MLB power rankings for mid-August

By Rick Morris

NOTE: Start of August rankings are in parentheses.

TOP TIER

1 Atlanta (7)

2 Boston (3)

3 Detroit (6)

4 Texas (10)

5 LA Dodgers (11)

6 Pittsburgh (4)

7 Cincinnati (9)

8 St. Louis (5)

9 Oakland (2)

10 Tampa Bay (1)

SECOND TIER

11 Baltimore (8)

12 Kansas City (15)

13 Cleveland (12)

14 NY Yankees (13)

15 Arizona (14)

THIRD TIER

16 Washington (16)

17 Colorado (18)

18 Seattle (17)

19 Toronto (21)

20 NY Mets (24)

21 Philadelphia (19)

22 San Diego (20)

23 LA Angels (22)

24 Milwaukee (27)

25 Minnesota (25)

26 Chicago Cubs (23)

27 San Francisco (26)

FOURTH TIER

28 Chicago White Sox (29)

29 Miami (28)

FIFTH TIER

30 Houston (30)

BIGGEST RISERS: Atlanta, LA Dodgers and Texas (6 spots), New York Mets (4 spots), Kansas City and Milwaukee (3 spots)

BIGGEST FALLERS: Tampa Bay (9 spots), Oakland (7 spots), Baltimore, Chicago Cubs, Detroit and St. Louis (3 spots)

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

1 AL EAST 56

2 NL CENTRAL 71

3 AL CENTRAL 79

4 AL WEST 84

5 NL WEST 86

6 NL EAST 87

RANKINGS PER LEAGUE

1 AL 219

2 NL 244