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By Ben Verlander
FOX Sports activities MLB Analyst
The canine days of August are upon us, and the playoff image is beginning to take form.
Some divisions are already just about locked up, however there are many tight races across the league.
Let’s dive into this week’s MLB Prime 10.
The Dodgers and Astros lead Ben’s MLB Energy Rankings
Ben Verlander breaks down this week’s MLB Energy Rankings, with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros and New York Mets staying on prime of the listing.
Watch “Flippin’ Bats with Ben Verlander” on YouTube, or subscribe on podcast platforms, together with Apple Podcasts.
As a workforce, the Blue Jays are hitting .271 vs. the opposing workforce’s starters, which is tied for one of the best mark within the majors. They haven’t been firing on all cylinders offensively, although, and in the event that they aren’t outscoring everybody, they in all probability aren’t going to win numerous video games with their rotation.
Toronto desperately wanted a brand new beginning pitcher on the commerce deadline, and the group didn’t get it achieved. So right here they’re, in the course of August, struggling to hold on to a playoff spot.
It appeared just like the Padres had been going to take off and propel themselves into the playoffs after buying Juan Soto, however issues have not precisely gone as deliberate.
The workforce made enormous strikes on the deadline, including Soto, Josh Bell, Josh Hader and Brandon Drury, however San Diego is enjoying beneath .500 because the deadline. And the most important blow of all got here when it was introduced that star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. was suspended 80 video games for a violation of the league’s Efficiency-Enhancing Drug Coverage.
The Padres ought to nonetheless be adequate to get to the playoffs, however they need to play higher than they’re proper now.
What Fernando Tatis Jr.’s PED suspension means for San Diego
Ben Verlander dives into Padres celebrity Fernando Tatis Jr.’s 80-game suspension for testing constructive for performance-enhancing medicine and what this implies for the revamped Padres.
Since making a managerial change, the Phillies are 41-22 (.651). They’ve additionally been unbelievable since buying David Robertson and placing him into the nearer function, which had been an enormous want for them.
For the reason that All-Star break, the Phillies are additionally tied for one of the best save proportion in baseball, at 87.5%.
The Cardinals addressed what they wanted to on the commerce deadline, and it has been understanding properly for them. They’ve gained seven of their previous 10 video games, together with an enormous collection over the weekend in opposition to their counterparts on the prime of the NL Central, the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Cardinals bought higher on the deadline, and the Brewers didn’t. Proper now, that’s the distinction within the division.
The Mariners are an MLB-best 27-14 (.659) in one-run video games this season. Their bullpen has been lights-out, and their rotation, led by Luis Castillo, goes to be an issue for opposing groups down the stretch.
I’m an enormous believer on this Mariners workforce. I believe they’ll match up effectively with nearly anybody come playoff time, because of the three guys on the prime of the rotation: Robbie Ray, Logan Gilbert and Castillo.
The Yankees proceed to scuffle and have been downright dangerous because the All-Star Sport. They’re definitely higher than how they have been enjoying, however a regression to the imply was to be anticipated from this Yankees rotation.
This workforce shall be positive, however the Yankees should play higher than the stretch they’re on proper now, successful simply two of their previous 11 video games. Nonetheless, the Bronx Bombers will simply win the AL East.
Will Aaron Choose break the Yankees’ house run report?
Ben Verlander performs “Take it or depart it” on “Flippin’ Bats” and solutions the arduous hitting questions, together with whether or not Aaron Choose will break the New York Yankees’ house run report and Blake Snell is again in Cy Younger kind.
The Braves are on a roll, having gained six in a row heading into this week. They kick off an enormous collection in opposition to the Mets on Monday, and if they’ll’t work out the way to beat their division rivals, they could discover the NL East out of attain.
Nonetheless, the Braves’ newcomers have been an enormous blessing for them this season and are an enormous motive this workforce is headed for the playoffs, whether or not through successful the division or grabbing the highest NL wild card.
The Mets are lastly near 100%, and the addition of Jacob deGrom has been the intense spot they had been hoping for. The rotation has been masterful since his return, and the mix of Max Scherzer and deGrom has been unbeatable.
The Mets have all of the makings of a World Collection workforce, and it’s only a matter of how they are going to fare come October.
Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Edwin Diaz make Mets World Collection contenders
Ben Verlander breaks down three causes the New York Mets are a World Collection-caliber workforce, starting with Jacob deGrom’s and Max Scherzer’s dominance on the mound and ending with one of the best nearer in baseball, Edwin Diaz.
Homeowners of one of the best report within the American League, the Houston Astros are rolling alongside. Lance McCullers Jr. returned for the primary time this season and was masterful in his debut, hanging out 5 and never permitting a run over six innings.
The Astros don’t have a weak point: Their rotation is unbelievable, their bullpen has had one of the best ERA in baseball for a lot of the season, their protection ranks within the prime three, and their offense is top-10 in most classes. This workforce is a drive to be reckoned with.
Houston Astros proceed to dominate the AL as Yankees battle
Ben Verlander explains why the Houston Astros are the highest workforce within the American League, with their continued dominance as Justin Verlander leads the pitching employees and the Yankees proceed to battle.
The Dodgers simply had a 12-game successful streak come to an finish Sunday. With each win by a number of runs, it was one of the spectacular successful streaks I’ve ever seen.
The Dodgers have been dominant in each sense of the phrase. That stated, they bought an enormous blow Monday, when it was introduced that their ace, Walker Buehler, is about to endure season-ending elbow surgical procedure. However make no mistake: The Dodgers are one of the best workforce within the league proper now.
Right here’s to a different nice week of Main League Baseball!
Ben Verlander is an MLB Analyst for FOX Sports activities and the host of the “Flippin’ Bats” podcast. Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Verlander was an All-American at Outdated Dominion College earlier than he joined his brother, Justin, in Detroit as a 14th-round choose of the Tigers in 2013. He spent 5 years within the Tigers group. Comply with him on Twitter @BenVerlander.
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