Cards lead, Jays climb in Power Rankings

Randal Grichuk has a .901 OPS in 79 games for the Cardinals this year, taking a regular turn in the outfield ever since Matt Holliday was hurt. Now, with more outfield injuries, Stephen Piscotty (.806 OPS) has stepped into the lineup to keep the Cardinals clicking.

Key Injuries: RHP Adam Wainwright (Achilles), 1B Matt Adams (quad), LF Matt Holliday (quad), CF Jon Jay (wrist)

The Pirates have similarly received big production out of a player that didn't open the season in the starting lineup. SS Jung Ho Kang has an .821 OPS, second-best on the team (behind only Andrew McCutchen) and has filled in at both third and shortstop.

Key Injuries: 3B Josh Harrison (thumb), RHP A.J. Burnett (elbow), SS Jordy Mercer (knee).

There are teams that improved at the trade deadline (*cough* Toronto *cough*), but the Royals did really well for themselves. Ace starter Johnny Cueto has a 2.05 ERA in three starts with Kansas City and LF Ben Zobrist is hitting .333 with a 1.016 OPS and three homers in 10 games.

Key Injuries: LHP Jason Vargas (elbow), LF Alex Gordon (groin).

The pitching, which has anchored the Dodgers' success this season, has fallen on hard times, with a staff ERA of 6.04 in August. Not the kind of immediate upgrade that might have been hoped for after adding Alex Wood and Mat Latos to the starting rotation along with Jim Johnson and Luis Avilan in the bullpen.
Key Injuries:  LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (shoulder), RHP Brandon McCarthy (elbow), 3B Justin Turner (infection).

It's hard to imagine a team getting a bigger boost than the Blue Jays did at the deadline, but they've been pitching better for a while now, posting an AL-best 2.37 ERA since the All-Star break. Sure, that's a couple of David Price starts, but R.A. Dickey has been pretty strong too.
Key Injuries: RHP Marcus Stroman (knee), LF Michael Saunders (knee), 2B Devon Travis (shoulder).

The AL West has suddenly turned into a toroise race, as the Astros have dropped six of seven, yet still lead by a game over the Angels. They've made moves to upgrade, but the offence still depends heavily on the left side of the infield, rookie SS Carlos Correa and 3B (former SS) Jed Lowrie.
Key Injuries: RF George Springer (wrist).

Reliever Tyler Clippard has tidied up the late innings, but the Mets' offence hasn't exactly taken off, with rookie OF Michael Conforto and big trade acquisition Yoenis Cespedes combining for a .677 OPS.
Key Injuries: RHP Zack Wheeler (elbow), 3B David Wright (hamstring), RHP Steven Matz (lat).

As hotshot rookie 3B Kris Bryant has cooled lately, the Cubs have found another prolific power bat in LF/C Kyle Schwarber and that's pushing the Cubs, who have won 10 of 11, to contend now.

Key Injuries: None.

The Nationals haven't needed to make big additions -- they just need their walking wounded to get healthy and play to their capability. RHP Stephen Strasburg took a step in that direction, but 2B Anthony Rendon (.713 OPS), 1B Ryan Zimmerman (.708 OPS) and especially LF Jayson Werth (.559 OPS) are still trying to get there.
Key Injuries: None.

None of the Angels' outfield additions -- Shane Victorino, David Murphy or David DeJesus -- has done a thing, and now the Angels have to hope that RHP Jered Weaver can help down the stretch after coming off the DL.
Key Injuries: RHP Tyler Skaggs (elbow), LHP C.J. Wilson (elbow)

Losing RHP Mike Leake to the DL after one start isn't ideal, but it's also not expected to be a serious injury. Getting swept in a four-gamer at Wrigley might be a more pressing concern.

Key Injuries: RHP Tim Hudson (shoulder), RHP Tim Lincecum (forearm), 2B Joe Panik (back), RHP Mike Leake (hamstring).

