The Los Angeles Dodgers are the latest entrant into the top five this week. While losing two of three to the Miami Marlins was a disappointing way to finish the week, the Dodgers won four of six and finished the week with a 3?-game lead in the NL West.A little lower in the rankings, the New York Yankees moved into the top 10, jumping from No. 14 to No. 9. A loss Sunday to the Tampa Bay Rays put a dent in the Yankees playoff hopes, but theyre still one of baseballs hottest teams. The Yankees won six of seven for the week, but might have to keep playing at a similar clip to keep their playoff hopes alive.This weeks voters are Jim Bowden of ESPN Insider, Eric Karabell of ESPN Fantasy, Tim Kurkjian of ESPN, David Schoenfield of the SweetSpot Blog Network/ESPN.com and Jayson Stark of ESPN.com. Most of the team comments come courtesy of the SweetSpot Blog Network.Past rankings: Week 22?|?Week 21?|?Week 20 |?Week 19 |?Week 18 |?Week 17 |?Week 16 |?Week 15 |?Week 14 |?Week 13 |?Week 12 |?Week 11 |?Week 10 | ?Week 9 |?Week 8 |?Week 7 |?Week 6 |?Week 5 |?Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | Week 1 | Preseason1. Chicago CubsRecord: 91-51 Week 22 ranking: No. 1This figures to be a fun week for the Cubs as they should clinch the division title, and have a chance to do it against St. Louis. Fans also get to see the ongoing saga of?Anthony Rizzo vs.?Wily Peralta. In 32 at-bats against Peralta, Rizzo is hitting .500/.568 /1.250 with seven homers.?--?Joe Aiello (@VFTB), View from the Bleachers2. Washington NationalsRecord: 85-58 Week 22 ranking: No. 3Trea Turner has been worth 2.9 WAR in 54 games. Prorate that over 162 games and youre looking at 8.7 WAR -- or better than Kris Bryants 8.1 162-game rate.?-- David Schoenfield (@dschoenfield), SweetSpot3. Texas RangersRecord: 85-59 Week 22 ranking: No. 2On Sunday, Adrian Beltre clubbed his 28th and 29th home runs of the season, and hes still finding ways to make a name for himself despite a crop of young stars crowding his position throughout the sport. Perhaps more impressive is that, at 37 years of age, Beltre finds himself neck-and-neck with Manny Machado for the title of the ALs best defensive third baseman.?--?Brandon Land (@onestrikeaway), One Strike Away4. Cleveland IndiansRecord:?83-59 Week 22 ranking: No. 4Both Mike Napoli and Carlos Santana cleared the 30-homer threshold this week, the first time the Indians had two players with 30 or more since 2002 (Jim Thome and Ellis Burks). Napolis 32 home runs and Santanas 31 are career highs for both players.?--?Stephanie Liscio, Its Pronounced Lajaway5. Los Angeles DodgersRecord: 80-62 Week 22 ranking: No. 7After seven perfect frames Saturday, Rich Hills Dodgers résumé is as follows: 3-0 with 19 scoreless innings, 20 strikeouts and just two walks. Clayton Kershaw said on Saturday that he was physically fine one day after his first start in more than two months.?--?Diane Firstman (@dianagram), Value Over Replacement Grit6. Boston Red SoxRecord: 80-62 Week 22 ranking: No. 6The Red Sox pulled into first place in the AL East for the first time since late July, and stayed there by taking two of three from the Blue Jays. David Ortiz passed Jimmie Foxx with his 535th career homer, which drove in the go-ahead runs on Sunday, and is now one bomb shy of Mickey Mantle at 17th on the all-time list. --?Ryan P. Morrison (@ryanpmorrison), Inside the Zona7. Toronto Blue JaysRecord: 78-64 Week 22 ranking: No. 5A seven-game trip to Anaheim and Seattle starts Thursday, and then Toronto finishes the season with 10 games against the teams fighting for the AL East and wild card (Yankees, Orioles, Red Sox).?-- Diane Firstman (@dianagram), Value Over Replacement Grit8. Baltimore OriolesRecord: 78-64 Week 22 ranking: No. 8The Orioles, who are two games behind the Red Sox in the AL East and tied with the Blue Jays for the wild-card lead, are in a nice position with 20 games left. But if they want to make the playoffs, theyll have to take care of things in the division. Seventeen of their remaining games are against teams in the AL East, with 13 coming against the Red Sox, Blue Jays and Yankees (all teams still in the playoff hunt).?--?Matt Kremnitzer (@mattkremnitzer), Camden Depot9. New York YankeesRecord: 76-66 Week 22 ranking: No. 14That we are even mentioning playoff odds in mid-September speaks volumes about how well this team has turned it around recently. A seven-game win streak ended on Sunday, dropping the Yanks chances at making the playoffs to 13.2 percent, which is approximately 13.2 percentage points higher than everyone expected at the trade deadline. Meaningful games, people! -- Jason Rosenberg (@Jason_IIATMS),?Its About the Money10. San Francisco GiantsRecord: 77-65 Week 22 ranking: No. 9The Giants lost three of four to the Cubs and two of three to the Rockies, but the Diamondbacks showed up on their schedule just in time. Since Arizona swept San Francisco early in the season, the Giants have gone 13-3 against their division foe, keeping them afloat in the wild-card race. -- Jeff Wiser (@OutfieldGrass24), Inside the Zona11. Detroit TigersRecord: 76-66 Week 22 ranking: No. 10Eight of the Tigers last 10 wins have come by three runs or fewer. The last time they beat their opponent by five runs or more was on Aug. 26. A wins a win, but a blowout win would give the bullpen a rest and might help manager Brad Ausmus hairline.?