SportsTips’ MLB Power Rankings 2021: Week 24

SportsTips’ MLB Power Rankings 2021: Week 24
Mon 13th September 2021

The end of the season is closing in on us and we have updated the SportsTips’ MLB Power Rankings to reflect how each team is looking down the stretch, what their form is like and their chances of making it into the postseason. 

FanDuel continues to change their World Series odds and there are now just six teams that have put themselves above the rest of the pack heading into Week 24 of the 2021 MLB season, making the last four weeks even more exciting. 

Here’s where all 30 MLB teams stand after 23 weeks of baseball:

1. San Francisco Giants

World Series Championship Odds: +950
Current Record: 93-50
Previous Rankings: 2

A perfect week sees the San Francisco Giants reclaim top spot of the MLB Power Rankings. Playing all six games on the road, the Giants went 3-0 against the Rockies and the Cubs to now move 2.5 games clear on top of the NL West and they seem to have the top seed of the entire postseason locked up.

2. Milwaukee Brewers

World Series Championship Odds: +950
Current Record: 89-55
Previous Rankings: 3

The Brewers just keep getting the job done, maintaining their lead on top of the NL Central while keeping within striking distance of the top of the league, if the Giants and Dodgers slip up. Their week started with a disastrous performance, losing to the Phillies 0-12, but five straight wins to close the week, including 3-0 in Cleveland where they outscored them 24-4, has them back on track to finish with the #2 seed in the National League.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

World Series Championship Odds: +260
Current Record: 91-53
Previous Rankings: 1

The Los Angeles Dodgers had a very good week of 5-2 but unfortunately it isn’t good enough, when you consider the Giants went 6-0. This has resulted in the Dodgers slipping down our MLB Power Rankings, as they now sit 2.5 games behind San Francisco in the race for the NL West crown and may find it hard to catch them given how little is left of this season.

4. Houston Astros

World Series Championship Odds: +440
Current Record: 83-59
Previous Rankings: 5

Coming up against two AL West rivals last week, the inconsistent Astros could have been anything but they did what they needed to do. Going 2-1 against both the Mariners and Angels allowed Houston to move 6.5 games clear on top of the AL West while maintaining a 1.5 game lead over the White Sox for the #2 seed in the American League. They have the second best World Series odds for a reason and their striking ability can win it for them.

5. Tampa Bay Rays

World Series Championship Odds: +700
Current Record: 89-54
Previous Rankings: 4

While the Rays are nine games clear on top of the AL East and are 5.5 games clear on top of the American League, there went 3-3 last week and that isn’t the sort of form you want from a #1 seed. A 2-1 series win in Boston was impressive but it was followed up with a 1-2 series defeat in Detroit. They are still in a great position to succeed this postseason but they will want to play better than last week.

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6. Chicago White Sox

World Series Championship Odds: +700
Current Record: 82-61
Previous Rankings: 7

An up-and-down week for the White Sox saw them go just 3-3, with a 1-2 series loss in Oakland followed with a 2-1 series win at home over the Red Sox. Given they have locked up top place in the AL Central, Chicago is now just playing for seeding in the postseason. They are currently the #3 seed in the American League but are just 1.5 games behind the Astros for the #2 seed and will want to do everything they can to get there.

7. Toronto Blue Jays

World Series Championship Odds: +3000
Current Record: 80-63
Previous Rankings: 13

A Friday night slip-up cost Toronto a perfect 8-0 week, but they are very deserving of moving up our MLB Power Rankings. Toronto took four games from the Yankees, in New York, and their 7-1 week has allowed them to move up to second place in the AL East, after being fourth just a few weeks ago. They currently own a Wild Card slot, but have two series against the Rays to come, with the first of those being at the start of this week.

8. Boston Red Sox

World Series Championship Odds: +3000
Current Record: 81-64
Previous Rankings: 6

It was a terrible week for the Red Sox, who had an opportunity to put a gap between themselves and those chasing Wild Card slots in the American League. They now sit third in the AL East and are holding on to the last Wild Card slot by just half a game following their 2-4 week. A home series loss to the Rays followed by a 1-2 series loss to the White Sox isn’t what this ballclub would have wanted with the season coming to a close. 

9. Atlanta Braves

World Series Championship Odds: +1600
Current Record: 76-66
Previous Rankings: 9

An easy week against the two bottom teams in their division saw the Atlanta Braves go 4-2 and move 4.5 games clear on top of the NL East. That lead is what is important down the stretch, ensuring they remain ahead of both the Phillies and the Mets to secure their postseason berth. The worry is they play 14 games in 13 days all against NL West teams, which isn’t the easiest of schedules. 

