LATEST MLB Power Rankings: Phillies RECLAIM the TOP SPOT | CBS Sports

There's a new number one in our CBS sports MLB power rankings. Yankees out, Phillies back in six teams are within a game of each other for best record in baseball. We're also going to lean heavily into the Al central, which features three teams in the top ten. I'm Tommy Tran now, joined by Matt Snyder, who puts our power rankings together, and Jim Bowden, our MLB insider. He's going to deliver any team news and of course, offer his thoughts on tonight's rankings. Okay There's always been some change at the top. Matt, you've talked about it about five teams always in the conversation for number one. But let's land with Philly and talk about Philadelphia in this slot. Yeah. Well there's going to be six in the conversation. Now the Brewers have played their way into that conversation. We actually have six teams within one game of each other for the best record in baseball. I can't remember when something like this has been the case past the midpoint of August, to have six teams within one game of the best record in baseball is unbelievable. Maybe that means we're going to have a very fun playoffs. But look, every one of these teams has struggled mightily for a few weeks at a time in this season, and the Phillies came off a tough road trip. They came home against the Marlins and Nationals, and I thought they needed to get right. I guess four and two means they kind of got right there. I think I was probably hoping for five and one. It would have made it a lot easier, but I thought the key to them getting back on top was Christopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez. Sanchez just threw a complete game and looked very good on Saturday night, Ranger Suarez is going to get back to the rotation from the injured list this week. That means the rotation is solidified. The bullpen looks good. The offense really started humming along starting with the second game this past week. So I think that they're back there. But this coming week they've got that series against the Braves. They have a seven game lead. If they get swept there, they're only up four. On the flip side, if they sweep the Braves, they're up ten. Something in between is very good for the Phillies. It's going to be very fun to see how it all transpires. I think it's a pretty good chance that the Phillies stay on top of Matt's list from here on out. I think they're the best team in baseball. And sure, they had a hiccup like all teams do, but I think when you really break down their team from top to bottom, they are the best team in this sport right now. And I think what helps them is the fact that the Dodgers have had so many injuries to their starting pitchers. And now with Tyler Glasnow on the IL with the elbow, Yamamoto is not back yet. Walker Buehler does not look like the same guy he was before his Tommy John Kershaw is just a shell of what he was. So I think the Phillies have separated themselves in the national League. And you look at Zack Wheeler last three starts E.R.A. A135. He's just a dominant one. Aaron Nola six and two thirds innings of shutout baseball. And as Matt mentioned, Sanchez went nine innings one earned run over the weekend. And then you got Kyle Schwarber red hot with his six homers and 15 RBIs over the last couple of weeks, Phillies are the best team in this league. And it's by a lot now. Not a little in my opinion. And that's been reflective. We put up a nice graphic there of teams to hold the top spot in Matt Snyder's power rankings, and the Phillies have had ten, which is more than double the next two, which I think were the Braves and the Yankees. All right, Matt, you mentioned what was sort of a power five. Is now a big six. And we're talking about the fighting. Pat Murphy's here with the Brew Crew. What has stood out to you about what they've been able to do and how are you projecting them moving forward? Well, their resilience, I mean, I think the next man up thing is kind of become a talking point over the years and maybe a little bit of a cliche, but they have completely embodied that this season. It started with losing their manager, Craig Counsell. They already knew that Brandon Woodruff was going to be out for the season. Corbin Burnes got traded right before spring training. Or maybe right after. It was so long ago, I don't remember. It was in February, then Devin Williams got hurt in spring training. Now Christian Yelich is out for the season and he's been one of their best players all year. It's just a team that keeps fighting through adversity. It's unbelievable. The way that they've been able to withstand all of this stuff. That has been thrown at them. I think that they have been under the circumstances, the most impressive team in all of baseball. And if you look at that division right there, I remember heading into the season, a lot of us and I say us because I was in that boat, thought one through five, this is going to be the closest division in baseball. That is to say, whoever comes in last is going to be closest to the first place, closer to first place than any other last place team. And it had the chance to be 3 or 4 team race, five team race. Going into September. Instead, this thing is over. I the Brewers are going to win this thing, so it's unbelievable what they've been able to do. And again, you cannot sing their praises enough for the way that they have had so many guys step up and get the job