The Orioles didn't do much, adding OF Gerardo Parra, who is a really good defender, but his hitting comes and goes, but they're hanging around, just two games behind the Angels for a wild card spot.
Key Injuries: None.

Still competitive and scoring in bunches in the second half, with SS Asdrubal Cabrera, OF Grady Sizemore, 3B Evan Longoria, INF Logan Forsythe and C Curt Casali all posting an OPS of .890 or better since the break.  
Key Injuries: RHP Alex Cobb (forearm), LHP Drew Smyly (shoulder), CF Desmond Jennings (knee), RF Steven Souza (finger), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (hamstring).

The pitching has been better -- 3.47 ERA since the All-Star break -- and it's keeping the Diamondbacks competitive; getting some power production from C Welington Castillo (eight homers in his past 12 games) goes a long way too.
Key Injuries: C Tuffy Gosewisch (knee), RHP Archie Bradley (shoulder).

Shed some salary, though sent money to Atlanta to make it happen, in a deal that brought 3B Chris Johnson to the Tribe. CF Abraham Almonte should get a good audition in centre field down the stretch.
Key Injuries: RHP Gavin Floyd (elbow), 2B Jason Kipnis (shoulder).

If the Jays don't have room for them, the A's might. 3B Danny Valencia and LHP Felix Doubront made it to Oakland. Not so fast, Kawasaki.

Key Injuries: RHP A.J. Griffin (elbow), RHP Jarrod Parker (elbow), RHP Sean Doolittle (shoulder).
 

3-9 in the past dozen games, with RHP Jeff Samardzija getting rocked in his last two starts, ought to end playoff aspirations.
Key Injuries: None.

Going 3-7 following the non-waiver deadline should seal the Padres' fate too. Of course, the only one it may surprise is Padres GM A.J. Preller.
Key Injuries: LHP Cory Luebke (elbow), RHP Brandon Morrow (shoulder), CF Wil Myers (wrist), 2B Cory Spangenberg (knee).

On the road for seven more and, even if 1B Miguel Cabrera can make it back, it's probably too late to matter for the Tigers, who weren't getting enough pitching before they traded David Price. The good news? LHP Matt Boyd has been effective (2.92 ERA) in his first two starts with Detroit.

Key Injuries: RHP Joe Nathan (elbow), 1B Miguel Cabrera (calf).

It's audition time in the Cincinnati rotation, and there have been some positives -- Raisel Iglesias, David Holmberg, Keyvius Sampson and Anthony DeSclafani have all been decent -- but that's a lot of learning on the job.
Key Injuries: RHP Homer Bailey (elbow), SS Zack Cozart (knee), C Devin Mesoraco (hip).

It's not getting a lot of play, since it's happening for the also-ran Brewers, but RHP Taylor Jungmann has been great, posting a 2.26 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 11 starts.
Key Injuries: None.

Young lefties Henry Owens and Eduardo Rodriguez are the future (and now the present) of the Red Sox rotation, not tough to improve on what the vets have offered this season.

Key Injuries: C Christian Vazquez (elbow), 2B Dustin Pedroia (hamstring), RHP Clay Buchholz (forearm), CF Mookie Betts (concussion), RHP Rick Porcello (triceps), RHP Koji Uehara (wrist).

Utility man Derek Dietrich has shifted to left field, in order to keep his .872 OPS in the lineup. He also has 10 RBI total, with seven home runs, in 46 games this season.

Key Injuries: RHP Henderson Alvarez (shoulder), RF Giancarlo Stanton (wrist), RHP Jose Fernandez (arm).

SS Jose Reyes isn't setting the world afire in his return to the National League, hitting .209 with a .495 OPS in Colorado.
Key Injuries: RHP Tyler Chatwood (elbow), RHP Adam Ottavino (triceps), 1B Justin Morneau (concussion), LF Corey Dickerson (foot), RHP Jordan Lyles (toe).