10. San Diego Padres

World Series Championship Odds: +4300
Current Record: 74-68
Previous Rankings: 8

After making a splash and moving into sole ownership of the final Wild Card slot in the National League, the Padres went just 1-4 last week and are back in the pack. A 1-1 split with the Angels was followed up by a 0-3 thumping by the Dodgers and they are now tied with Cincinnati and just one game ahead of St. Louis for the final Wild Card slot. 

11. Cincinnati Reds

World Series Championship Odds: +5000
Current Record: 75-69
Previous Rankings: 12

A 2-4 week isn’t the sort of form you want to be having at this time of the season, especially considering the Reds have a red-hot chance of making the poseason. Despite their poor play, Cincinnati are tied with the Padres for the final Wild Card slot in the National League. It may be tough for them to secure it though, given they have a series with the Dodgers in there, but they have two series against the Pirates as well.

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12. St Louis Cardinals

World Series Championship Odds: +20000
Current Record: 73-69
Previous Rankings: 16

Considering they played the Dodgers and Reds this week, finishing above 0.500 is more than you could ask for if you are a Cardinals fan. Splitting a four game series with the Dodgers, who are the World Series favorites, is not only massive for their season but is a positive sign for them if they were able to make it into the postseason. They still sit just one game back in the race for the final Wild Card slot but if they keep playing the way they are currently, it could be theirs. 

13. New York Yankees

World Series Championship Odds: +1600
Current Record: 79-64
Previous Rankings: 10

The New York Yankees may have ended their season in one week. They only managed to win one of their seven games last week and were embarrassed in nearly every performance. They hosted the Blue Jays for four games and went 0-4, getting outscored 8-25. They then faced the Mets and went 1-2, losing the opener 3-10. Worrying signs for the Yankees, who are now on the outside looking in for a Wild Card slot.

14. Seattle Mariners

World Series Championship Odds: +18000
Current Record: 77-66
Previous Rankings: 11

The Mariners were right on the tails of the Astros in the AL West but now see themselves 6.5 games back for the top of the division and also three games back from a Wild Card slot in the American League. Seattle went just 2-4 last week, including a 1-2 series loss, at home, to the lowly Diamondbacks. That sort of performance is why they have dropped down our MLB Power Rankings and what could cost them their spot in the postseason.

15. Oakland Athletics

World Series Championship Odds: +8000
Current Record: 77-66
Previous Rankings: 14

The A’s are another team that are impossible to get a read on. They beat the White Sox 2-1 but then lose to the Texans, at home, 1-2. They are just three games back from a Wild Card slot in the American League but can’t be playing like that if they seriously want to make the postseason. Six games against teams below 0.500 this week will help their chances, but you would have said that against the Texans as well..

16. New York Mets

World Series Championship Odds: +10000
Current Record: 72-72
Previous Rankings: 17

 The Mets may have only gone 3-4 this week, but their finish was what has seen them rise a spot in the MLB Power Rankings. Going 1-3 against the Nationals and Marlins is far from impressive but then they managed to turn things around against cross-town rivals, the Yankees. A 2-1 series win is impressive and keeps their postseason chances alive.

17. Philadelphia Phillies

World Series Championship Odds: +8000
Current Record: 72-71
Previous Rankings: 15

With the NL East up for grabs, the Phillies went just 2-5 last week and may have cost themselves a shot at playing postseason baseball. A 12-0 victory in Milwaukee made it look as if Philadelphia was making a genuine run for the Braves on top of the division but then lost four straight and five of the last six games of the week, including going 1-3 at home against the Rockies. They may have shot themselves in the foot last week.

18. Colorado Rockies

World Series Championship Odds: Off the charts
Current Record: 66-78
Previous Rankings: 21

After getting swept at home by the Giants to start the week, Colorado showed some fight by taking three of four games of the Phillies, in Philadelphia. A victim of playing in one of the top two divisions in baseball, the Rockies are just nine games back from a Wild Card slot but are 27.5 games back from top place of the NL West. They continue their road trip against the NL East this week and could play spoiler to the Braves. 

19. Detroit Tigers

World Series Championship Odds: Off the charts
Current Record: 68-76
Previous Rankings: 22

Add the Tigers to the file of inconsistent teams from last week. They lost a series to the lowly Pirates before returning home and beating the Rays 2-1. It doesn’t really make sense at all but given this team is just eight games below 0.500, they may have a goal to do something about that by the end of the season.

