Welcome to the September 6th edition of the Half Street High Heat Power Rankings. Every Tuesday from now until the end of the season, HSHH contributors will submit their individual Top 15 MLB Power Rankings to be averaged out for an official HSHH Power Ranking. Below in parenthesis next to each HSHH contributor’s name you can see what each individual ranked that particular team that week. Also included are some of the thoughts on the teams ranked for each of these contributors. Note- these rankings were compiled before the games were played on Monday.

Do you agree with our rankings? Which HSHH contributor got it right and which HSHH contributor got it wrong?

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (92-42)

Last Week Record: 4-3

Last Week Ranking: 1

Monty (1): They went 4-3 last week and despite losing a series to the Mets, will remain my #1 team.

Danny (1): They lost a series to the Mets, but still hold an 8 game lead over them for homefield advantage. A 4-3 week doesn’t change that they’re still the best team in the NL.

Tyler (1): They just took another series from their one sided “rivalry” with the Padres. Still the best team and it’s not close.

Ryan (1): Their streak of not losing a game by 5+ runs was snapped against the Padres. They had gone 86 losses without it which is just unreal. Bounced back from losing mets series beating up their little brother.

Matt (1)

2. New York Mets (85-50)

Last Week Record: 3-3

Last Week Ranking: 2

Monty (2): I really wanted to drop the Mets after losing a home series to the Nationals, but that mid-week series win over the Dodgers keeps them here.

Danny (3): The fall from #2 to #3 is two fold. First, although they won a series against the Dodgers, they lost a series to the Nationals. It’s hard to lose a series against the Nats. Like you actually have to try. Second, and the bigger of the two concerns, Max Scherzer left his start on Saturday after 5 innings and throwing only 67 pitches. If they lose Scherzer for any period of time at this point in the season, it could possible derail their World Series hopes.

Tyler (3): They won a series against the Dodgers but also just lost a series to the Nats, which is detrimental for any team considering the Nats are a team that any contender should be sweeping with ease. I think that was just a blip in the radar for them considering they looked pretty evenly matched against the Dodgers in a possible NLCS preview, but we’ll see how they fare against another bottom feeder in the Pirates.

Ryan (3): They took 2 of 3 against the Dodgers (won the season series) and immediately lose 2 of 3 to the nationals. Their September is the easiest September in baseball but man is it off to an alarming start.

Matt (3)

3. Atlanta Braves (84-51)

Last Week Record: 5-1

Last Week Ranking: T-3

Monty (3): They lost just one game last week and are now 1 game behind the Mets for the NL East.

Danny (2): They’re still 1 game behind the Mets in the standings, but after staying hot with a 5-1 week, they jump the Mets here.

Tyler (4): They took care of business sweeping the feeble Marlins and now sit only 1 game back of the NL East lead after winning 5 straight. I do still think the Mets are still just a bit better, but this could change quickly. You could interchange these spots right now.

Ryan (2): They took care of the business they needed to and now just one game back. The September 30th showdown with the Mets for the division is going to be amazing.

Matt (4)

4. Houston Astros (87-48)

Last Week Record: 4-1

Last Week Ranking: T-3

Monty (5): The Astros remain at #5 for me after a 4-1 week because the Braves and Cardinals have been just as good.

Danny (4): Another 4-1 week. They’ll head into the postseason as the team to beat in the AL.

Tyler (2): The AL is theirs to lose. Won 7 of their last 10 and took care of business winning a series against the Angels, and naturally the only game they lost they just had to tip their cap because it was started by God (Ohtani) where he went 8 only giving up 1 run.

Ryan (5): It feels weird having them at 5 because they’re so good but you have to respect the Cardinals right now.

Matt (2)

5. St. Louis Cardinals (79-56)

Last Week Record: 5-1

Last Week Ranking: 5

Monty (4): Like the Braves, the Cardinals lost just one game last week and are now being rewarded with a series against the terrible Nationals.

Danny (5): They stayed red hot and have opened up an 7 ½ game lead over the Brewers. I’d still put them as the fourth best team in the NL, but they’re really really good.

Tyler (5): They just keep on rolling. Before the Nats loss Monday, they’d won 4 straight, 8-2 in their last 10, and still have a 3 games at home against the Nats. This team is on fire.

Ryan (4): That lineup continues to cook, Pujols is only 5 away from 700 and the script is in.

Matt (5)

6. Seattle Mariners (76-59)

Last Week Record: 6-0

Last Week Ranking: T-8

Monty (6): The Mariners continue to be hot and they are #6 for me following road sweeps of the Detroit Tigers and AL Central leading Cleveland Guardians.

