The MLB playoff picture is starting to heat up as we roll in the middle of September 2022. As you look around Major League Baseball, as many as 16 teams are still alive in the playoff picture and MLB Wild Card race.

In the American League nine teams out of 15 teams are alive with just under three weeks left in September. In the National League seven of the 15 teams are alive including three teams fighting for the top spot in the NL East division.

 

At the top of the Top 10 MLB Teams September 2022 rankings list is the Los Angeles Dodgers who continue to hold on to the best record in all of baseball.

As the Dodgers continue to cruise in route to another NL West title, the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets continue to battle it out in the NL East.

Meanwhile over in the American League, the Houston Astros have surged to top of the pack while the New York Yankees fall just behind them in the hunt for October. Here is a look at the Top 10 MLB Teams September 2022 rankings list.

Honorable Mention

Cleveland Guardians

Landing just outside of the Top 10 MLB Teams September 2022 rankings list is the American League Central division leaders the Cleveland Guardians.

The Guardians are currently the only division leading team to miss the Top 10 but are also the only division leader to have fewer than 80 wins.

Despite the lack of wins, the Guardians continue to be the best team in the AL Central while holding onto a slight 2.5 game lead over the Chicago White Sox as play starts on Monday September 12th, 2022.

San Diego Padres

Despite landing one of the best players in all of baseball before the MLB trade deadline in Juan Soto, the San Diego Padres still find themselves at the bottom of the NL playoff picture.

In addition, the Padres currently sit 20 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL west with just 21 games left on their 2022 MLB schedule. Nonetheless, the Padres have a talented roster built around Soto as well as NL MVP candidate Manny Machado. 

Top 10 MLB Teams

10. Toronto Blue Jays

After a tough stretch of play in late July and August, the Toronto Blue Jays continue to position themselves into the AL Wild Card spot.

Over the past two weeks there is no team hotter than the Blue Jays in baseball as they have won eight of their past 10 games to push their record to 78-60 on the year.

Overall, on the year the Blue Jays have pierced themselves with strong play at the plate as well as solid pitching. Currently the Blue Jays rank 8th in the baseball with 169 home runs, 5th in runs batted in (638), 3rd in doubles (270), 11th in earned run average (3.89) and tied for 9th in WHIP (1.23). 

9. Philadelphia Phillies

The playoff race is heating up in the NL East as the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves continue to battle for the top overall spot.

However, another team sitting just behind them in the standings while looking to make a run for one of the NL Wild Card spots is the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies have won six of their past 10 contests to push their overall record to 78-62 on the year.

Add in the return of former NL MVP Bryce Harper and the Phillies are a team to watch as the 2022 MLB schedule wraps up play.

8. Tampa Bay Rays

Arriving at number eight on the Top 10 MLB Teams September 2022 rankings list is the Tampa Bay Rays who currently sit just behind the New York Yankees within the AL East.

The Rays are a talented team with one of the best pitching staffs in all of baseball that has been able to carry the load for most of the 2022 MLB season.

Leading them on the mound is AL Cy Young award hopeful Sandy Alcantara who ranks within the Top 10 in most pitching statistics. 

Overall, the Rays rank 4th in baseball with a 1.14 WHIP, 3rd in fewest earned runs allowed with 457, 8th in wins with 78, and 4th in team earned run average with a 3.34 mark.

7. Seattle Mariners

Possibly the hottest team in baseball over the past month or two of the MLB season has been the Seattle Mariners who continue to win ball games.

Overall, the Mariners currently sit at 79-61 on the year after winning seven of their last 10 games while keeping them alive within the AL West division.

Headlining the team’s success in 2022 is their All Star rookie Julio Rodriguez who continues to shine among the games best despite being just 21 years old.

In addition to the play of Rodriguez the Mariners have seen a wide range of other players put together strong seasons including the team’s bullpen that is as good as any in baseball.

6. St. Louis Cardinals

When you look at each MLB team’s roster it is hard to find one that the St. Louis Cardinals roster can stack up against.

Starting with their NL MVP candidate Paul Goldschmidt who continues to rank near the top offensive categories in the NL including home runs, runs batted in, and batting average.

The Cardinals have won seven of their last 10 contests to push their lead to eight games within the NL Central. Along with Goldschmidt, the Cardinals are led by fellow All-Star Nolan Arenado, Yadier Molina, Adam Wainwright, and future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols. 

5. New York Yankees

At number five on the Top 10 MLB Teams September 2022 rankings list is the New York Yankees. The same Yankees team that sat at the top of Major League Baseball for nearly half of the 2022 MLB season.

Despite landing at number five, the Yankees roster is as good as any in baseball led by AL MVP candidate Aaron Judge.

The Yankees entered play the week of September 12th, ranked 3rd in all of baseball in earned run average (3.28), 4th in shutouts (14), 1st in home runs (221), and 4 in runs batted in (663).

4. Atlanta Braves

Could we be seeing a replay of the 2021 MLB World Series season? As time will tell, the Atlanta Braves continue to make a push for the NL East much like they did years ago behind strong pitching and hitting.

On the mound the Braves have received strong starting pitching from multiple members including Kyle Wright who leads all of baseball with 17 wins while Max Fried ranks 10th with 12 wins, Ian Anderson and Spencer Strider each picking up 10 wins.

At the plate, the Braves rank 2nd in runs batting in with 666, 2nd in home runs with 214, and 4th in doubles with 259.

3. New York Mets

As the month of September continues to slowly march past, the New York Mets continue to hold on to the NL East.

This includes after the team’s recent stretch of play that saw the team win two of three against the NL leaders the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and Miami Marlins.

Over the team’s last 10 games the Mets have picked up six wins while pushing their overall record to 89-52 on the year.

The Mets have been strong at the plate but even stronger on the mound leading all of baseball with 18 shutouts through their first 141 MLB games, while also ranking tied for 6th in earned run average with a .352 mark.

2. Houston Astros

The Houston Astros is the second team in Major League Baseball to reach the 90-win mark and the only other team to have a double-digit lead over the second-place team within their division. 

Over their past 10 games, the Astros have won seven of their 10 to stay atop the AL West while the Mariners continue to make a push within the division.

With the strong success on the mound including from Justin Verlander, the Astros currently rank 2nd in baseball with a 2.97 earned run average while holding opponent hitters to just a .213 overall batting average.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

At the top of the Top 10 MLB Teams September 2022 rankings list is the Los Angeles Dodgers as they continue to be the hottest team in all of baseball.

As you look around at the success of the Dodgers, they have done it both at the plate and on the mound. Currently the Dodgers lead all of MLB in run differential while outscoring their opponents by 310 runs.

To cap off those numbers the Dodgers currently lead MLB in opponents batting average (.210) and earned run average (2.88). At the plate the Dodgers rank 2nd in doubles (291), 4th in home runs (190), and 1st in runs batted in (723).

How would you rank these rookies so far this season? Rank below to be added in the MLB Power Rankings

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