2015 MLB Power Rankings: Nationals making one last run
May 9, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman (11) and right fielder Bryce Harper (34) celebrate after Zimmerman
The Washington Nationals have been one of the most disappointing teams in baseball this season. While they enter today with a record that is six games over .500, they entered the season as a team that was supposed to be a shoe-in for the National League East and a World Series favorite.
Instead, they are looking up to the New York Mets in the division and are 7.5 behind the Chicago Cubs for the NL’s second Wild Card. The Nationals have been playing better as of late as they are winners of their last five games and seven of their last nine.
On August 31st, they trailed the Mets by 6.5 games in the NL East. Now both teams enter a three-game series in Washington with the Nationals just four games back.
The Nats’ offense has been paced by the return to prominence of Ryan Zimmerman and the recovery of Bryce Harper from a second half slump. Zimmerman is hitting .330/.385/.713 with nine home runs and 33 RBIs over his last 27 games. Harper over the same stretch is hitting .356/.496/.611 with 26 walks and 27 runs scored.
The pitching staff hasn’t quite rounded back to form but both Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmerman combined are 7-1 in their last 10 starts. Max Scherzer however, who was arguably the best pitcher in baseball in the first half, hasn’t won a start since July 30th.
The Mets and Nationals close out the regular season with three games in New York. If the Nats can take care of business this week, that series could end up deciding who wins the NL East.
Here are the power rankings for the week.
Next: Top five remain the same
Aug 31, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta (49) stands with his family, Cooper Arrieta (son) and Palmer Arrieta (daughter), Brittany Arrieta is his wife, during a ceremony before the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field. Arrieta pitched a no-hitter the night before in Los Angeles. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
It’s hard to imagine the St. Louis Cardinals blowing their lead in the NL Central. You would have to go all the way to the beginning of April to find a time when they weren’t in first this season.. 87-49. Previous: 1st. St. Louis Cardinals. 1. team. 33
Kansas City Royals. 2. team. 7. The Kansas City Royals have to be concerned about <strong><a href=. 82-54. Previous: 2nd
4. After taking two of three from the Cardinals over the weekend, the Pittsburgh Pirates are now 5.5 out of first place in the NL Central. But with seven games left against the Cubs, their 3.0 games lead of the first Wild Card may be in jeopardy.. 81-54. Previous: 3rd. Pittsburgh Pirates. 3. team
I think it’s safe to say <strong><a href=. 78-58. Previous: 5th. Toronto Blue Jays. 4. team. 39
. Chicago Cubs. 5. team. 9. In <strong><a href=. 78-57
team. 71. <strong><a href=. 78-58. Previous: 8th. Los Angeles Dodgers. 6
43. The New York Yankees remain just 1.5 games out of first in the AL East but the question remains whether they have pitching to compete in the postseason.. 76-59. Previous: 6th. New York Yankees. 7. team
75-61. Previous: 7th. New York Mets. 8. team. 3. This <strong><a href=
Houston Astros. 9. team. 135. After eight innings and 12 strikeouts against the Minnesota Twins, it looks as if <strong><a href=. 75-62. Previous: 9th
Since joining the Nationals, <strong><a href=. 71-65. Previous: 13th. Washington Nationals. 10. team. 90
Next: Rangers hanging on to their Wild Card lead
September 6, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) hits a sacrifice RBI in the second inning against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
team. 126. The Texas Rangers currently hold the AL’s second Wild Card spot but trail the Houston Astros by just three games in the AL West. They have seven games left against each other this season so anything can happen.. 71-64. Previous: 11th. Texas Rangers. 11
2. While the Rangers are chasing the Astros, the Minnesota Twins believe they can get the second Wild Card spot back. They trail the Rangers by 1.5 games and have a schedule full of lowly AL Central opponents remaining.. 70-66. Previous: 12th. Minnesota Twins. 12. team
San Francisco Giants. 13. team. 40. Injuries have finally gotten the best of the San Francisco Giants. It would take a incredible collapse from the Dodgers for them to have playoff hopes.. 71-66. Previous: 10th
102. The Los Angeles Angels are happy to finally see a home run from <strong><a href=. 69-67. Previous: 14th. Los Angeles Angels. 14. team
Previous: 16th. Tampa Bay Rays. 16. team. 21. If the Tampa Bay Rays are going to stay in the playoff hunt, they can’t lose any starts their ace, <strong><a href=. 67-69
17. team. 128. The Chicago White Sox will have a tough time evaluating their team in the offseason. There is a lot of talent on the roster and they have gone through stretches this season (like this past weekend) where they look like a dangerous team.. 65-70. Previous: 20th. Chicago White Sox
66-71. Previous: 21st. Seattle Mariners. 18. team. 62. <strong><a href=
Previous: 18th. Baltimore Orioles. 19. team. 11. As bad as the Baltimore Orioles have been lately, how about <strong><a href=. 65-71
127. <strong><a href=. 65-72. Previous: 17th. San Diego Padres. 20. team
Next: Rockies becoming fun to watch
Aug 30, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Colorado Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez (5) and third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) celebrate at home plate after both players scored a run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
65-72. Previous: 19th. Arizona Diamondbacks. 21. team. 8. Is there a team with a better 1-4 in their lineup than the Arizona Diamondbacks? <strong><a href=
Have the health issues of <strong><a href=. 64-72. Previous: 23rd. Boston Red Sox. 22. team. 14
62-74. Previous: 22nd. Detroit Tigers. 23. team. 63. Speaking of job security, one would wonder how much of that <strong><a href=
The Milwaukee Brewers have been a much better team in the second half of the season. Much credit is deserved for the job <strong><a href=. 60-76. Previous: 25th. Milwaukee Brewers. 24. team. 76
Previous: 24th. Oakland Athletics. 25. team. 96. Has <strong><a href=. 85-79
It has gotten to the point where management should tell <strong><a href=. 57-80. Previous: 30th. Miami Marlins. 26. team. 82
61. <strong><a href=. 56-79. Previous: 27th. Cincinnati Reds. 27. team
This battle that Gonzalez and <strong><a href=. 56-80. Previous: 28th. Colorado Rockies. 28. team. 108
The Philadelphia Phillies should be excited for some of the young players they have for next season. <strong><a href=. 53-84. Previous: 29th. Philadelphia Phillies. 29. team. 6
Atlanta Braves. 30. team. 17. The Atlanta Braves have now lost 12 straight games and 19 of their last 20.. 54-83. Previous: 26th
Next: Avisail Garcia still has some room to grow.