Dodgers plummet in Post Power Rankings even after Tarik Skubal trade

Each week, the California Post will power rank MLB’s 30 teams and check in on one intriguing awards race.This week, we’re looking at how much the rankings shook up in the wake of the trade deadline (records through Saturday morning).The Brewers reportedly, supposedly, allegedly made a “strong push” to try to land Tarik Skubal.

It didn’t work.For now, the important thing, of course, is that they have the majors’ best record, are holding off the red-hot Cubs in the NL Central and are going to roll the dice in the crapshoot of October once again this year.

But will a Jacob Misiorowski, Dustin May, Kyle Harrison rotation be enough once they get there? Time will tell.(Last week: 2nd)Amid a series of mostly smaller moves at the deadline, the Braves have played some of their best baseball of the season.

A recent eight-game winning streak helped them leapfrog the Dodgers for the No.2 seed in the NL.

Their 8 ½-game division lead is also the biggest in the majors.It’s the kind of form they’ll have to tap back into in October to make a deep run.

(Last week: 4th)If the Cubs’ deadline pitching additions hadn’t cemented their status as legitimate contenders, then their three-game sweep of the Dodgers certainly did.Granted, it might be too late for Chicago to catch up in its division.

And they still don’t have a bona fide ace.But their rotation (now plus Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes) and lineup (headlined by ascendant MVP candidate Pete Crow-Armstrong) are deep and impressive.

And if this week was any indication, they could pose a threat in a postseason series.(Last week: 5th)For a season that once felt so lost, GM Craig Breslow went stunningly all in.

Gone, it seems, are half the club’s highest-ranked prospects.In, they hope, is a reinforced roster that — given how long their stunning 32-5 run has gone on now –– might actually be a real World Series contender.

(Last week: 7th)Freddy Peralta and the Rays really do feel like a perfect deadli...