The National League dominates the MLB transfer deadline. Have the Yankees done enough?
Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports analyzes the Dodgers, Padres and Phillies’ big transfer window, while other teams may have been unable to keep up.
The San Diego Padres may not calm down until they catch up with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Jackson Merrill may not stop hitting crucial home runs until he overtakes Paul Skenes.
The Padres continued their winning streak in the second half this week, going 5-1 on a road trip to Pittsburgh and Miami to make it 16 wins in 20 games since the All-Star break. They are now just 3 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West – and have moved up three more spots in the USA TODAY Sports power rankings.
None of this would be possible without Merrill, the rookie who moved from shortstop to center field on Opening Day and never looked back. Merrill, who turned 21 in April, hit tying home runs in the eighth and ninth innings in back-to-back games to power comeback wins against the Marlins. He now has five tying or leading home runs in the eighth inning or later this season, tying him with Mel Ott and trailing only Frank Robinson among players under 21.
With 3.0 WAR, 17 home runs and an OPS of .814, he can certainly challenge Skenes, the Pirates’ rookie flamethrower who debuted in May, for the title of best NL rookie. And the Padres continue to climb the charts.
A look at our updated rankings:
1. Baltimore Orioles (+1)
2. New York Yankees (+2)
- Starter Clarke Schmidt, who has been out since May 26, says he will be back by the end of the month.
3. Philadelphia Phillies (-)
- JT Realmuto hits his first home run since May.
4. Cleveland Guardians (-3)
- The nine-game lead on June 25 was reduced to 1 ½ before order was restored in Minnesota.
5. Los Angeles Dodgers (+1)
- River Ryan, who posted a 1.33 ERA in four starts, was the last starter to succumb to injury.
6. Milwaukee Brewers (-1)
- Achieved a season-best 18 games over .500, aiming for 2nd place in the NL.
7. Minnesota Twins (-)
- Just as they are approaching the top of the standings, starter Joe Ryan is likely out for the rest of the season.
8. San Diego Padres (+3)
- Leading the majors with a .265 average – something they have never accomplished, not even in the Tony Gwynn era.
9. Kansas City Royals (-)
- Exciting week: Three games against the Twins to make up ground in the standings and the season series.
10. Arizona Diamondbacks (+2)
- Unbeaten in the last 11 series since the end of June.
11. Houston Astros (+2)
- .Spencer Arrighetti strikes out 11.1 batters per nine innings
12. Boston Red Sox (-2)
- Reliever Liam Hendriks is about to begin a rehab assignment.
13. Atlanta Braves (-6)
- There are four pretty big games coming up in San Francisco.
14. Seattle Mariners (-)
- During Julio Rodriguez’s absence, a record of 9-8 was achieved.
15. New York Mets (-)
- The offense needs to get back on track in six games against the A’s and Marlins.
16. San Francisco Giants (+3)
17. St. Louis Cardinals (-1)
- Andre Pallante has allowed two or fewer earned runs in seven of his twelve starts.
18. Tampa Bay Rays (-1)
- Zach Eflin came back to the Trop and beat them, but at least they had put a skate park in left field.
19. Chicago Cubs (+4)
20. Pittsburgh Pirates (-2)
- Paul Skenes has been just human in three starts since the All-Star break – 3.16 ERA, seven walks in 25 ⅔ IP.
21. Texas Rangers (-1)
- Max Scherzer is already on the injured list and now there are concerns about Nathan Eovaldi’s right side.
22. Cincinnati Reds (-1)
- Nick Martinez was reinstated in the rotation and responded with 12 scoreless innings in two starts.
23. Detroit Tigers (-1)
- Held to three or fewer runs in 12 of last 18 games.
24. Toronto Blue Jays (+1)
- Joey Loperfido 4 for his first 32 since his transfer from Houston.
25. Washington Nationals (-1)
- MacKenzie Gore has completely lost the strike zone: 23 walks in his last 29 ⅓ innings pitched.
26. Los Angeles Angels (-)
- Jack Kochanowicz gets his first Major League win in his third career start.
27. Oakland Athletics (-)
- The fiftieth victory corresponds to the total for 2023.
28. Miami Marlins (-)
- Jake Burger has hit 12 home runs since the All-Star break, the best in the major leagues.
29. Colorado Rockies (-)
- Brenton Doyle crosses 20-20; is a 30-30 season on the horizon?
30. Chicago White Sox (-)
- Former manager Pedro Grifol will earn more ($1 million) in 2025 than 17 of the 26 currently active players.
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