While their playoffs hopes might be running on fumes, the Kansas City Royals (No. 15 to No. 13) and New York Yankees (No. 16 to No. 14) both continue to move up the rankings.
At the bottom of the rankings, the Atlanta Braves have moved out of the last spot for the first time since Week 12. The Braves have won six straight games and no longer have baseball's worst record. That distinction now belongs to the Minnesota Twins, the new No. 30 team in the rankings.
This week's voters are Jim Bowden of ESPN Insider, Eric Karabell of ESPN Fantasy, Tim Kurkjian of ESPN, David Schoenfield of the SweetSpot Blog Network/ESPN.com and Jayson Stark of ESPN.com. Most of the team comments come courtesy of the SweetSpot Blog Network.
Past rankings: Week 21 | Week 20 | Week 19 | Week 18 | Week 17 | Week 16 | Week 15 | Week 14 | Week 13 | Week 12 | Week 11 | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | Week 1 | Preseason
1. Chicago Cubs
Record: 88-48Week 21 ranking: No. 1
In 16 innings in their four-game series against the Giants, Cubs relievers gave up no runs, striking out 17 and giving up only three hits and two walks. -- Joe Aiello (@VFTB), View from the Bleachers
2. Texas Rangers
Record: 82-55Week 21 ranking: No. 3
In back-to-back series against the Mariners and Astros, the Rangers seized control of the AL West, all but assuring that they can shift their focus toward wrapping up the best record in the American League. -- Brandon Land (@onestrikeaway), One Strike Away
3. Washington Nationals
Record: 79-57Week 21 ranking: No. 2
Daniel Murphy continues to rake against his former team. After hits in all three games this past weekend, Murphy has a hit in every game (16) he has played against the Mets this season. In those 16 games he's hitting .397 with seven homers and 21 RBIs. -- ESPN.com
4. Cleveland Indians
Record: 79-56Week 21 ranking: No. 5
The Indians entered the last month of the regular season with a full head of steam, sweeping the Twins and Marlins. Old favorite Coco Crisp returned to the club, and ace Corey Kluber was named the AL pitcher of the month for August. #RollTribe. -- Stephanie Liscio (@stephanieliscio), It's Pronounced Lajaway
5. Toronto Blue Jays
Record: 77-59Week 21 ranking: No. 4
Francisco Liriano has been temporarily moved to the bullpen to see if he's a viable option there in the postseason. Toronto was 33-19 during July and August before starting September 1-2. -- Diane Firstman (@dianagram), Value Over Replacement Grit
6. Boston Red Sox
Record: 76-60Week 21 ranking: No. 7
After getting back to a tie for first in the AL East on Saturday, the Red Sox fell back behind the Blue Jays with a tough loss to the A's on Sunday. Boston was shut out Sunday after scoring 27 runs in the first two games in Oakland. -- ESPN.com
7. Los Angeles Dodgers
Record: 76-60Week 21 ranking: No. 6
Clayton Kershaw's rehab assignment Saturday went well enough that he'll start Friday night against Miami. Los Angeles, just four games over .500 since the All-Star break, can thank the Giants' majors-worst record over that span for putting them in first. -- Diane Firstman (@dianagram), Value Over Replacement Grit
8. Baltimore Orioles
Record: 74-62Week 21 ranking: No. 9
Is Kevin Gausman maturing precisely when the Orioles need him most? Since the All-Star break, Gausman has posted a 2.73 ERA in nearly 60 innings while striking out about 10 batters per nine innings. He already has surpassed his career high in innings pitched by more than 30, and he's showing no signs of slowing down. -- Matt Kremnitzer (@mattkremnitzer), Camden Depot
9. San Francisco Giants
Record: 73-63Week 21 ranking: No. 8
Despite posting one of baseball's worst records in the second half, San Francisco finds itself only three back of Los Angeles. In perhaps a postseason preview, Madison Bumgarner got the best of Jake Arrieta and the Cubs on Saturday in an outstanding game. -- Jeff Wiser (@OutfieldGrass24), Inside the 'Zona
10. Detroit Tigers
Record: 74-62Week 21 ranking: No. 11
It's been an up-and-down first season in Detroit for Justin Upton, but he's gotten hot at a good time with seven homers and 18 RBIs in his past 14 games. Over that stretch, the Tigers are 10-4. -- ESPN.com
11. St. Louis Cardinals
Record: 71-64Week 21 ranking: No. 10
It was a so-so week (3-3) for the Cardinals at a bad time of the season for that. With the Mets playing better, St. Louis' hold on the final wild-card spot in the NL is down to just one game. -- ESPN.com
12. Houston Astros
Record: 72-64Week 21 ranking: No. 12
The Astros are essentially out of it in the AL West race (9½ games behind the Rangers), but seven wins in their last 10 games has kept them in the wild-card hunt, where they are two games behind the Tigers and Orioles. -- ESPN.com
13. Kansas City Royals
Record: 70-66Week 21 ranking: No. 15
As well as the Royals have played over the past few weeks, it looks like it might be coming a little too late in the season. After losing two of three to the Tigers, Kansas City's playoff chances stand at just 2.6 percent. -- ESPN.com
14. New York Yankees
Record: 70-65Week 21 ranking: No. 16
With a sweep-averting win Sunday afternoon against Baltimore, the Yanks' playoff chances are a scant 2.6 percent. The Yankees need only 11 wins in their final 27 games to avoid their first losing season since 1992, much to the dismay of so many who wrote this team off so long ago. With AL player of the month Gary Sanchez leading the way, the not-so-distant future looks bright. -- Jason Rosenberg, It's About the Money
15. New York Mets
Record: 71-66Week 21 ranking: No. 18
