MLB power rankings for start of September

By Rick Morris

NOTE: Mid-August rankings are in parentheses.

TOP TIER

1 Cincinnati (2)

2 Texas (4)

3 Washington (1)

4 San Francisco (9)

5 NY Yankees (3)

6 Oakland (13)

7 Atlanta (5)

8 Baltimore (10)

9 Chicago White Sox (12)

10 Tampa Bay (6)

11 St. Louis (11)

12 LA Angels (15)

13 LA Dodgers (7)

14 Detroit (14)

15 Pittsburgh (8)

SECOND TIER

16 Arizona (17)

17 Philadelphia (21)

18 Milwaukee (24)

19 San Diego (20)

20 Seattle (23)

21 NY Mets (19)

22 Boston (16)

23 Miami (22)

24 Toronto (18)

25 Kansas City (27)

THIRD TIER

26 Minnesota (26)

27 Cleveland (25)

FOURTH TIER

28 Colorado (29)

29 Chicago Cubs (28)

FIFTH TIER

30 Houston (30)

BIGGEST RISERS: Oakland (7 spots), Boston and Toronto (6 spots), San Francisco (5 spots), Chicago White Sox, LA Angels and Seattle (3 spots)

BIGGEST FALLERS: Pittsburgh (7 spots), LA Dodgers and Milwaukee (6 spots), Philadelphia and Tampa Bay (4 spots)

RANKINGS BY DIVISION – AVERAGE PER TEAM OF 1 POINT PER RANKING SPOT, LOWEST SCORE IS BEST

1 AL WEST 10

2 AL EAST 13.8

3 NL EAST 14.2

4 NL WEST 16

5 NL CENTRAL 17.5

6 AL CENTRAL 20.2

RANKINGS PER LEAGUE

1 AL 44

2 NL 47.7