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20. Kansas City Royals

World Series Championship Odds: Off the charts
Current Record: 65-78
Previous Rankings: 19

After mixing it up with some of baseball’s best teams, taking series from the Astros and White Sox recently, Kansas City could only manage a 2-2 split against the Orioles and just got over the line against the Twins last week. They are now 13 games below 0.500 for the season and may have nothing to play for, but they could play spoiler to the A’s and Mariners, their opponents for this week.

21. Los Angeles Angels

World Series Championship Odds: Off the charts
Current Record: 70-73
Previous Rankings: 20

The wheels are falling off for the Angels, who went just 2-4 last week. Their superstar, Shohei Ohtani, started on the mound in their opener against the Astros and gave up six runs in just 3.1 innings of work, highlighting that the end of the season couldn’t come sooner. 

22. Cleveland Indians

World Series Championship Odds: +60000
Current Record: 69-72
Previous Rankings: 18

Cleveland may have already checked out for the postseason. They managed just one win from seven games last week, all of which were at home. Cleveland couldn’t get anything going in their first three games against the Twins and then were taught a lesson by the Brewers to close out the week.

23. Miami Marlins

World Series Championship Odds: Off the charts
Current Record: 60-83
Previous Rankings: 24

Having six games against divisional rivals is never fun, but the Marlins managed to go 3-3, including a 2-1 series win over the Mets. The moral victory is that they are off the bottom of the NL East but are just one game ahead of Washington and will want to stay off the bottom down the stretch.

24. Minnesota Twins

World Series Championship Odds: Off the charts
Current Record: 63-80
Previous Rankings: 25

The Twins continue to have a relatively impressive second half of the year, going 4-3 last week. Their good recent play has allowed them to come within two games of the Royals, with the opportunity to get off the bottom of the AL Central by the time the season winds down.

25. Chicago Cubs

World Series Championship Odds: Off the charts
Current Record: 65-79
Previous Rankings: 23

A 2-1 series win over the Reds doesn’t look so good when you consider that Cincinatti are just 4-6 over their last 10 and Chicago followed it up by getting thumped by the Giants to close out the week. The Cubs gave up 15 runs on Saturday night and have six games against teams above 0.500 this week indicating that they may be in for some more lopsided outcomes. 

26. Texas Rangers

World Series Championship Odds: Off the charts
Current Record: 53-89
Previous Rankings: 27

 The Texas Rangers played six games on the road and went 5-1. You wouldn’t read about it, but it happened. The Rangers are one of the worst road teams in all of baseball but managed to win five of six, including going 2-1 against the A’s, in Oakland. 

27. Pittsburgh Pirates

World Series Championship Odds: Off the charts
Current Record: 52-91
Previous Rankings: 28

Another team that is at the bottom of the standings and our MLB Power Rankings that had a positive week, as Pittsburgh went 4-2 with series wins over Detroit and Washington. The win over the Nationals isn’t much but the Tigers are close to 0.500 and shouldn’t be losing to a team like Pittsburgh, which is a testament to how the Pirates are handling their business in the latter stages of this season.

28. Baltimore Orioles

World Series Championship Odds: Off the charts
Current Record: 46-97
Previous Rankings: 26

Baltimore had a massive eight game week last week and did well to go 3-5. They split four games with the Royals and then stole the opener with Toronto, ending their winning streak, which even the Yankees weren’t able to do earlier in the week. They now play the Yankees to open their week and you better believe the Orioles would like to cause some more upsets and ruin their AL East rival’s postseason chances.

29. Arizona Diamondbacks

World Series Championship Odds: Off the charts
Current Record: 47-96
Previous Rankings: 29

A quiet five game week for Arizona saw them go 2-3 but those two wins came over the weekend and against the Mariners, in Seattle. While it is exciting to close out the week on a winning streak, they now play the Dodgers in LA then the Astros in Houston. 

30. Washington Nationals

World Series Championship Odds: Off the charts
Current Record: 59-84
Previous Rankings: 30

It has been a massive fall from grace by the Nationals and they remain on the bottom of our MLB Power Rankings after a 3-4 week, including a 1-2 loss to the Pirates over the weekend. Washington is just one game behind the Marlins and have the chance to get off the bottom of the NL East, but won’t do that playing like this.

*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel 

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Tim is a keen follower of all American sports, in particular the NBA and NFL. He has followed both sports for over a decade and would happily sit down and watch every game, regardless of who is playing! No matter the sport, whether it be NFL and NBA or even MLB, NHL, UFC and all sports, Tim covers it from every angle, staying in the loop to bring you the most up-to-date information and the best picks and predictions on the market.