We’re now two months into the 2021 MLB season and the playoff picture is starting to take shape! Find out where your team ranks on SportsTips’ MLB Power Rankings after eight weeks of Major League Baseball!
Here’s where all 30 MLB teams stand heading into Week 9 of the 2021 MLB season:
1. San Diego Padres
World Series Championship Odds: +750
Current Record: 34-20
Previous Rankings: 1
The Padres have done enough to hold off the Rays for the No. 1 spot on SportsTips’ MLB Power Rankings heading into Week 9, winning four of their seven games against the Brewers and Astros on the road. San Diego leads the loaded NL West and they are tied with Tampa Bay for the best record in Baseball.
Fernando Tatis Jr. is so cool.
(via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/F4ZSoFuiVH
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 30, 2021
Their pitching staff boasts a league leading 2.62 team ERA, while Fernando Tatis Jr. is headlining the ninth most prolific lineup in baseball, as the Padres are averaging 4.85 runs per game. Tatis Jr. has recorded 24 RBI’s over his last 12 games, as the 22-year old hit at .250 with six RBIs against the Astros this weekend.
2. Tampa Bay Rays
World Series Championship Odds: +2200
Current Record: 34-20
Previous Rankings: 4
A 5-1 week for Tampa Bay gives the Rays a 15-1 record from their last 16 games. Tampa won their series against both Kansas City and Philadelphia in Week 8, moving half a game above Boston in the AL East and leaving them tied with San Diego for the best record in baseball entering Week 9.
With 6+ runs in 11 of their past 16 games, the Rays lineup has improved to the third best in baseball. Tampa Bay’s 270 runs are good for the third most in the league and they are averaging an even five runs per contest.
3. Boston Red Sox
World Series Championship Odds: +2200
Current Record: 32-20
Previous Rankings: 2
Although they lost just one game in Week 8, the Red Sox were passed as the No. 1 team in the AL East by the raging hot Tampa Bay Rays. Boston began the week by splitting their two game series against Atlanta before closing things out with two wins from their two games against the Marlins at home (Sunday’s game three against Miami was postponed).
The Red Sox 32 wins are good for the second most in baseball and their offense is averaging the third most runs per game this year. After a short stint at Fenway, Boston are on the Road in Week 9 to face the Astros and Yankees, which will be a great test for this team.
4. Chicago White Sox
World Series Championship Odds: +850
Current Record: 32-20
Previous Rankings: 5
After taking a 2-1 series victory from their set against the Cardinals at home, the White Sox closed out Week 8 with a four game series sweep over the struggling Orioles for a 6-1 Week 8 record. Chicago outscored Baltimore 18-7 across the four games.
The White Sox are three and a half games clear of the Indians on top of AL Central thanks to having the seventh best scoring offense (258 runs) and third best pitching staff (3.17 team ERA) in baseball heading into Week 9
5. San Francisco Giants
World Series Championship Odds: +4000
Current Record: 33-20
Previous Rankings: 7
A 5-1 week against a pair of division rivals has sent the Giants back into second place in the NL West. San Francisco won both of their games against Arizona early in Week 8, before closing out the week with three wins from their four games against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Kevin Gausman is headlining the Giants sixth ranked pitching staff, as San Francisco will enter Week 9 with a 3.33 team ERA. Gausman allowed just two hits in six innings against the Dodgers on Sunday, giving him the best ERA of any pitching in the National League in May, 0.73. Gausman’s 1.40 overall ERA is good for the fourth best in baseball,
6. Los Angeles Dodgers
World Series Championship Odds: +330
Current Record: 31-22
Previous Rankings: 3
After back to back weeks that made us feel like they were back to their best, the Dodgers won just two of their six games last week, leaving them in third place in the NL West. Los Angeles won the first of their two games against Houston and the first of their four games against San Francisco, however failed to manage another win for the remainder of both series.
On a positive note, the Dodgers are just two and a half games behind the Padres for the best record in the NL West and they have done so without Corey Seager, AJ Pollock and Cody Bellinger (returned over the weekend). When Los Angeles are back to full strength, they will undeniably be contenders once again.
7. Houston Astros
World Series Championship Odds: +1600
Current Record: 28-24
Previous Rankings: 9
The Astros came up against two of the powerhouse teams out of the NL West in Week 9 and failed to manage an above .500 record from their five games at home. Houston split their two game series against the Dodgers before suffering a 1-2 series loss to the Padres. A 2-3 record against Los Angeles and San Diego is not a terrible result when considering that the likes of Yordan Alvarez, Yuli Gurriel, Jason Castro, Michael Brantley and Kent Emmanuel were all on the IL.
