For the first time since 1992, the Pittsburgh Pirates will not finish below .500. It’s even probable that they will finish significantly above .500 and could win a very competitive N.L. Central. Even still, that’s not enough to get them to the top of the XN Sports MLB Power Rankings. It’s hardly good enough to even keep them in the top five.
That’s because the four teams ahead of them haven’t done enough to to warrant them sliding behind the Bucs. The Braves and Dodgers maintain the top two spots, while the Red Sox leapfrog the Tigers for third thanks to an 8-2 record over a relatively tough stretch. The rest of the top 10 is filled with two more N.L. Central teams, two A.L. West teams, and an A.L. East team trying desperately to gain some footing before being in danger of falling out of a playoff spot.
At this time of year, the pennant race is forced to share the national sports headlines with the start of the NFL season. With kickoff this week, these MLB power rankings have a pinch of football flair. Find out which NFL team these MLB squads would be if they traded leagues.
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