Each week, the California Post will energy rank MLB’s 30 groups and verify in on one intriguing awards race. Records as of Saturday morning:

1) Brewers (80-49)

Last week, we dropped the beforehand top-ranked Brewers beneath several groups (including the Dodgers). So, proper on cue, they turned around and won a collection at Dodger Stadium, then another against the Mariners, then a Friday night time opener against the Braves. Thus, we are course-correcting this week and placing Milwaukee back atop the rankings. (Last week: 4th)

Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Luis Lara (18) and heart fielder Garrett Mitchell (5) pour water on catcher William Contreras (24) after beating the Atlanta Braves at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Friday, August 21, 2026. (This asset – including all textual content, audio and imagery – is supplied by Imagn Images. Reuters Connec) IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

2) Dodgers (78-51)

The Dodgers have not made life simple on themselves these days. But, as Mookie Betts put it this week, they’ve gotten back to profitable the “big moments” again — which has helped them win 4 in a row for the first time in virtually a month. (Last week: third)

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Tommy Edman, heart, celebrates with Kiké Hernández and Dalton Rushing after hitting a walk-off single during the tenth inning of a baseball recreation against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, August 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

3) Cubs (74-55)

It’s a good factor the Cubs made some walk-off magic in back-to-back video games against the White Sox this week. Because outside of that, they’ve won just one other recreation in their last eight and are letting the Brewers drift away from them again in the NL Central standings. (Last week: 2nd)

4) Rays (76-52)

Just when it regarded like Tampa Bay was starting to coast to the No. 1 seed in the American League, the Rays have cooled off (barely), while the Yankees have heated up (extraordinarily). Thus, the Rays’ cushion is back down to three video games. The stretch run could get fascinating. (Last week: 1st)

5) Yankees (73-55)

The Yankees are still banged up, particularly after Max Fried returned to the injured listing this week. But, they are also lastly back on a roll, profitable 5 straight video games this week (with only the partial assist of the left- discipline foul pole in Baltimore). (Last week: sixth)

6) Braves (75-54)

Like the Rays, the Braves stay in first place. But, they’ve also allowed the NL East race to rapidly become fascinating again. Atlanta is in a severe rut now, with losses in six of eight video games (including a sweep by the Twins). They’ve pulled out of tailspins before, but the Phillies are back on their heels. (Last week: fifth)

7) Phillies (71-58)

Speaking of the Phillies, there is no hotter group now in the relaxation of the majors. They’ve won seven in a row. Their new-look lineup has scored at least six runs in all but one of these wins. And they’re back within 4 video games in the NL East. And even if they don’t win the division, they are reemerging as an October risk. (Last week: tenth)

8) Padres (69-60)

The Padres have had magical second-half runs in current reminiscence. This 12 months, they could be gearing up for another one. The group has won 19 of its last 26 video games. They’re getting superstar-level manufacturing out of Fernando Tatis Jr. again. And commerce deadline acquisitions Casey Mize and Robbie Ray are beginning to pitch higher. (Last week: eighth)

9) Red Sox (69-59)

It wasn’t as spectacular as their 32-5 run, but the Red Sox responding from a five-game shedding streak with a 5-3 stretch this week felt virtually as vital, as they attempt to present they are more than a group that got scorching for a month. (Last week: seventh)

10) White Sox (67-61)

There are no ethical victories in walk-off losses, particularly when they occur on back-to-back nights against your cross-city rival. Good factor the White Sox bounced back with a walk-off win over the Mets on Friday and proceed to develop their AL Central lead. (Last week: ninth)

11) Diamondbacks (68-61)

Where artwork thou, Ketel Marte? The infielder went MIA in Boston this week, was positioned on the restricted listing and now is on the injured listing with a knee damage (one that evidently isn’t protecting him from the on line casino). It’s not the first time Marte has invited drama into a Dbacks season. And once again, the state of affairs is threatening to derail the group’s playoff push. (Last week: eleventh)

Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte runs to the dugout during a recreation at Truist Park in Cumberland, Georgia, on Sunday, August 16, 2026. (This asset – including all textual content, audio and imagery – is supplied by Imagn Images. Reuters Connec) IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

12) Astros (65-64)

August is virtually over, and still no one seems to need to win the AL West. That’s at least how it regarded while the Astros slumped their method through a 1-4 stretch this week in which they scored just 14 runs and gave up 18 in one recreation alone (to the Angels, no less!). They stay in first, but that’s only thanks to the incompetence surrounding them in the standings. (Last week: twelfth)

13) Cardinals (66-64)

JJ Wetherholt should most likely have the NL Rookie of the Year Award locked up. But, like the Cardinals, he has cooled off considerably in the second half. The story of a younger participant (and younger group) beginning to run out of steam. (Last week: 14th)

14) Marlins (65-64)

We had some competitors for worst call of the week, but the Marlins were in rivalry after having what should’ve been a bases-loaded, game-tying double in Philadelphia this week initially dominated foul, then getting only two runs after video replay partially reversed the call. As they cling to the fringes of the playoff race, these are the breaks they want to get. (Last week: thirteenth)

15) Rangers (64-65)

Corey Seager might be lastly discovering something. After hitting just .267 in his first 13 video games back from the injured listing, the five-time All-Star has strung collectively 5 straight two-hit video games. The Rangers have survived most of this season with out him. Maybe he can be the key to someone lastly pulling away in the AL West. (Last week: twentieth)

16) Twins (63-66)

The Twins just hold hanging around, incomes perhaps their greatest collection outcome all 12 months by sweeping the Braves at house this week. We still aren’t positive if their choice to purchase at the deadline was prudent (they stay on the outside trying in on the AL wild-card race), but at least they are protecting their season fascinating. (Last week: sixteenth)