Danny (6): They didn’t lose last week and have taken 6 of 7 from the Guardians over the past 10 days. They have a tough week coming up against the White Sox and Braves, with the Padres coming into town after that, but the playoff drought looks like it’s going to end this year.

Tyler (6): The AL version of the Cardinals that just won’t lose and hasn’t really lost since the All-Star break. They’ve won 7 straight and 9 of their last 10 games, just finishing off a critical sweep of the Guardians. It would take an extreme collapse for their playoff drought not to end this year. This team is young and scary.

Ryan (6): They got some devil magic going right now, huge sweep of the Guardians.

Matt (7)

7. Tampa Bay Rays (75-58)

Last Week Record: 4-1

Last Week Ranking: 10

Monty (7): The Rays swept the Marlins in a 2-game series midweek before winning a series over the struggling Yankees to draw within 5 games of the AL East lead.

Danny (7): A 4-1 week for the Rays has put them within striking distance in the AL East. They’re just 5 games back of the Yankees. It might be a longshot for them to catch the Yankees with just 30 games to play, but the way the Yankees have been playing, anything is possible.

Tyler (7): They just took a huge series from the hapless Yankees at the Trop and now only sit 5 games back in the AL East. It seriously wouldn’t surprise me to see them win the division at this point.

Ryan (10): A big week for them. Took 2 of 3 against the Yankees and a division that once seemed locked up in June is now winnable for the Rays with them being 5 out.

Matt (10)

8. San Diego Padres (74-62)

Last Week Record: 4-2

Last Week Ranking: T-8

Monty (10): It started out as a great week for the Padres as they won four in a row against the Giants and the opening game of the series with the Dodgers. Then they dropped the last two and the series, making them 4-2 on the week.

Danny (8): They swept the Giants and then lost a series to the Dodgers to finish off a 4-2 week. A solid week nonetheless for a team that needed to get on track quick. They’ll need to take care of business against Arizona this week before another 3-game set with the Dodgers this weekend.

Tyler (8): They took care of business by sweeping the Giants but then lost another series to their daddies in the Dodgers. Not bad, but this team needs to go on a legit run soon and quick.

Ryan (8): I am not punishing them for losing to the Dodgers. Even after that huge deadline for them, that roster still is not close to the Dodgers. 

Matt (8)

9. Toronto Blue Jays (75-59)

Last Week Record: 5-1

Last Week Ranking: 11

Monty (8): They did what they needed to against Chicago and then swept the Pirates to gain ground in the AL Wild Card.

Danny (10): They took care of business against the Cubs and Pirates last week, going 5-1. They’re 2 ½ games up on the Orioles for the final wild card spot with a crucial 4-game series against the O’s starting up on Monday. (Note- they are not 4.5 games up following a double-header sweep of the Orioles on Monday)

Tyler (9): They took care of business and swept the Pirates, but like the Padres this team needs a run quickly.

Ryan (7): It was a big week for them, 5-1 on the week entering September on a strong note, this is a team that cannot afford to lose out on a wild card spot.

Matt (9)

10. New York Yankees (81-54)

Last Week Record: 2-4

Last Week Ranking: 7

Monty (12): On August first they were the first team to 70 wins. Yesterday was September 5th and they just reached their 80th win. They haven’t won a 3-game series since late July.

Danny (9): They went 2-4 against the Angels and Rays last week. They’re just a bad team right now. They have 6 games left against the Pirates and Rangers, but aside from that, there aren’t any “gimmes” left on the schedule.

Tyler (10): The struggles continue for the Yanks after losing a series to the Angels and Rays back to back. They salvaged the final game at the Trop and finally reached 80 wins on September 4th after beginning the month of August with 70, but this team still looks pretty lost, especially their offense which seems to only consist of Aaron Judge.

Ryan (9): I as going to have them below Baltimore to troll but that division lead is dwindling and fast.

Matt (6)

11. Baltimore Orioles (71-64)

Last Week Record: 4-2

Last Week Ranking: 12

Monty (9): The Orioles won both of their series but still somehow lost ground in the AL Wild Card race over the weekend.

Danny (12): They’re fun to watch and somehow their pitching is really really good. They went 4-2 last week and have a golden opportunity to help themselves out with 4 games against the Blue Jays this week.

Tyler (11): They just won a series each from the Guardians and Athletics and keep rolling through a 7-3 last 10. Gunnar Henderson is going to be a star. It’s not magic anymore, this team is almost, if not already here.

