Cardinals cling to MLB power rankings lead over Blue Jays

The Cardinals have survived through a number of injuries and should get a boost if they can work Randal Grichuk and Matt Holliday into more regular playing time down the stretch, though it's hardly been necessary given the effectiveness of Stephen Piscotty and Tommy Pham. If only one of them could catch to fill-in for an injured Yadier Molina.

Key Injuries: RHP Adam Wainwright (Achilles), 1B Matt Adams (quad), C Yadier Molina (thumb).

If Marcus Stroman is really going to pitch like this -- 3.00 ERA, 1.08 WHIP in two starts -- then the Blue Jays' become an even more formidable threat in the postseason. Though, it does bear noting that his strikeout rate and velocity are down from his rookie season. It's understandable, as he works his way back from a torn ACL, but needs to be taken into consideration too.
Key Injuries: LF Michael Saunders (knee), 2B Devon Travis (shoulder), SS Troy Tulowitzki (back).

Even after losing back-to-back games to the Pirates, the Dodgers have won 18 of their past 25 games, and a big reason for the surge has been star rookie SS Corey Seager, who is hitting .379 with a 1.082 OPS in September.
Key Injuries:  LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (shoulder), RHP Brandon McCarthy (elbow), RF Yasiel Puig (hamstring).

While MVP should remain beyond his grasp, outfielder Yoenis Cespedes has been a great fit with the Metropolitans, hitting 17 homers and posting a .966 OPS in 46 games since coming over from Detroit.
Key Injuries: RHP Zack Wheeler (elbow).

Losing SS/3B Jung Ho Kang to a knee injury, on a takeout slide by the Cubs' Chris Coghlan, is a big hit to the Pirates' lineup. Among Pittsburgh's regulars, only CF Andrew McCutchen (.906) had a better OPS than Kang's .816 mark.

Key Injuries: SS Jung Ho Kang (knee).

The addition of RHP Johnny Cueto has not played out as hoped, with Cueto struggling (2-6, 5.12 ERA, 1.41 WHIP) in 10 starts. If he can't right the ship, the Royals won't have enough on the hill to mount a serious playoff run.

Key Injuries: LHP Jason Vargas (elbow).

According to Fan Graphs, the second-best WAR among pitchers this season belongs to the Cubs' Jake Arrieta, and it's his emergence as an ace that makes the Cubs a dangerous matchup in the postseason. That, and rookie sluggers LF Kyle Schwarber and 3B Kris Bryant, who rank second and third, respectively, behind 1B Anthony Rizzo in OPS for the Cubs.

Key Injuries: None.

Going 6-12 in September has cost the Astros the AL West lead, and leaves them only 2.5-games ahead of the Angels and Twins in the Wild Card race.
Key Injuries: None.

Seven wins in eight games keeps the Nationals' hopes on life support, but they've blown what could have been a great season. Potentially wasting Bryce Harper's breakout year is all the more frustrating.
Key Injuries: None.

This isn't an atypical Giants team and it's been a decent season, but the pitching, aside from LHP Madison Bumgarner, hasn't been strong enough.

Key Injuries: RHP Tim Lincecum (forearm), 2B Joe Panik (back), RF Hunter Pence (oblique).

A three-game set in Houston could determine the Angels' season and while they haven't been nearly consistent enough to think that they belong in the postseason, the possibility can't be discounted.
Key Injuries: RHP Tyler Skaggs (elbow), LHP C.J. Wilson (elbow)

A 19-10 record over the past month puts the Indians within striking distance of a Wild Card berth. and half of their remaining 14 games are against a Minnesota team that is in that race too.
Key Injuries: RHP Gavin Floyd (elbow), RHP Cody Anderson (oblique).

While the Rays have fallen from contention, they are getting big production out of C J.P. Arencibia, who has five homers and is hitting .327 with a 1.006 OPS in 19 games since getting called up. After he hit 22 homers with a .702 OPS at Triple-A, though, it might not last.
Key Injuries: RHP Alex Cobb (forearm).

It's too late to matter for this season, but the Red Sox have been getting some big production out of young players. Since the All-Star break, 1B Travis Shaw (.908 OPS), CF Jackie Bradley Jr. (.988 OPS), RF Mookie Betts (.816 OPS) and SS Xander Bogaerts (.799 OPS) have all been impressive at the plate.

Key Injuries: C Christian Vazquez (elbow), RHP Clay Buchholz (forearm), RHP Koji Uehara (wrist), LF Hanley Ramirez (shoulder).

For a pitching-starved team, the Diamondbacks can at least take solace in the progress from LHP Patrick Corbin, who has a 2.99 ERA in 14 starts, coming back from Tommy John surgery.
Key Injuries: C Tuffy Gosewisch (knee).

The pitching hasn't been good enough to hold up, with Kevin Gausman's 3.98 ERA the best among starters since the All-Star break.
Key Injuries: None.

The White Sox pinned their rotation hopes, not unreasonably, on LHP Chris Sale and RHP Jeff Samardzija, but both have been hit hard in the second half of the season. The White Sox were already out of the running at that point, but still.
Key Injuries: None.

Fading down the stretch, the Padres are 9-18 in their past 27 games. For all their attempted improvements, the lineup has too many holes to keep winning consistently.
Key Injuries: LHP Cory Luebke (elbow), RHP Brandon Morrow (shoulder), CF Wil Myers (wrist), 1B Yonder Alonso (back).

As the Tigers flail down the stretch, they still get offensive production out of 1B Miguel Cabrera, 2B Ian Kinsler and LF J.D. Martinez, but the pitching has been disastrous, posting a 5.42 staff ERA since the All-Star break.

Key Injuries: RHP Joe Nathan (elbow), RHP Anibal Sanchez (shoulder).

There aren't a lot of positives to take from the A's lineup, but 3B Danny Valencia has an .881 OPS while playing as a regular since coming over from Toronto.

Key Injuries: RHP Jesse Hahn (forearm), RHP Kendall Graveman (oblique), 1B Ike Davis (hip), RHP Jesse Chavez (rib).
 

While most of the season has been a disappointment for the Marlins, it's been a great year for 2B Dee Gordon, who has 53 stolen bases, a .770 OPS and a 4.1 fWAR.

Key Injuries: RHP Henderson Alvarez (shoulder), RF Giancarlo Stanton (wrist), RHP David Phelps.

A respectable 10-8 record in the past 18 games is a sign of life from the Rockes, who have received okay pitching performances from RHP Chad Betts (3.51 ERA) and LHP Jorge De La Rosa (3.98 ERA) since the All-Star break.
Key Injuries: RHP Tyler Chatwood (elbow), RHP Adam Ottavino (triceps), RHP Jordan Lyles (toe).

Lost in the Reds' horrendous season is that 1B Joey Votto has a .558 on-base percentage since the All-Star break. Crazy.
Key Injuries: RHP Homer Bailey (elbow), SS Zack Cozart (knee), C Devin Mesoraco (hip), CF Billy Hamilton (shoulder).

The Brewers have turned to David Stearns to be the new GM. He's 30-years-old. Talk about building for the future.
Key Injuries: None.

Losing six straight games, the Phillies have scored a total of five runs in the last five.

Key Injuries: LHP Cliff Lee (elbow), 3B Maikel Franco (wrist), 2B Cesar Hernandez (thumb).