Houston’s 5.25 runs per game make them the most prolific scoring offense in baseball and while they come into Week 9 with the 15th ranked team ERA (3.91), Zack Greinke is keeping the Astros competitive at the mound. Greinke is 3-1 with a 2.79 ERA over his last four starts, holding opposition hitters to a .208 batting average.
8. Chicago Cubs
World Series Championship Odds: +6000
Current Record: 29-23
Previous Rankings: 12
A 5-1 record from their games against the Pirates and Reds gives Chicago five consecutive series victories. They have defeated Detroit, Washington, St Louis, Pittsburgh and now Cincinnati. The Cubs are just one game behind the Cardinals for the No. 1 record in the NL Central.
Led by Zach Davies, Chicago’s pitching staff has improved to one of the best in baseball, allowing three runs or fewer as a team in 12 of their last 14 games, giving them a 3.72 team ERA (10th in the league). Davies has responded from a poor start to the season by boasting a 1.72 ERA from six starts in May.
9. Oakland Athletics
World Series Championship Odds: +2000
Current Record: 31-24
Previous Rankings: 8
A 3-4 week from their games against the Mariners and Angels leaves the A’s two games above Houston on top of the AL West heading into Week 9. With both series being played in Oakland, the A’s won just one of their three games against Seattle before splitting their four game series against Los Angeles.
ARE YOU SERIOUS @outtadapakmark!? 🤯 pic.twitter.com/V5LfwiHZC4
— Oakland A’s (@Athletics) May 29, 2021
Oakland are not dominating teams with either the bat or ball, currently ranking around the league average for runs scored and runs allowed per game, however the A’s are still winning games despite having a negative run differential. Oakland are getting great output from their starting pitchers, who boasted a 2.60 ERA last week.
10. St Louis Cardinals
World Series Championship Odds: +2000
Current Record: 30-23
Previous Rankings: 10
A 4-3 week for the Cardinals was enough to see them hold off the Cubs and maintain the No. 1 spot in the NL Central. St Louis won just one of their three games against the White Sox before finishing with an above .500 Week 8 record thanks to three wins from their four games against the Diamondbacks in Arizona.
When looking at their lineup and offensive performances, St Louis is a middle of the pack team in the league. However, Jack Flaherty and John Gant have been almost un-hittable when at the mound this season. Flaherty’s eight wins are the most in baseball, while Gant has a 1.81 ERA through nine starts this year.
11. New York Mets
World Series Championship Odds: +1000
Current Record: 25-20
Previous Rankings: 14
Although 16 of New York’s 40 man roster are currently on the IL, the Mets have improved to 16-9 in May and 25-20 overall after a 4-1 week from their five games against the Rockies and Braves in New York. In what was another outstanding week by the Mets pitching staff, New York allowed three runs of fewer in all of their games last week, two runs or fewer in four of those games and one run or fewer in two of their Week 8 games.
The Mets 3.09 team ERA is the second best in the league, while their lineup also closed out Week 8 with their best offensive performance of the season, scoring 13 runs against the Braves on Saturday.
12. Milwaukee Brewers
World Series Championship Odds: +2200
Current Record: 28-25
Previous Rankings: 16
After splitting their four game series against the Padres in Milwaukee, the Brewers closed out Week 8 with a series sweep over the Nationals in Washington, giving them a 5-2 record. Milwaukee now have eight wins from their last 10 games and they are just a game and a half behind the division leading St Louis Cardinals in the NL Central.
Led by Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes, the Brewers boast a 3.66 ERA, which is good for the ninth best in baseball. Woodruff is 4-2 with a 1.27 ERA (second best in the league), 0.69 WHIP (second best in the league) and 83 strikeouts (seventh best in the league) this year, while Burnes is 2-4 with a 2.24 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 81 strikeouts this season.
13. New York Yankees
World Series Championship Odds: +650
Current Record: 29-24
Previous Rankings: 6
The Yankees were one of our biggest sliders heading into Week 9, as New York managed to win just one of their six games last week. New York won just one of their three games against Toronto before they were swept by the Tigers in Detroit.
New York are scoring less than four runs per game in 2021, as their lineup ranks 23rd in that category this season. Their lack of offense is going to make it tough for the Yankees going forward as the AL East is loaded with offensive talent. The Red Sox (third), Blue Jays (fourth) and Rays (fifth) are all top five offenses in the league.
14. Cleveland Indians
World Series Championship Odds: +3800
Current Record: 28-23
Previous Rankings: 11
The Indians posted a 4-3 Week 8 record from their games against the Tigers in Detroit and Blue Jays in Cleveland. As a result of their 3-1 record against Detroit last week, Cleveland are now 12-4 when coming up against the Tigers and Royals, which means they are well below .500 against all other opponents.
