In the August Power Rankings of the National League, the Dodgers are still the number one team. The National League West is stocked at the top, while the Chicago Cubs are starting to surge.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers are 79-32. The team is on pace to break their single season record for team wins. The team won 105 games back in 1953 but has a legitimate shot to win close to 110 games this season with nearly two months left in the season. At the trade deadline, the Dodgers traded for Yu Darvish to bolster one of the best rotations in the league.
2. Washington Nationals
The Nationals are 66-45, and recently took a series against the Chicago Cubs. Bryce Harper collected his 150th career home run recently and he is just 24 years old. Harper could be the back-to-back MVP this season with the way he is playing. The Nationals traded for two relievers to help their bullpen. Of course, they have their 13 game lead in the division.
3. Colorado Rockies
The Rockies are technically third in their division but have 64 wins on the year. The Rockies traded for Jonathan Lucroy before the trade deadline. The Rockies are battling the Diamondbacks for home field advantage in the wild card game and should be the team that reigns supreme.
4. Arizona Diamondbacks
Even though the Rockies are rated higher, it is by a slim margin. The teams are tied in winning percentage, and it could go either way. As long as the team's rotation stands strong, then Arizona has a shot to take out the Rockies, but Colorado has the more potent lineup. The key to Arizona is the rotation.
5. Chicago Cubs
The Cubs went from being five games back in the Central to being 1.5 games over the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs traded for Jose Quintana, Justin Wilson, and Alex Avila at the deadline to completely cash out their farm system. The Cubs have been going back and forth, but the Cubs have been in this position before, and have the players to hold on to their lead.
6. Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers did not make a move at the deadline because they believed their future was more important. However, the Brewers are hanging around. Being just 1.5 games behind the Cubs, the Brewers could swing it back their way. The team does not play the Cubs this month, but it could set up for an interesting September.
7. St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals are a game above .500 and three games behind the Cubs. The Cardinals stayed pat at the deadline. Lance Lynn could have been flipped to a contender, but the Cardinals decided to keep their future free agent. The Cardinals have been an average team, but who knows, so were the Cubs until July.
8. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates are just four games back in the division and one game under .500.
They are just as interesting as the Cardinals because the team could turn it on at any given moment to give the Cubs a challenge. If one could copy and paste the Cardinals reasoning here, we would because the teams are so alike.
9. Miami Marlins
The Marlins didn't dump as many players as they would have liked. The only deals they made at the deadline were with AJ Ramos and David Phelps. The team decided to hold on to Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna, and Dan Straily despite reports of them being on the market since June.
10. Atlanta Braves
The Braves have had an improvement this season, but the team is still nine games under .500. At 51-60, the team has given some young prospects playing time. With money on the horizon, the Braves could have a nice offseason, and a nice draft pick next year.
11. San Diego Padres
The Padres are 29.5 games out of the division lead. It would not matter, but it's crazy how good the Dodgers are. The Padres are still a bottom team in the division, as they will be next season.
12. New York Mets
The Mets have won as many games as the Padres. Both teams have won 50 games. The Mets have the brighter future as the team has suffered many injuries. It's a wonder that this team made the World Series two years ago.
13. Cincinnati Reds
The Reds are in last place in the Central. However, at least they are better than the Giants and the Phillies.
14. San Francisco Giants
The Giants have won 44 games this year. The Giants have a chance to compete next year if general manager Brian Sabean is serious about retooling the roster to contend next year.
15. Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies have the worst record in the majors with 41 games. There are no signs of the Phillies getting better.