done in lieu of all the injury adversity that they have had. I think the biggest lead of any division leader and believe it or not, they have a shot to have the best record in the National League. And what would that mean? That would mean home field advantage throughout the playoffs. I mean, can you imagine that with Milwaukee? Look, when you trade Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff, your next best pitcher goes down to have an 11 game lead. This late in the season is just incredible. Give a lot of credit to Colin Rea. Great pick up by Milwaukee's at 11 wins with a three and a half ERA, and the rookie Tobias Myers. People don't talk about him enough. But six wins and an ERA under three all year. He's been really good and that's been a difference for them. They're getting the offense from the three guys in the middle. Willy Adames over the last 15 days, has five homers, and he is third among all shortstops in home runs since 2021. The catcher William Contreras, one of the best in the sport. He's also had five homers over the last 15 days. And how about Jackson Chourio? He didn't hit in April. He didn't hit in May, and he's hit 310 since. Unbelievable last 15 days, three homers, seven RBIs, hitting 309. I love what Pat Murphy has done with this team. They have one of the best bullpens in the league and I'm telling you, they're scary. On my power rankings I would have them second, believe it or not, in the national League, at least behind the Phillies and ahead of the Dodgers, because I think right now they're healthier and it's a great defensive team. They've got a lot of speed. They can beat you in a lot of different ways. Love that. By the way. Pat Murphy, a heavy, heavy favorite to win NL manager of the year. Now Mike Schultz a long shot. That's about it. Technically a two skipper race. But really again it is going to be Murphy's to lose okay. It's not that close in the NL centra. It is much closer in the Al central. Matt Schneider reflective of your power rankings here. Take me through what you're thinking right now. Yeah I mean the Guardians have actually been pretty shaky here for going on almost two months. You go back to their high water point in the season in terms of games over 500 was June 28th. Since then, they're 21 and 26. Starting pitching is shaky. We know it has been for a while. Maybe Alex Cobb can build on last outing there and give them a bit of a boost. They still have that top heavy offense that we talked about even when they were number one. The bullpen, aside from class, seems like it's tiring a bit, and that had been one of their big cheat codes this season. A lot of things are going to get sorted out here in the next couple of weeks, because they have seven games against the Royals before September 4th, so it's going to be interesting to see the twins. Joe Ryan going down really hurts them, but Bailey Ober has been amazing recently. The Royals in their own right have won 12 of the last 18. They have the best player in this division and Bobby Witt Junior by a nose over Jose Ramirez. But he is the best here, I think it's going to be a three team race down to the wire. One item of note the Guardians do have three games left against the White Sox. Both the twins and the Royals are done with the White Sox. And that's a big deal, because both of them went 12 and one this season against the White Sox. You know the Guardians, it's interesting. How about being second in the league in team era. But you're starting pitchers are 12th in the league in ERA. That's because their bullpen is the best in the sport, period. With a 2.67 ERA and their closer Emmanuel Clase, has been so good that he's now in the Cy Young conversation with Tarik Skubal and Corbin Burnes. This is an offense that's seventh in baseball in runs scored, their third in stolen bases. Most of the offense comes from Ramirez and Naylor, but the starting pitching is a big question mark down the stretch. Now the Minnesota Twins are a fascinating team because they win with their power, but not the power we were expecting when the season started, right. They're fourth in baseball in both home runs and Ops. But it's Ryan Jefferson, Carlos Santana that lead them in home runs. So why isn't it Royce Lewis or Byron Buxton or Carlos Correa? Well because we've watched them on the IL. In fact, Buxton's only played 90 games this year. Royce Lewis, 46, and Carlos Correia, 75. The key to the twins down the stretch is going to be the health of those three stars. If those guys can stay healthy, they're going to win this division. Now for Kansas City, I'm a believer. I think they're going to get the third wild card. I'm telling you, they're fourth in the American League in runs scored. Nobody strikes out less than this offense. Bobby Witt is top three player in baseball with Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani already with 25 homers and 25 steals. And how many teams can say they have four starting pitchers that have started between 22 and 25 games, all with Eras of three, three or less? Seth Lugo, Colon Reagan Brady, singer Michael Walker have all done it. Kansas City believe in them. They're going to make the playoffs as that third wild card team. Sorry, Seattle. Sorry Boston. Great stuff as always Jim Bowden Matt Snyder guy certainly appreciate it. By the way. You can check out the bottom tier of Matt Schneider's Power rankings on CBS sports dot com. Take a look at t notable MLB games tonight.