17) Blue Jays (63-67)

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is coming back from the injured listing. And now couldn’t be a higher time for him to begin enjoying like an MVP candidate again (or, at least, hitting some house runs at Rogers Centre). Even amid his dismal season, the Blue Jays stay in playoff rivalry. (Last week: seventeenth)

Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. gestures to followers during the ninth inning of a baseball recreation against the New York Yankees on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in New York. (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

18) Orioles (62-67)

Pete Alonso was having a high-quality debut season in Baltimore. But this month, he’s hit another gear, belting seven house runs (tied for second most in the majors in August behind only Pete Crow-Armstrong) and posting a 1.147 OPS (trailing only Wilyer Abreu). The O’s will want more of that to mount their own wild-card push. (Last week: twenty second)

19) Guardians (63-66)

This is the Guardians’ time to make a transfer, with the schedule giving them the Giants, Rockies, Angels and Royals consecutively. They have began the stretch 3-1. They might want to keep that clip to get back into a wild-card spot. (Last week: twenty third)

20) Pirates (63-67)

It’s been another week of Paul Skenes hypothesis in Pittsburgh, after his delayed begin against the Tigers ended with one out in the fifth. His regression has been half of a bigger slide by the Pirates that has knocked them just about out of the playoff race. (Last week: 18th)

21) Mariners (61-68)

Didn’t think the Mariners’ season could get any worse? Hope you didn’t tune in to their historic 22-0 shellacking against the Brewers. Now, it’s time to see if the Kade Anderson Hail Mary can save their playoff hopes. (Last week: twenty fourth)

22) Tigers (61-67)

The Tigers are going to get an rapid reunion with Tarik Skubal, who is lined up to pitch next weekend in Detroit. But whether they will still be vying for a playoff spot by then is trying uncertain, after they lost six of seven this week. (Last week: fifteenth) 

23) Nationals (61-69)

Hello to Cade Cavalli, the right-handed starter who has thrown 14 scoreless innings with 21 strikeouts over his last two outings. The 28-year-old is becoming a member of the listing of causes the Nationals should be in place to be aggressive next season. (Last week: twenty first)

24) Reds (61-68)

Silly us. Last week, we puzzled if the Reds were actually out of playoff rivalry. Then, they lost six of eight to make positive of it. Time to look toward next 12 months in Cincinnati — though, they most likely realized that a while in the past. (Last week: nineteenth)

25) Mets (58-71)

Hey, the Mets lastly did some profitable this week! That is, until, Jefry Yan gave up a walk-off houser after prematurely celebrating a strikeout with his leaping, trademark leg kick. That felt more like the Mets we’ve come to know this 12 months. (Last week: twenty fifth)

Jefry Yan did his strikeout celebration in the ninth inning on a pitch that was called a ball.

After the recreation, Andy Green said that the feelings got to Yan and that he will be taught not to bounce before the play ends. pic.twitter.com/S5TOnDQ4JC

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 22, 2026

26) Royals (56-74)

Speaking of groups doing some sudden profitable, the Royals have reeled off six in a row. Though, it must virtually really feel annoying to followers to see that occur now. (Last week: twenty seventh)

27) Giants (52-76)

Rafael Devers is returning to Fenway Park this weekend for the first time since last 12 months’s commerce. We’ll take a guess and say there isn’t much remorse over that deal in Boston anymore. (Last week: twenty sixth)

28) Rockies (50-78)

In the Moral Victory of the Week Award, the Rockies saved it shut while getting swept by the Dodgers. Unfortunately, that also marked their nineteenth straight winless collection against the two-time defending champions, a franchise file. Manager Warren Schaeffer wasn’t joyful about it. (Last week: twenty ninth)

29) Angels (51-78)

Congratulations to the Angels, who have dug their method out of the backside spot of the rankings — er, at least have watched another group dig themselves even decrease. (Last week: thirtieth)

30) Athletics (49-80)

We don’t have much more to add about this A’s season. They’ve dropped 5 in a row. Their scoring differential is virtually 60 runs worse than anyone else. And even in a traditionally weak American League, they are flirting with an unthinkable 100-loss marketing campaign. (Last week: twenty eighth)

Award Tracker: National League Cy Young

1) Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers (13-5 file, 1.68 ERA, 216 strikeouts, 145 innings)

Barring an unexpected setback, Misiorowski is operating away with this award. He is on tempo for the second-lowest ERA this century (behind only Zack Greinke in 2015) and is 20 strikeouts clear of any other pitcher in the majors. His dominance is the single-biggest purpose to believe in the Brewers as a legit risk to the Dodgers.

Milwaukee Brewers beginning pitcher Jacob Misiorowski, left, celebrates after placing out Los Angeles Dodgers’ Tommy Edman during the sixth inning of a baseball recreation Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Los Angeles. (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

2) Cristopher Sánchez, Phillies (16-4 file, 2.51 ERA, 187 strikeouts, 161.2 innings)

Speaking of threats to the Dodgers, the Phillies’ rotation also stays one — thanks in giant half to the spectacular season Sánchez has put collectively. He is main the league in wins and trailing only Sandy Alcantara in innings. Between him, Jesus Luzardo and Zack Wheeler, the Phillies have the starters to take a look at anyone in October.

3) Chris Sale, Braves (12-9 file, 2.20 ERA, 166 strikeouts, 135 innings)

Sale doesn’t have fairly the workload of other contenders in this race, but he is separating himself with a dominant second half, having allowed just 9 runs over 40 innings in his last seven begins.