Ryan (11): AMERICAS TEAM BABY GUNNAR HENDERSON THE STUD.

Matt (14)

12. Philadelphia Phillies (73-61)

Last Week Record: 1-5

Last Week Ranking: 6

Monty (11): A terrible West Coast road trip to Arizona and San Francisco leaves the Phillies with a 1-5 record for last week.

Danny (11):  A 1-5 week put them behind the Padres and just 2 ½ games over the Brewers for the final wild card spot. They didn’t exactly have a tough schedule last week, but with games against the Marlins then Nationals this week, they should be able to get back on track.

Tyler (12): The patented Phillies September collapse is starting to take shape, as they just lost 5 of their last 6 games after losing a series to the Diamondbacks and then getting swept in San Francisco by the Giants. Luckily they have an easy schedule coming up, but the Giants and Dbacks are also not necessarily difficult to beat. The Phillies September collapse is an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object that I look forward to every year.

Ryan (13): Dropping them way down, got absolutely embarrassed on the west coast trip. Phillies were playing way above who they are and man did they come crashing back down to the mean.

Matt (12)

13. Milwaukee Brewers (71-63)

Last Week Record: 3-4

Last Week Ranking: 14

Monty (13): The Diamondbacks did some damage to teams in our power rankings this week as they won series over both the Phillies and Brewers. But Luckily for the Brewers, other teams had bad weeks.

Danny (13): They’re hanging around, but a 3-4 week against the Pirates and Diamondbacks isn’t going to cut it. The Padres and Phillies are both better teams than the Brewers, but the Brewers have a much easier schedule than the Padres down the stretch, so anything could happen

Tyler (13): They just continue to be a painfully mediocre team. Great pitching, but a lineup that just doesn’t move me whatsoever. They’re 5-5 in their last 10 but just lost 3 of 4 to the Diamondbacks, but the Phillies are falling and the Padres had a middling week so they’re still right in the Wild Card race. They need to get going right now or they’ll miss the playoffs.

Ryan (12): They gained their first game on the Cardinals in 27 games so good for you guys.

Matt (15)

14. Minnesota Twins (68-65)

Last Week Record: 3-3

Last Week Ranking: 15

Monty (14): The Twins managed to lose a series to the White Sox and still gain ground in the AL Central race, which they are now tied for the division lead.

Danny (14): The AL Central STINKS. The reality is that one of these teams will make the playoffs and the Orioles likely won’t. The Twins most likely have the most talent of the 3 Central teams and after a 3-3 week, they’re tied with the Guardians who have now lost 5 straight.

Tyler (14): They are now tied for the top of the AL Central, the absolute worst division in baseball, after the Guardians began freefalling a bit this week. They swept the Giants and Red Sox but then lost a series to the rival White Sox. Still just a very mid team but again so is the entire division.

Ryan (15)

Matt (13)

15. Cleveland Guardians (69-64)

Last Week Record: 1-5

Last Week Ranking: 13

Monty (15): The Guardians lost a series at home to the Orioles and were swept at home by the Mariners. They are now 2-8 over their last 10 and tied with the Twins for the AL Central lead. (Note- after a win and Twins loss on Monday, the Guardians are 1 game up in the AL Central)

Danny (unranked)

Tyler (15): I debated dropping them off the list and putting the White Sox here instead, as they have lost 5 straight and 8 of their last 10 after getting swept by the Mariners and losing a series to the Orioles. But the White Sox didn’t necessarily blow it out of the water this week and are still 2 games back and went 5-5 over their last 10. Other than the Mets and Braves in the NL East, it’s sad that this might be the most exciting division race in baseball right now only because it’s the battle of MID.

Ryan (15): It was a brutal weekend for them and it couldn’t have happened at a worst time.

Matt (11)

15. Minnesota Twins (66-61)

Last Week Record: 3-3

Last Week Ranking: 15

Monty (15): They started the week losing 4 in a row before rebounding with a sweep of the Giants over the weekend. With the White Sox reeling, the Twins remain as the #15 team for me.

Nick (15): I had to pick a 15th team.

Danny (15): They’re the only other team in the league that’s above .500. They started the week by getting swept by the Astros and finished it by sweeping the Giants. Going 3-3 kept them 2 games back of the Guardians with 8 head-to-head matchups between the two clubs still to go.

Tyler (15): Also just a very mid team, they’ve won 3 straight but were essentially freefalling before that. Time will tell with the Minnesota ballclub.

Ryan (15): A team I have been finding excuses to not have in the top 15, but after a sweep they forced my hand and face reality that they belong in the top half.