--?Richard Bergstrom (@rbergstromjr), Rockies Zingers12. New York MetsRecord: 76-67 Week 22 ranking: No. 15Yoenis Cespedes has eight homers and 19 RBIs and is batting .307 since returning from the disabled list on Aug. 19. The Mets are 15-4 in the 19 games he has started since that date.?-- Joe Janish, (@metstoday), MetsToday.com13. St. Louis CardinalsRecord: 75-67 Week 22 ranking: No. 11After splitting four games with the Brewers, the Cards are a half-game behind the Mets for the wild card. Now comes the tough part of the schedule: a series this week against the Cubs at home (where the Cards are just 32-39) and then four in San Francisco. -- David Schoenfield (@dschoenfield), SweetSpot14. Houston AstrosRecord: 75-68 Week 22 ranking: No. 12Carlos Correa batted just once on Sunday after missing the previous four games with inflammation in his shoulder. He was replaced by a pinch-hitter in the fourth.?-- David Schoenfield (@dschoenfield), SweetSpot15. Seattle MarinersRecord: 75-68 Week 22 ranking: No. 17The Ms made up some ground by taking three of four from the Texas Rangers and then all three from the Oakland As. They remain in the wild-card hunt, but time is running short. Key series loom with Houston (six games) and Toronto (three games). -- Jeff Wiser (@OutfieldGrass24), Inside the Zona16. Kansas City RoyalsRecord: 74-68 Week 22 ranking: No. 13Talk about hot: In his past 11 games, Kendrys Morales has hit .349 with seven home runs and 19 RBIs to help keep the Royals wild-card chances alive.?-- David Schoenfield (@dschoenfield), SweetSpot17. Miami MarlinsRecord: 71-72 Week 22 ranking: No. 18A wild-card berth seems unlikely now, especially since Miami has only three games remaining versus any of the teams theyre competing against. A winning season is still doable, but would require nearly sweeping the 10 games remaining versus Atlanta and Philadelphia. -- Diane Firstman (@dianagram), Value Over Replacement Grit18. Pittsburgh PiratesRecord: 69-72 Week 22 ranking: No. 16The Pirates eight-game losing streak came to an end last week when the team salvaged a win against the Cardinals, but a sweep at the hands of the Reds over the weekend dropped them to six games back in the wild-card race with just 21 games to play. -- Ryan P. Morrison (@ryanpmorrison), Inside the Zona19. Colorado RockiesRecord: 69-74 Week 22 ranking: No. 19One reason why DJ LeMahieu is pushing for a batting title is the power he has added to his profile. He has set a career high in doubles (27), triples (8) and home runs (10). While hes peppering Coors Field with hits, a .297 road batting average is nothing to sneeze at, either. --?Richard Bergstrom (@rbergstromjr), Rockies Zingers20. Chicago White SoxRecord: 68-74 Week 22 ranking: No. 20Carlos Rodon has emerged as a solid complement to All-Star hurlers Chris Sale and Jose Quintana. An improved changeup -- a pitch hes throwing more often and more effectively -- has helped spark his breakout second half. With Rodon clicking, will Chicago reconsider trading Sale or Quintana this winter??--?Jeff Wiser (@OutfieldGrass24), Inside the Zona21. Milwaukee BrewersRecord: 64-79 Week 22 ranking:?No. 24Milwaukee has been playing competitive baseball against teams flirting with the playoffs as of late. After sweeping the Pirates, the Brewers took a series against the Cubs and played competitively against the Cardinals. Jonathan Villar has been tearing things up in the past week, batting .320/.370/.880 with four home runs. He also became the fourth Brewer in history to homer from both sides of the plate in a game.?-- Gabe Stoltz (@Stoltzy3), Disciples of Uecker22. Los Angeles AngelsRecord: 63-79 Week 22 ranking: No. 21Sometimes its not how many runs you score and allow, but when you score them. The Angels run differential is minus-21, while the Yankees is only slightly better at minus-7. But one team is a disaster and the other is one of the feel-good stories of 2016. -- David Schoenfield (@dschoenfield), SweetSpot23. Philadelphia PhilliesRecord: 63-80 Week 22 ranking: No. 22Offense will clearly be something the Phillies focus on improving for 2017. The Phillies have scored the fewest runs in baseball (520) and have the lowest team OBP (.295) and OPS (.676). --?ESPN.com24. Oakland AthleticsRecord: 60-82 Week 22 ranking: No. 25The Billy Butler $30 million contract was much criticized when the As signed him last year, and now theyve released him (in part because of a fight with a teammate, but mostly because hes not good). Moral of the story: Signing a guy nicknamed Country Breakfast is probably a bad risk.?-- David Schoenfield (@dschoenfield), SweetSpot25. Tampa Bay RaysRecord: 60-82 Week 22 ranking: No. 23With the changing of the guard at hitting coach from Derek Shelton to Chad Mottola,?it makes you wonder just how warm the chair is under manager Kevin Cash.?