MLB Power Rankings, Award Tracker: After Dodgers, dark-horse contenders shuffle rankings

Each week, The California Post will power rank MLB’s 30 teams and check in on one intriguing awards race.Records as of Saturday morning.This time last year, the Dodgers were mired in an incomprehensible slump.

This year? They’ve recovered from a temporary blip (getting swept going into the All-Star break) by winning back-to-back series against the Yankees and Phillies.(Last week: 1st)Brandon Woodruff is done for the year.

But Jacob Misiorowski returned quickly from some pre-All-Star-break arm fatigue.Keeping him healthy the rest of the year has become more important than ever.

(Last week: 2nd)Tampa Bay continues to pace a mediocre American League and could be on track for a No.1 playoff seed for the first time since 2021.

(Last week: 3rd)After slumping through most of June and early July, the Braves have steadied themselves, winning six of eight coming out of the All-Star break.They’re also close to finally getting Ronald Acuña Jr.

back.Now if they can add some pitching at the deadline … (Last week: 7th)Two months ago, Pete Crow-Armstrong was batting in the .220s with an OPS below .700.

Now? He’s the MLB leader in wins above replacement, according to FanGraphs, more valuable than even Shohei Ohtani in his two-way role.(Last week: 6th)We always knew the Yankees were Aaron Judge-dependent.

But in his continued absence, the offense struggling this badly — they have scored more than three runs just once since the All-Star break, and more than five just twice in the last month — has nonetheless been a surprise.(Last week: 5th)The Phillies’ sustained midseason turnaround has finally hit a little bit of a snag, after post-All-Star-break series losses to the Mets and Dodgers.

Of all the league’s true contenders (basically, the first seven teams in these rankings), they might have the most to do at the deadline still.(Last week: 4th)What a couple weeks it’s been in Boston, where a Red Sox team that once seemed left for dead has suddenly regained...