The Indians lineup ranks equal 24th in baseball for runs scored this season, as their 200 runs are as many as the lowly Orioles. Their pitching staff boasts the 13th best team ERA in baseball, largely thanks to Aaron Civale, whose seven wins are the equal second most in the league, and Shane Bieber, whose 110 strikeouts are the most in the league.
15. Toronto Blue Jays
World Series Championship Odds: +2400
Current Record: 27-25
Previous Rankings: 13
After facing the Rays, Yankees and Indians last week, Toronto managed a 4-3 record. The Blue Jays 2-1 series victories against the Yankees in New York gives them a 6-3 overall record against the boys from the Bronx this season. However, Toronto are just 4-8 against the Rays and Red Sox in 2021, leaving them one game behind the Yankees in the AL East.
Series Win.
RECAP: https://t.co/7OfEIOzrds pic.twitter.com/661sar3Hlu
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) May 30, 2021
Although their offense has scored the sixth most runs in baseball at the fifth best runs per game average, Toronto’s starting pitchers have thrown the fewest innings among teams in the American League, as they are struggling for consistency at the mound.
16. Atlanta Braves
World Series Championship Odds: +1800
Current Record: 24-26
Previous Rankings: 15
In what was a rare three game week for the Braves, Atlanta split their two game series against the Red Sox in Boston before closing out Week 8 with a loss against the Mets in New York. Two of their other games against New York were postponed due to bad weather. Although they have a 12-12 record in May and have had a .500 record on four occasions this season, Atlanta has not been above .500 at any point this year.
The Braves lineup is talented but streaky, while their pitching staff has struggled all year. However, Atlanta are still second in the NL East, just three games behind the division leading New York Mets.
17. Seattle Mariners
World Series Championship Odds: +15000
Current Record: 27-27
Previous Rankings: 25
Seattle have fought their way back to a 27-27, .500 record as a result of six wins from their seven games last week. The Mariners won two of their three games against the A’s in Oakland before capping off Week 8 with a four game series sweep over the Rangers in Texas.
The Mariners are now just three and a half games behind the division leading A’s in the AL West. Seattle are still hitting at a league low .205 batting average, however their pitching staff took a step up last week, conceding two runs of fewer in five of their seven games.
18. Kansas City Royals
World Series Championship Odds: +8000
Current Record: 25-26
Previous Rankings: 20
A 1-2 series loss to the Rays and a 2-1 series win against the Twins leaves the Royals one game below .500 after a 3-3 week. Kansas City are 9-6 in their 15 games since bringing an end to their 11 game losing streak.
Although there are still lots of aspects of their game that need to be improved, the Royals are right in the thick of things for an American League Wild Card berth.
19. Miami Marlins
World Series Championship Odds: +10000
Current Record: 24-28
Previous Rankings: 17
After splitting their four game series against the Phillies in Miami, the Marlins finished Week 8 with a pair of losses against the Red Sox in Boston, leaving them with a 2-4 record last week. The Marlins have one fewer win than the division leading Mets, however they are four and a half games behind New York in the NL East standings.
Although their lineup has struggled this season, Miami’s pitching staff boasts the seventh best team ERA in baseball, 3.40. Trevor Rogers (1.87), Pablo Lopez (2.71) and Sandy Alcantara (3.46) all have sub 3.50 ERA’s from 60+ innings this season, while Sixto Sanchez is expected to return to the mound in June.
20. Philadelphia Phillies
World Series Championship Odds: +3500
Current Record: 25-28
Previous Rankings: 18
As a result of their 2-4 week against Miami and Tampa Bay, Philadelphia are just 10-5 in their past 15 games and four games behind the division leading New York Mets, which is the furthest back they’ve been this season.
The Phillies will enter Week 9 with the 18th ranked pitching staff (4.20 team ERA) and 20th ranked offense (209 runs this season). However, their lineup is set for another stretch of games without Bryce Harper, as the 2015 NL MVP has once again landed on the IL after suffering a wrist injury.
21. Los Angeles Angels
World Series Championship Odds: +6000
Current Record: 24-29
Previous Rankings: 22
The Angels made up some ground in the AL West last week, defeating a pair of divisional rivals in the Rangers and A’s. Los Angeles won both of their games against Texas and split their four game series against Oakland for a 4-2 record.
In Mike Trout’s absence, the Angels lineup still managed to score 4+ runs in four of their six games last week, including 20 runs from their two games against Texas. However, Los Angeles’ pitching staff is one of two clubs with a +5 ERA this season, as their 5.03 average is the second worst in baseball. The Angels won’t be a serious playoff contender until they improve at the mound.
