Cardinals
With a 13-game lead over the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central, the Royals may use September to start getting some of their veteran players some rest.. 80-50. Previous: 2nd. Kansas City Royals. 2. team. 7
Pittsburgh Pirates. 3. team. 4. The Pittsburgh Pirates have played at a very high level over the last few weeks but the Cardinals have not done enough losing of their own to give up ground in the NL Central standings.. 79-50. Previous: 3rd
4. team. 39. The Toronto Blue Jays are now 1.5 games up on the Yankees in the AL East and feature baseball’s hottest hitter in their lineup. <strong><a href=. 74-56. Previous: 5th. Toronto Blue Jays
9. A losing week for the Chicago Cubs ended on a positive note as <strong><a href=. 74-55. . Chicago Cubs. 5. team
Previous: 6th. New York Yankees. 6. team. 43. The Yankees scored 38 runs in three games against the Atlanta Braves this weekend. Hopefully that can continue as their next 16 games are all against the AL East including four with the Blue Jays.. 72-57
3. The New York Mets continue to use their power to push themselves into the playoffs. They are tied for first in the NL with 57 home runs since the break and their pitchers are tied for second in strikeouts.. 72-58. Previous: 8th. New York Mets. 7. team
team. 71. The Dodgers put together a much-needed winning week last week despite the news that <strong><a href=. 72-57. Previous: 9th. Los Angeles Dodgers. 8
Houston Astros. 9. team. 135. The Houston Astros may have to watch their backs as their lead in the AL West is now only at three games. The sooner they can get <strong><a href=. 72-59. Previous: 7th
Previous: 10th. San Francisco Giants. 10. team. 40. The San Francisco Giants had an opportunity to gain some ground in the standings over the weekend with the Cubs and Dodgers playing each other but unfortunately, they had to face the red-hot Cardinals themselves.. 69-61
Next: Where do the Indians rank now?
Aug 30, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Derek Holland (45) is doused by teammates Martin Perez (center) and Elvis Andrus following his complete game three-hit shutout over the Baltimore Orioles following a ballgame at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Rangers won 6-0. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
Texas Rangers. 11. team. 126. September will be huge for the Texas Rangers as they have seven games each with the Astros and Los Angeles Angels on the horizon.. 68-61. Previous: 11th
Previous: 14th. Minnesota Twins. 12. team. 2. The Minnesota Twins will also be tested in September as they have series coming up against the fellow Wild Card contending Angels, Indians as well as the division leading Astros and Royals.. 67-63
Previous: 16th. Washington Nationals. 13. team. 90. The Washington Nationals seem to have a pulse again thanks to the awakening of both <strong><a href=. 66-63
65-65. Previous: 12th. Los Angeles Angels. 14. team. 102. The Angels are now at .500 for the first time since June 26th.
team. 21. The Rays, like the Angels, are losing games at the worst time and the way their pitching has looked over the last month, I don’t expect it to change.. 64-66. Previous: 17th. Tampa Bay Rays. 16
63-67. Previous: 18th. San Diego Padres. 17. team. 127. After a strong stretch of wins two weeks ago put the San Diego Padres back in shouting distance in the NL West, they find themselves right back in their place the following week.
18. team. 11. The Baltimore Orioles have just about pitched their way out of the playoff hunt.. 63-67. Previous: 13th. Baltimore Orioles
19. team. 8. See the Padres.. 63-67. Previous: `15th. Arizona Diamondbacks
128. The Chicago White Sox will likely use September to evaluate their entire organization from top to bottom. Let me lend a hand and suggest that a new manager will be needed for 2016.. 61-68. Previous: 20th. Chicago White Sox. 20. team
Next: Tigers enter the bottom 10
Aug 30, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) grounds out to first base as left fielder Rajai Davis (not in picture) scores against Toronto Blue Jays during sixth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports
Seattle Mariners. 21. team. 62. The Seattle Mariners are in a similar situation to that of the White Sox. The one difference of course being that they already fired their general manager which all but solidifies more change coming in the near future.. 61-70. Previous: 22nd
Detroit Tigers. 22. team. 63. It’s hard to see the Detroit Tigers, a perennial powerhouse, sitting in last place in the AL Central. You have to go all the way back to 2003 to find the last time they finished that low in the standings.. 60-70. Previous: 19th
23. team. 14. After back to back losing seasons for the Boston Red Sox, you wonder if <strong><a href=. 60-70. Previous: 23rd. Boston Red Sox
Previous: 24th. Oakland Athletics. 24. team. 96. Since the break, the Oakland Athletics are 3-12 in save opportunites. Needless to say, that is the worst in baseball over that stretch.. 57-74
76. No NL player has more home runs than <strong><a href=. 55-75. Previous: 25th. Milwaukee Brewers. 25. team
26. team. 17. Another winless week in the books for <strong><a href=. 54-76. Previous: 26th. Atlanta Braves
Previous: 27th. Cincinnati Reds. 27. team. 61. The Cincinnati Reds have been so bad this season, many people don’t realize that <strong><a href=. 53-76
108. If there was an actual award for second half MVP, <strong><a href=. 52-76. Previous: 30th. Colorado Rockies. 28. team
team. 6. The Philadelphia Phillies had <strong><a href=. 52-79. Previous: 28th. Philadelphia Phillies. 29
team. 82. Props to <strong><a href=. 52-79. Previous: 29th. Miami Marlins. 30
Next: Five bold White Sox predictions for September