Major League Baseball Power Rankings, September 18, 2017

For an explanation of how the SD Score is calculated, see below.

1 – Cleveland Indians (93-57); SD Score +3.27, Ranking Last Week – 1

Still number one, especially after that amazing 22 game winning streak.

2 – Los Angeles Dodgers (96-53) SD Score +2.37, Ranking Last Week – 2

The Dodgers are starting to get it together and taking a series from the Nationals had to build some confidence.

3 – Houston Astros (91-58); SD Score +2.45, Ranking Last Week – 3

The Astros appear like they’re on track to get ready for a playoff run.

4 – Washington Nationals (90-59); SD Score +2.18, Ranking Last Week – 4

Losing to the Dodgers stung a little, but they could be getting Bryce Harper back for the postseason.

5 – Arizona Diamondbacks (87-63); SD Score +2.10, Ranking Last Week – 5

The Diamondbacks against the Dodgers in the Divisional round could be a very interesting one, but they do have to win that all important Wild Card game first.

6 – Chicago Cubs (83-66) SD Score +1.66, Ranking Last Week – 8

The Cubs had a perfect week, but have a huge matchup at Milwaukee this week.

7 – Boston Red Sox (85-64); SD Score +1.57, Ranking Last Week – 6

The Red Sox should still win the East, but the Yankees are nipping at their ankles.

8 – New York Yankees (82-67); SD Score +2.59, Ranking Last Week – 7

The Yankees don’t have a hard schedule down the stretch and could still steal the East.

9 – Colorado Rockies (82-68); SD Score +1.05, Ranking Last Week – 10

The Rockies can only make the postseason as a Wild Card, but have a lot of competition. The time is now.

10 – Milwaukee Brewers (79-70); SD Score +0.47, Ranking Last Week – 9

The Brewers probably won’t be able to contend if they were to make the playoffs, but this has been a very fun year and it isn’t over yet.

11 – Minnesota Twins (78-71); SD Score +0.29, Ranking Last Week – 12

Minnesota looks much better than they did and are looking like a playoff team.

12 – St. Louis Cardinals (77-72) SD Score +0.96, Ranking Last Week – 11

The Cardinals still have a shot, but getting swept by the Cubs really hurt their playoff chances.

13 – Los Angeles Angels (76-73); SD Score -0.02, Ranking Last Week – 13

This will make or break the Angels as they face Cleveland and Houston.

14– Texas Rangers (73-76) SD Score +0.46, Ranking Last Week – 14

Texas is about done.

15 – Seattle Mariners (74-76); SD Score -0.17, Ranking Last Week – 15

Seattle had a good run, but it’s likely over.

16 – Baltimore Orioles (73-77); SD Score -0.77, Ranking Last Week – 16

They had their chance, but now it’s likely onto 2018.

17 – Kansas City Royals (73-76); SD Score -1.22, Ranking Last Week – 17

The Royals are all but done as well.

18 – Tampa Bay Rays (73-77); SD Score -0.54, Ranking Last Week – 18

Tampa had a nice run, but see Kansas City, Texas, Baltimore and Seattle.

The below teams are out of the race:

19 – Miami Marlins (69-80); SD Score -0.96, Ranking Last Week – 19

20 – Pittsburgh Pirates (68-82); SD Score -1.38, Ranking Last Week – 20

21 – Toronto Blue Jays (70-80); SD Score -1.41, Ranking Last Week – 21

22 – Atlanta Braves (67-81); SD Score -1.08, Ranking Last Week – 24

23– New York Mets (65-84); SD Score -1.31, Ranking Last Week – 25

24 – Cincinnati Reds (66-84); SD Score -1.22, Ranking Last Week – 27   

25 – Oakland A’s (66-83); SD Score -1.37, Ranking Last Week – 26

26 – San Diego Padres (66-83); SD Score -2.93, Ranking Last Week – 22

27 – Detroit Tigers (62-87); SD Score -1.60, Ranking Last Week – 23

28 – Chicago White Sox (60-89); SD Score -1.53, Ranking Last Week – 28

29 – Philadelphia Phillies (58-91); SD Score -1.69, Ranking Last Week – 30

30 – San Francisco Giants (58-93); SD Score -2.93, Ranking Last Week – 29

SD Score explanation:

Run production is one of the best measures of how a team is performing and how dominant or bad they are.

The formula takes each team’s runs scored and runs allowed totals and how many standard deviations from the league average they are.

Example: 1927 Yankees

The 27 Yankees score 975 runs (1927 AL average was 762 and SD of team runs for the AL was about 115). Take the difference from the league average (975-762=213) and divide by the SD (115), the 1927 Yankees were 1.85 SD above the league average in runs scored.

They allowed 599 runs (the SD in runs allowed for the 1927 AL was about 88.5), which was 163 runs less than the league average. 163/88.5 gives us a 1.84 SD above the league average in runs allowed.

Add 1.85 and 1.84 to get a final SD Score of +3.69 for the 1927 Yankees, which is amazing.

(SD ranking explanation found in “Baseball

Dynasties: The Greatest Teams of All Time” by Rob Neyer and Eddie Epstein)</p
Download The Grueling Truth app in the iTunes store!

Follow The Grueling Truth on Twitter @GruelingTruth and Like us on Facebook.