Just in time for Players Weekend, we highlight some of the biggest stars in these Power Rankings.
In Kansas City, Bobby Witt Jr. looks to be cementing himself in the upper tier of current stars. In Houston, Yusei Kikuchi looks all set to prove the majority of trade deadline graders wrong. In Los Angeles, the greatest baseball player of all time is still doing his thing.
That said, let’s take a look at my most recent Power Rankings with World Series odds from FanDuel Sportsbook.
10. Kansas City Royals (69-55, unranked last week)
World Series Odds: +3500
Bobby Witt Jr. continues to solidify himself as one of the next faces of Major League Baseball. Not only has he gone out of his way to honor one of the greatest sports video game characters of all time “Four Moms” this MLB player’s weekendHe went 5-12 with a home run and three RBI, helping lead the Royals to a three-game sweep over the Reds, a week in which he slashed .444/.546/1.056.
9. San Diego Padres (70-55, LW 8)
World Series Odds: +1700
San Diego, the land of fish tacos, craft beer, perfect weather and … two of three losses to the Colorado Rockies? Not a good way to end a week for the Padres that began with an impressive sweep of the Pirates at home.
8. Houston Astros (67-56, LW 10)
World Series Odds: +1100
I’m still not happy with what Dana Brown gave up for Yusei Kikuchi at the trade deadline, but it’s hard to argue with Kikuchi’s performance since coming to Houston. The Japanese southpaw has a 2.70 ERA in three starts as an Astro, and Houston has won all three of his outings.
7. minnesota twins (70-54, LW 7)
World Series Odds: +1700
Joe Ryan is out indefinitely with a shoulder strain, the bullpen is showing signs of weakness and the Royals are just behind Minnesota. Still, the Twins have done well, winning three of four against the Rangers. Now a crucial series awaits against the Padres in San Diego.
6. Cleveland Guardians (72-52, LW 4)
World Series Odds: +1700
The middle portion of my weekly top 10 has remained fairly consistent, but changes occur when one division leader beats another. The Guardians have been below .500 since the All-Star break, and after a tough weekend in Milwaukee, Cleveland’s relief is a trip to the Bronx to face the Yankees.
5. Philadelphia Phillies (73-51, LW 3)
World Series Odds: +450
Speaking of teams that can’t recapture their early-season magic, it was unimaginable in the first half of this year that Philadelphia would ever fall this low in my power rankings. The Phillies still hold a comfortable lead in the NL East and did their job well this week at home against bottom-seeded Miami and Washington. But this isn’t the same Phillies team that was putting up a blast in the first half.
4. Milwaukee Brewers (72-52, LW 6)
World Series Odds: +1900
The Brewers finally got back on the mat against the Dodgers, putting together two consecutive rallies to even the series at home against Los Angeles, then showed their strength by beating the AL Central-leading Guardians. Christian Yelich is officially out for the season, which is a huge blow, but this is a team that has defied the odds all year.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers (73-52, LW 5)
World Series Odds: +330
Mookie Betts made a blistering comeback and Shohei Ohtani is still putting up incredible performances night after night, but LA’s injury woes persist as Tyler Glasnow joins the injured list with elbow tendinitis. The hope was that long layoffs for Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller would help the right-handed fireballers regain their pre-injury form, but that hasn’t happened. Clayton Kershaw has turned back the clock recently, but the Dodgers have invested so much in this roster that they can’t pin their postseason rotation hopes on a 36-year-old.
2. New York Yankees (73-52, LW 2)
World Series Odds: +500
The Bronx Bombers had a golden opportunity to not only take the top spot here but also the best record in the majors. And then they lost consecutive games to the Tigers. It’s been a similar month for New York, which has yet to win more than three games in a row while playing only losing clubs. That won’t happen this week, as the Yankees host the Guardians, who are also vying for the top record in the American League.
1. Baltimore Orioles (73-52, LW 1)
World Series Odds: +750
The Orioles are treading water, which would be much more acceptable if they weren’t banged up with the Yankees in the AL East standings. Baltimore heads to New York – to play the Mets – needing to keep pace with the team on the other side of town.
Outside: Arizona Diamondbacks (69-56, LW 9) World Series Odds: +1800
Ben Verlander An MLB analyst for Fox Sports and “Flippin Bats” podcast. Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Verlander was an All-American at Old Dominion University before joining his brother Justin in Detroit as the Tigers’ 14th-round selection in 2013. He spent five years in the Tigers organization. Follow him here @benverlander,
(Want great stories delivered straight to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players, and receive personalized newsletters daily,
Major League Baseball
Get more information from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get updates on games, news and more