In his first 24 games as a Met, Jay Bruce batted .162, striking out 26 times. However, he has hit safely in his past five games, batting .421 (8-for-19) with one double, two home runs, four RBIs and three runs scored. -- Joe Janish, (@metstoday), MetsToday.com
16. Pittsburgh Pirates
Record: 67-67Week 21 ranking: No. 17
In limited duty, Matt Joyce (posting a .924 OPS) has been a key reason why the Pirates are still in the hunt for the playoffs. In "high leverage" situations this year, Joyce's OPS has been .963. -- Ryan P. Morrison (@ryanpmorrison), Inside the 'Zona
17. Seattle Mariners
Record: 69-67Week 21 ranking: No. 13
Robinson Cano reached another milestone when he doubled Saturday, becoming only the fourth player in MLB history with 30-plus doubles in 12 or more consecutive seasons. The pitching staff gave up 50 runs in a 1-5 week. The bad probably outweighed the good. -- Jeff Wiser (@OutfieldGrass24), Inside the 'Zona
18. Miami Marlins
Record: 68-69Week 21 ranking: No. 14
On Saturday, Miami fell back to .500 for the first time since May 1. The offense has collapsed, scoring only 57 runs in 19 games between Aug. 15 and Sept. 4. -- Diane Firstman (@dianagram), Value Over Replacement Grit
19. Colorado Rockies
Record: 65-71Week 21 ranking: No. 20
For the feel-good story of the week we head to Colorado, where 29-year-old Stephen Cardullo hit the first homer of his career on his birthday (Aug. 31) in the first game of a doubleheader against the Dodgers. He followed it up by hitting a grand slam in the second game. Cardullo, who made his big league debut on Aug. 26, spent the past four seasons in independent ball before signing with the Rockies in January. -- ESPN.com
20. Chicago White Sox
Record: 65-71Week 21 ranking: No. 19
It's not hard to imagine a 2017 version of the White Sox that could contend, especially with Carlos Rodon looking like yet another top-of-the-rotation starter. Since recording only one out in his third start of the season, Rodon has averaged more than six innings per start, with a 8.51 K/9 and 2.49 BB/9. -- Ryan P. Morrison (@ryanpmorrison), Inside the 'Zona
21. Los Angeles Angels
Record: 61-75Week 21 ranking: No. 26
The Angels have won eight of 10 and are playing .500 baseball (23-23) since the All-Star break. Albert Pujols continues to climb up the all-time homer list, hitting Nos. 587, 588 and 589 over the weekend. -- ESPN.com
22. Philadelphia Phillies
Record: 60-76Week 21 ranking: No. 21
The Phillies announced Saturday that they are shutting down Vince Velasquez for the season after the righty reached 131 innings. It was an encouraging first season in Philly for Velasquez, who went 8-6 with a 4.12 ERA and 152 strikeouts. -- ESPN.com
23. Tampa Bay Rays
Record: 58-77Week 21 ranking: No. 25
Since the All-Star break, the Rays have seen their positional players post the sixth-highest WAR in the game, according to FanGraphs, which pairs nicely with the ninth-best starting pitching. Unfortunately, the 4.20 ERA allowed by the relievers comes in 23rd, and is an obvious position to improve upon for next year's club. -- Jason Hanselman (@sandykazmir), The Process Report
24. Milwaukee Brewers
Record: 60-76Week 21 ranking: No. 22
Milwaukee's starting pitching shined a few times this week. Matt Garza had a dominant start against St. Louis, going seven innings, striking out eight and giving up only one run. Junior Guerra followed that up with a strong showing in his first start since coming off the disabled list, throwing 3 1/3 scoreless innings on a pitch count against Pittsburgh. -- Gabe Stoltz (@Stoltzy3), Disciples of Uecker
25. Oakland Athletics
Record: 58-78Week 21 ranking: No. 23
Before Sunday's 1-0 walk-off win over the Red Sox, the A's had lost five straight, getting outscored 40-8. -- ESPN.com
26. Cincinnati Reds
Record: 57-78Week 21 ranking: No. 24
The Reds were officially eliminated from the NL Central title race this week, and their sixth World Series championship will have to wait until next year. -- Chad Dotson (@dotsonc), Redleg Nation
27. San Diego Padres
Record: 56-80Week 21 ranking: No. 27
Veteran shortstop Alexei Ramirez was released on Sunday after logging a .240/.275/.330 slash line for the season. The Padres still hope to get Tyson Ross (shoulder soreness) on a mound again this season. -- Diane Firstman (@dianagram), Value Over Replacement Grit
28. Arizona Diamondbacks
Record: 58-78Week 21 ranking: No. 28
Center fielder A.J. Pollock wasted no time in reacclimating to the majors. In his first seven games back, he hit .321/.406/.429 with a homer and four steals. Playing five of his first seven games at Chase Field or Coors Field has helped, though he very much appears to be in midseason form. -- Jeff Wiser (@OutfieldGrass24), Inside the 'Zona
29. Atlanta Braves
Record: 54-83Week 21 ranking: No. 30
A winning record since the beginning of August and a six-game winning streak. Atlanta can now sport a legit lineup in which the first seven batters all have an OPS of .720 or higher. That Matt Kemp-aided offense is scoring enough runs to take pressure off Atlanta's young pitching. Good results are following. -- Martin Gandy (@gondeee), Chop County
30. Minnesota Twins
Record: 51-86Week 21 ranking: No. 29
The goal for Minnesota in September is getting top prospects Byron Buxton and Jose Berrios on track so they can end their tough rookie seasons on good notes. Buxton is off to a promising start, with six extra-base hits (three homers) in four games since being recalled. Berrios returns to the rotation Monday. -- Nick Nelson (@NickNelsonMN), Twins Daily
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