Power Rankings: This popular team returns to the Top 5

As we enter the last full week of the regular season, a team that was previously at the top for quite some time has risen back into the Top 5.

The Yankees have turned a corner down the stretch after some bumps, but they’re not the only ones turning on just in time for the postseason.

Here, the penultimate edition of the 2022 regular season Power Rankings:

Top 5 Power Rankings:

1) Dodgers (106-47, last week: 1)

The Dodgers clinched the No. 1 spot in the NL and home court advantage all the way to the NLCS with their victory over the Cardinals. Aside from having the best offense in the majors, the Los Angeles club’s staff has the best ERA in the majors — and could get more help soon. The Dodgers are hopeful that Tony Gonsolin and David Price can be reinstated before the postseason. Additionally, Clayton Kershaw has shown that he’s back to his usual self after returning from the disabled list, going 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in seven starts in September. One point that could alarm Los Angeles would be the closer job, after Craig Kimbrel was removed from that role this weekend.

2) Astros (101-53, last week: 2)

Houston’s squad is close to clinching the No. 1 spot in the American League — and they’ve shown no signs of letting up. They are 12-3 in their last 15 games and haven’t lost any of their last eight series. After Monday’s bye, the Astros will return home to close out the season with an eight-game stay — and then they can look forward to hosting ALDS Games 1 and 2. In other words, Houston won’t play any games outside of Minute Maid Park until Oct. 15.

3) Mets (97-57, last week: 3)

Remember when the Mets were swept at home by the Cubs a few weeks ago? Well, instead of panicking, the New York team has won eight of its next 10 games since then to enter the final full week of the regular season atop the NL East with a 1.5-game lead. . Pete Alonso continued his impressive campaign during the 13-4 rout of the A’s, batting 4-for-5 with five RBIs to lead the Old Circuit with 128 RBIs, now a franchise record.

4) Braves (95-58, last week: 4)

Despite losing the first two games in Philadelphia, the champions rallied to split the series after rallying for the second day in a row. Atlanta has a couple of key injuries to draw attention to for the rest of the season, though Ronald Acuña Jr. apparently erased some of the concerns raised by his back ailment by pinch-hitting on Sunday and hit a key hit after missing the previous three clashes. The other Braves star to watch is starter Spencer Strider, who was sidelined after experiencing left oblique strain. His absence would definitely be a blow to Atlanta’s chances of capturing the NL East title, but there’s hope the rookie is ready for the postseason.

5) Yankees (94-58, last week: 6)

Aaron Judge kept waiting against the Red Sox over the weekend en route to his 61st home run, but that can’t overshadow the fact that the Bombers are back on full throttle. They have won seven games in a row, including one slide of four delivered to the Redfoots, improving his magic number to two to clinch the AL East. That means the Bronx squad could win the division as early as Monday, when they kick off a three-game series in Toronto. Judge’s 61st homer may come on the same day New York clinches just its second AL East crown in the last 10 seasons.

Voters: Alyson Footer, Anthony Castrovince, Paul Casella, Mark Feinsand, Nathalie Alonso, Mike Petriello, Sarah Langs, Andrew Simon, David Venn, Brett Blueweiss