--?Jason?Hanselman?(@sandykazmir), The Process Report26. Cincinnati RedsRecord: 60-82 Week 22 ranking: No. 26Joey Votto celebrated his birthday this week by going 4-for-5 with a double and a homer. Hes now hitting .427 in the second half, and his OPS of 1.187 after the All-Star break is 85 points higher than the second-best OPS in either league.?--?Chad Dotson (@dotsonc), Redleg Nation27. San Diego PadresRecord: 59-84 Week 22 ranking: No. 27San Diego clinched its sixth consecutive losing season this past week and is on pace to finish with its worst record since 2008, when it went 63-99. -- Diane Firstman (@dianagram), Value Over Replacement Grit28. Arizona DiamondbacksRecord: 58-84 Week 22 ranking: No. 28Can the D-backs scrape together a plan to compete in 2017? One of the teams biggest question marks has become what to expect from Paul Goldschmidt, who just celebrated his 29th birthday, but has hit .200 over the past two weeks and has just six homers in his past 300 plate appearances.?--?Jeff Wiser (@OutfieldGrass24), Inside the Zona29. Atlanta BravesRecord: 55-88 Week 22 ranking:?No. 29While there may not be anything left to play for this year in Atlanta, Braves fans are turning their attention to the minor leagues, where the organizations Triple-A, Double-A and low-A clubs all won their first playoff series. The teams philosophy of starting pitching wins championships was on full display. The 11 starting pitchers used across those three minor league teams -- a group that included seven first-rounders -- combined for a 1.71 ERA. -- Martin Gandy (@gondeee), Chop County30. Minnesota TwinsRecord: 53-90 Week 22 ranking: No. 30Its tough to feel optimistic about a turnaround from Minnesotas league-worst rotation when rookie Jose Berrios, its brightest beacon of hope for the future, continues to flounder. He sits at 2-6 with a 9.27 ERA after Sundays clunker.?-- Nick Nelson (@NickNelsonMN), Twins Daily CHICAGO -- Ask Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville to find a common denominator among his teams 10 wins this season and he points to a paper-thin margin between victory and defeat.The Blackhawks carry a seven-game winning streak into Friday nights test against the Washington Capitals at the United Center. Of the seven, four of Chicagos wins have been decided by one goal, including the Blackhawks 2-1 overtime win over St. Louis on Wednesday night.Certainly (have been) very fortunate in a lot of these games, Quenneville said after Chicagos practice on Thursday. Theyre almost very comparable from start to finish. Theyre all close and finding a way to win is important.The Blackhawks (10-3-1) have relied on steady play in net from both Corey Crawford and Scott Darling. Crawford is allowing just 1.91 goals per game and has a .939 saves percentage. Chicagos much-maligned penalty-killing unit has been much better of late, which has played a hand in the Blackhawks current win streak.As well as things have been rolling, however, the Blackhawks face a Capitals team that has strung together win streaks of three and five games -- the latter of which was snapped in a 3-0 loss to San Jose on Tuesday night. Chicago will likely be without leading scorer Artem Anisimov (eight goals, nine assists), who sustained an upper-body injury against St. Louis. Anisimov is listed as questionable for Friday nights game and also could miss Chicagos tilt Sunday against the NHLs top team when Montreal visits the United Center.Regardless of Anisimovs status, Quennevillle knows his team will have its hands full against the Capitals.ddddddddddddIts always a big game, Quenneville said. You know youve got to be at your best against them. The games have been very competitive.Certainly when youre playing top guys, they get your attention.Despite its overall success, Washington (8-3-1) isnt without its issues. Alex Ovechkin and Marcus Johansson have tallied 11 points respectively while Braden Holtby -- whom Quenneville on Thursday characterized by as very competitive kid -- has been solid in net over 10 starts in net this season.But Washingtons second power-play unit has yet to register a goal this season while the Capitals overall success while skating with a man advantage has dipped. The special teams unit has scored only one goal in its last 15 opportunities, which ranks 24th in the league with a 13.2 success rate.On Friday, the Capitals will face a Blackhawks penalty killing-unit that has a 67.3 percentage -- which has drastically improved over the course of the teams seven-game win streak.Of course we have to play better, but the coaches help plan, center Evgeny Kuznetsov said, according to the Washington Post. Were trying to stay with that plan, but sometimes we did wrong. We have to fix it a little bit, some small areas. I think at some point, the pucks are going in for sure. We just have to be close to each other and maybe use the small areas a little bit and make more shots. ' ' '