With 3 weeks difference within the usual season, there’s a probability that each one six MLB sections will probably be wrapped up sooner than the overall weekend. However consistent motion within the wild-card races turns out inevitable. There was once some shakeup this week hour, and it induced two questions: 

Who’s the third-best workforce within the Nationwide League? Who’s the fourth-best workforce within the American League? 

Right here’s my original lead 10, with a couple of attention-grabbing factoids about each and every membership and two fresh individuals.

1. Atlanta Braves (93-49; extreme hour 1)
It was once a indisposed hour for the Braves, who went 3-3 and dropped a sequence to St. Louis. Their offense remains to be buzzing alongside, alternatively, and appears primed to crack the best-ever report for house runs in a season. Atlanta has 20 video games to accident 35 extra dingers and eclipse the 2019 Twins’ mark. 

2. Baltimore Orioles (90-52; LW 2)
September has been superb for Baltimore, which gained seven of 9. All of the ones video games got here at the highway and 6 of them concerned groups above .500 (Arizona and Boston). The Orioles will now be rewarded with 13 in their ultimate 20 video games at house as they aim to secure onto a three-game top over the Rays for the lead spot within the American League East and the American League.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers (87-55; LW 3)
The Dodgers rebounded from a coarse begin to the hour via successful 3 of 4 at the highway. They’ll now go back house for 10 in their nearest 13 video games. They’re 16-4 at Dodger Stadium since August started, possibly resignation them an out of doors shot of catching the Braves for the most efficient report in baseball.

4. Houston Astros (82-62; LW 7)
The Astros persevered to mash on Sunday, posting 12 runs in a win over the Padres. It was once the fourth era they scored double digits within the week hour. Since September started, Houston is chief all of baseball in runs consistent with match (7.44) and homers (21) and is secured for first in extra-base hits (39).

5. Tampa Bay Rays (88-56; LW 8)
The Rays are again to doing what they do very best: sound. They have got the fourth-lowest ERA (3.21) and third-lowest opponent reasonable (.219). Their 111 strikeouts are tops within the majors, they usually’re the one workforce to cloudless the century mark. 

6. Seattle Mariners (79-64; LW 4)
Seattle is 3-7 to begin September, and the most important reason is a unexpected rarity of offense. Over the former two months, the Mariners averaged 5.34 runs consistent with match date going 38-15. They’re indisposed to simply 4.22 runs this week, which is secured for twenty third.

7. Milwaukee Brewers (79-63; LW 5)
The Brewers have made their identify with superb pitching and September is not any other. They’re maintaining fighters to a .176 reasonable and .248 on underpinning proportion this week. Each marks top the majors. Just a little extra offense may manufacture this membership bad, as Sunday’s loss to the Yankees in spite of 10 no-hit innings from Corbin Burnes & Co. demonstrated. 

8.  Philadelphia Phillies (78-64; LW 6)
The Phillies can’t prevent hitting house runs. They’ve slugged an MLB-best 75 since August, with 28 mixed coming from simply Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber. However the offense was once a bit of tranquility another way this week hour in shedding 3 of 5 to the Marlins and Padres.

9. Toronto Blue Jays (80-63; LW NR)
Bo Bichette is again, and Toronto’s lineup has discovered consistency. However the workforce’s turnaround has been sparked via its pitching. For the reason that All-Superstar crack, the Blue Jays top the majors in ERA (3.35). It makes them a special form of contender than what they’ve been, as their mixed 4.35 ERA over the former 5 seasons ranked nineteenth within the majors.

10. Arizona Diamondbacks (75-69 LW NR)
Arizona is again within the ratings then just about sweeping the Cubs. When the pitching is correct, this membership is a tricky out. The D-backs have gained 12 in their week 13 video games during which they’ve held the opponent to a few runs or fewer, the fourth-best mark within the majors.

Out: Chicago Cubs (9), Texas Rangers (10)

Ben Verlander is an MLB Analyst for FOX Sports activities and the host of the “Flippin’ Bats” podcast. Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Verlander was once an All-American at Used Dominion College sooner than he joined his brother, Justin, in Detroit as a 14th-round select of the Tigers in 2013. He spent 5 years within the Tigers group. Apply him on Twitter @BenVerlander.

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