MLB power rankings: Athletics are for real, Yankees stumble

Scott Boeck | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption MLB playoff race: Red Sox just keeping winning After sweeping the Yankees, it's clear the Boston Red Sox own the American League, but the National League is wide open.

The Oakland Athletics, riding a six-game win streak, are threatening to shake up the American League West standings and wild-card race as they rise up the power rankings.

The A's, with a major league-best 33-10 record since June 16, are four games back of the Houston Astros in their division and 2 1/2 behind the New York Yankees for the top wild-card spot.

How have the A's, now ranked a season-high fifth in USA TODAY Sports' MLB power rankings, done it?

They have the fourth-best ERA (3.84) in the AL, an MLB-best 21-9 record in one-run games and are the only team with an unbeaten record when leading after the seventh (45-0) and eighth innings (53-0).

Meanwhile, the Astros are coping with several injuries, which could include All-Star outfielder George Springer, who exited Sunday's loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers after hurting his left thumb on a headfirst slide. Houston, which is 4-6 in its last 10 games, is already without second baseman Jose Altuve, shortstop Carlos Correa, catcher Brian McCann and pitchers Lance McCullers Jr. and Chris Devenski -- all of whom are on the disabled list.

A look at the voting from 1 to 30:

TEAM. MOVEMENT

1. Boston Red Sox (--)

►After four-game sweep, lead Yankees by 9 1/2 games in AL East, but play six more times in September.

2. Houston Astros (+1)

►Roberto Osuna gets second chance with defending champions.

3. New York Yankees (-1)

►Aaron Judge is still experiencing pain in his wrist and has yet to resume swinging a bat.

4. Chicago Cubs (--)

►El Mago: NL MVP candidate Javier Baez having breakout season.

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5. Oakland Athletics (+3)

►Khris Davis leads the majors with 22 RBI since the All-Star break and is tied for the lead with 10 home runs.

6. Cleveland Indians (+1)

►Newcomer Leonys Martin proving his worth as the No. 9 hitter.

7. Milwaukee Brewers (-1)

►Night and Day: 4-14 on Sundays and 17-28 in day games while 48-22 in night games.

8. Los Angeles Dodgers (-3)

►Matt Kemp, who led the league in batting in early June, is in a 1-for-40 slump.

9. Arizona Diamondbacks (--)

►Downhill baseball: 44-19 when offense scores first.

10. Philadelphia Phillies (-1)

►Aaron Nola's 2.37 ERA is third lowest in the NL among qualifiers.

11. Atlanta Braves (+1)

►34-17 against NL East opponents with a +85 run differential.

12. Seattle Mariners (-3)

►Felix Hernandez, with a 5.58 ERA and a career-low strikeout rate, fighting to keep rotation spot.

13. Colorado Rockies (--)

►Rocky road: Of the 16 series remaining, all but two are against teams at or above .500.

14. Washington Nationals (+3)

►Bryce Harper has driven in 14 runs in 15 games; he's hit .367 since the break.

15. Pittsburgh Pirates (--)

►Embark on a 10-day, nine-game road trip to play Rockies, Giants and Twins.

16. St. Louis Cardinals (-2)

►With a revamped bullpen, relievers have a 1.58 ERA over the past 10 games.

17. San Francisco Giants (+2)

►Dereck Rodriguez has become an NL Rookie of the Year contender.

18. Tampa Bay Rays (-2)

►The Rays have faced 12 former starting pitchers this season.

19. Los Angeles Angels (-2)

►Mike Scioscia, MLB's longest-tenured manager, to step down after season.

20. Minnesota Twins (+1)

►Jose Berrios doing his best Johan Santana impersonation.

21. Toronto Blue Jays (-1)

►Josh Donaldson making "rapid progress," but not fast enough.

22. Cincinnati Reds (--)

►Matt Harvey returns to Citi Field, but is not scheduled to pitch in the three-game series.

23. Detroit Tigers (+1)

►Offense has been shut out an MLB-high 15 times this season.

24. Texas Rangers (-1)

►Free agent signings Matt Moore and Doug Fister have combined to go 2-13 with a 6.17 ERA.

25. New York Mets (+1)

►The offense has scored eight runs in the last 51 innings Jacob deGrom has pitched.

26. Miami Marlins (-1)

►On a six-game losing streak.

27. Chicago White Sox (+1)

►Have lost a major league-high 26 games by five or more runs.

28. San Diego Padres (-1)

►Roster space beginning to open for influx of call-ups.

29. Kansas City Royals (--)

►-200 run differential is by far the worst in the majors -- by 42 runs.

30. Baltimore Orioles (--)

►The worst team in baseball doesn't need to worry about who closes games.