For most of the season, our Fastball On SI MLB power rankings poll reflected parity across the league, with the top spot changing on a weekly basis and constant shifting in the top 10. But for the last two weeks, there's no picking against the Milwaukee Brewers, again our consensus No. 1.
Milwaukee has won nine straight games to begin August and is 24-4 since July 6, good for a six-game lead in the National League Central over the Chicago Cubs. Even more impressive, they've been without rising stars like Jacob Misiorowski and Jackson Chourio of late due to injury.
Does that make the Brewers the World Series favorite? It's not quite that simple. The FanDuel Sportsbook still puts the Los Angeles Dodgers (plus-270) and Philadelphia Phillies (plus-650) ahead of the Seattle Mariners and Brewers, both at plus-1000. That more so displays the up-and-down nature of baseball, the value of getting hot at the right time and how there's still a long way to go, rather than a discredit to what Milwaukee has accomplished to this point.
That's without mentioning the Toronto Blue Jays, who have the second-most wins in baseball, or the Detroit Tigers, who've held the best record for the longest time this season. It wouldn't be wise to overlook the perennial power Houston Astros either, as they still lead the AL West after back-to-back series wins on the road. The Padres made several big moves at the deadline to threaten the Dodgers in the West, too.
So with just over six weeks left in the regular season, do the Brewers have what it takes to continue their incredible stretch? Or will talented yet slumping teams figure it out at the right time?
(This poll takes into account votes from three Fastball On SI MLB writers: Brady Farkas, Jack Ankony and Teren Kowatsch . First-place votes are worth 30 points, and last-place votes are worth one point. Ties broken by highest vote or votes, followed by overall win percentage, then head-to-head record. Total points and first-place votes in parentheses.)
Here's how each writer voted.
Comments: Milwaukee is the clear-cut No. 1, with a perfect 9-0 record in August and several thrilling victories. Both New York teams, the Cubs and several others had been ahead of the Brewers in our rankings for most of the season, but the Mets have lost seven straight and the Yankees are 2-7 in August.
The Cubs are 4-5 in August as sluggers like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kyle Tucker, Seiya Suzuki and Michael Busch have collectively cooled off at the same time, allowing Milwaukee to take a six-game lead. Both west division races are shaping up to have close finishes, with the Astros leading the Mariners by a half game and the Dodgers clinging onto a two-game lead over the Padres.
Comments: The Brewers are just flat-out better than everyone else, and they are doing this without Jacob Misiorowski and Jackson Chourio. The Mariners have won nine of 10, can they win their first division title since 2001? And can the Padres catch the Dodgers in the NL West? After taking two of three from the Red Sox, it's looking possible.
Comments: The MLB playoff picture is no closer to having a clearer picture now than it was at the trade deadline. The American League still has several teams firmly in Wild Card contention, as well as the National League, and every division has six games or less of separation between the first and second place teams. Some teams, like the Seattle Mariners and Milwaukee Brewers, have looked like legitimate world beaters since the deadline. The next week might be one of the most crucial of the season in terms of who can create separation and who doesn't.
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