22. Cincinnati Reds
World Series Championship Odds: +6000
Current Record: 23-28
Previous Rankings: 23
A series win against the Nationals and a series loss against the Cubs has given the Reds a 3-3 Week 9 record, leaving them five games below .500 and six and a half games behind the division leading Cardinals.
Although Cincinnait’s 4.91 team ERA is the fourth worst in the league, the Reds pitching staff looks like they have started to improve, allowing one run or fewer on four occasions last week.
23. Detroit Tigers
World Series Championship Odds: +25000
Current Record: 22-31
Previous Rankings: 24
The Tigers have continued their slow rise up the SportsTips MLB Power Rankings after winning four wins from their seven games against the Indians and Yankees. After winning just one of their four games against Cleveland at home, Detroit swept the Yankees for the first time since 2000, giving the Tigers a 13-7 record from their last 20 outings.
Did someone say sweep? pic.twitter.com/gHjij5yqeg
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) May 30, 2021
Detroit held their opponents to two runs or fewer in five of their seven games last week, subsidising their 27th ranked scoring offense.
24. Washington Nationals
World Series Championship Odds: +6000
Current Record: 21-28
Previous Rankings: 19
Wednesday’s 5-3 victory over the Reds was the Nationals lone win in Week 8, as Washington suffered five losses from their six games against Cincinnati and Milwaukee. The Nationals are now six games behind the division leading Mets in the NL East.
Washington’s offense had one of their worst weeks of the season, scoring two or less runs in five of their six games. Although the Nationals have the fifth best on base percentage in the National League, only the Mets and Pirates have fewer runs than Washington this year.
25. Minnesota Twins
World Series Championship Odds: +6000
Current Record: 21-31
Previous Rankings: 26
The Twins are off the bottom of the AL Central after a 4-2 week from their six games against the Orioles and Royals. Minnesota now have seven wins from their last 10 games as they prepare for another week against the beatable Orioles and Royals.
Offensively, the Twins 243 runs are the 10th most scored this season. However, Minnesota’s pitching staff is allowing 4.66 earned runs per game, giving them the 24th ranked team ERA this year.
26. Texas Rangers
World Series Championship Odds: +20000
Current Record: 22-33
Previous Rankings: 21
Since starting May with a 7-2 record, Texas has won just four of their last 19 games thanks to a winless Week 8. The Rangers were swept by both the Angels (two games) and Mariners (four games) last week, leaving them in last place in the AL West after a pair of losses against division rivals.
As you would expect from an 0-6 record, Texas’ offense was very disappointing last week, scoring a combined six runs in their four game series against Seattle.
27. Pittsburgh Pirates
World Series Championship Odds: +25000
Current Record: 20-32
Previous Rankings: 28
After being swept by the Cubs, Pittsburgh salvaged some respect in Week 8 by winning two of their three games against Colorado. Although they only managed a 2-4 record last week, the Pirates actually outscored their Week 8 opponents 21-17. This was surprising as Pittsburgh owns the worst run differential in the National League, -74.
The Pirates are almost 10 games behind the division leading Cardinals heading into Week 9, as things look like they could continue to get worse before they get better in Pittsburgh.
28. Colorado Rockies
World Series Championship Odds: +25000
Current Record: 20-34
Previous Rankings: 27
The Rockies continued their dismal string of performances on the road in Week 8, winning just two of their seven games against the Mets in New York and Pirates in Pittsburgh, giving them a league low 4-22 record from their games outside of Colorado.
The Rockies were shutout on three occasions last week and scored two runs or fewer in a further two games. A good record at the run-friendly Coors Field in Colorado has masked what looks to be a deceptively poor Rockies lineup.
29. Arizona Diamondbacks
World Series Championship Odds: +25000
Current Record: 19-35
Previous Rankings: 30
The Diamondbacks closed out Week 8 with a 9-2 victory over the Cardinals in Arizona. The victory brought an end to the D-Backs 13 games losing streak and left Arizona with a 1-5 record from last week’s games against San Francisco and St Louis.
Arizona were swept by three division rivals in the Dodgers, Rockies and Giants during their recent losing streak, which has resulted in their overall record slipping to 19-35, the worst in the National League.
30. Baltimore Orioles
World Series Championship Odds: +25000
Current Record: 17-36
Previous Rankings: 29
For the first time this season, Baltimore are the 30th ranked team on the SportsTips MLB Power Rankings. The O’s lost each of their seven games against the Twins and White Sox last week, which has extended their active losing streak to 13 consecutive games.
Baltimore are 5-22 in May and almost 20 games behind the leaders in the AL East. The Orioles now have the worst pitching staff (5.04 team ERA) in baseball, they are a bottom five scoring offense and their 17-36 overall record is two games worse than any other team in the league.
*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel
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