ESPN’s final MLB power rankings prior to the trade deadline have been released, with the Braves falling four spots from number seven to eleven after a lackluster performance this past week.
Full rankings and analysis can be found here.Â
Here are ESPN’s top 30Â teams in baseball:
- Houston Astros
- Boston Red Sox
- New York Yankees
- Chicago Cubs
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Cleveland Indians
- Oakland Athletics
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Atlanta Braves
- Colorado Rockies
- Washington Nationals
- Seattle Mariners
- Los Angeles Angels
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Minnesotta Twins
- San Francisco Giants
- Cincinnati Reds
- Toronto Blue Jays
- Detroit Tigers
- Texas Rangers
- New York Mets
- San Diego Padres
- Miami Marlins
- Chicago White Sox
- Kansas City Royals
- Baltimore Orioles
The Braves slide in the rankings should be expected after a week that had double as many losses than it did wins and included a four-game skid in the middle. However, despite the Braves poor showing, they did not lose much ground in the division. The Phillies also struggled, going 3-4 last week, stretching their lead back to 1.5 games in the NL East.
The Nationals may have inched closer to the Braves and Phillies in the power rankings, but the same cannot be said in the standings. Washington was unable to capitalize on the poor weeks of the division leaders, remaining six games back of the Phillies and 4.5 back of the Braves. There are mumblings around the Nation’s capital on whether the Nats will be buyers or sellers at the deadline. With so much talent underperforming, it is hard imagining Washington throwing in the towel with sixty games left in the season. It is also hard to see them throwing away what farm talent they have left for possible short-term success. Expect them to stick with what they have, but it might be too late for that group to make up six games in the season’s final two months.
We are at the point of the tenuous MLB season where every game begins to matter a little more. Atlanta finished the week strong behind a near no-hitter from Sean Newcomb in a 4-1 win over the Dodgers. They will stay at home for a three-game set with the Marlins (No. 27 in the rankings) and then head to New York for a four-game series at Citi Field. The Mets are currently the 25th ranked team in ESPN’s power rankings. The Braves have been able to stomp on the little guys over the course of the season, failing to lose a series to either of these teams to this point. This is a great opportunity for Atlanta  to reclaim first place, as Philadelphia visits Boston to begin their week.