MLB Power Rankings: Jays, Cards Pushing Forward

Sep 1, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starter

(21) delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s take a moment and recognize the insanity that is Zach Greinke and just say it like it should be: he deserves the National League MVP award.

Baseball could be looking at a LA Dodger pitcher winning the award for the second straight year. It’s hard to imagine this but Greinke is actually having a better year than the reigning NL Cy Young and MVP Award winner, Clayton Kershaw. Let’s look into this:

2014 Kershaw

21-3, 1.77 ERA, 7.5 WAR, 239 K’s, 6 CG

2015 Greinke

15-3, 1.59 ERA, 8.0 WAR, 169 K’s, 1 CG

As much credit as Paul Goldschmidt, Anthony Rizzo, Andrew McCutchen, Bryce Harper and Nolen Arenado deserve no one is having a better season and providing more value to their team. Goldschmidt is the best all-around candidate for the award outside Greinke but has slumped since the All-Star break, hitting .287 with 6 HR and 27 RBI’s which is a far cry from his first half numbers. Bryce Harper is having an incredible season, but his team that was supposed to be a World Series contender is struggling to stay above .500 and make the playoffs. Rizzo could be an interesting dark horse as he’s led the Cubs to an incredible turn-around season where they are competing for the both a Wild Card spot and the stacked NL Central.

Still, no one tops Greinke.

Yes, he is lucky to be pitching with Kershaw, but think of all the chaos and utter disappointment the rest of the Dodgers rotation has been. They have struggled to pull-away in a weak NL West and without Greinke having the year he’s had, the Dodgers don’t make the playoffs, that’s clear to see.

With that brief rundown out of the way let’s get into this Labor Day’s MLB Power Rankings.

Biggest Jump: Brewers (3 spots)

Biggest Drop: Athletics & Braves (2 spots)

Next: CREAM OF THE CROP