AL Power Rankings, Week 4

The season is now entering its home stretch, with just over a quarter of the year left to play. That means the focus shifts to the playoff picture. No more expected win%... it's a straight ranking based on record.

Each team currently in position to play in the postseason will be listed with its magic number to clinch a playoff spot, its division, a first-round bye or home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Each team currently on the outside looking in will have its playoff chances examined.

1 Madison Massas

Record (Since Last Rankings): 87-32 (16-4)
Last Week: #2
Magic # To Clinch Playoff Berth: 21
Magic # To Clinch Division: 21
Magic # To Clinch First-Round Bye: 34
Magic # To Clinch Homefield Advantage: 43

2 Oklahoma City Chickens

Record (Since Last Rankings): 86-33 (17-3)
Last Week: #1
Magic # To Clinch Playoff Berth: 22
Magic # To Clinch Division: 23
Magic # To Clinch First-Round Bye: 35

3 Wichita Sizzlers

Record (Since Last Rankings): 77-42 (12-8)
Last Week: #3
Magic # To Clinch Playoff Berth: 31
Magic # To Clinch Division: 31

4 Monterrey Acero

Record (Since Last Rankings): 65-54 (8-12)
Last Week: #4
Currently Wild Card #1
Magic # To Clinch Playoff Berth: 43

5 (tied) Kansas City McCoys

Record (Since Last Rankings): 64-55 (8-12)
Last Week: #5
Currently Tied For Wild Card #2
Magic # To Clinch Playoff Berth: 44

5 (tied) New York Bombers

Record (Since Last Rankings): 64-55 (13-7)
Last Week: #7
Currently Tied For Wild Card #2
Magic # To Clinch Playoff Berth: 44

7 Chicago Bearcubs

Record (Since Last Rankings): 62-57 (12-8)
Last Week: #9
Playoff Prognosis: Completely out of the divisional race, but currently sitting just two games out of the last wild card spot. Seven games against Monterrey in the next week could go a long way toward pushing one of these teams into the postseason.

8 Boston Badasses

Record (Since Last Rankings): 61-58 (8-12)
Last Week: #6
Magic # To Clinch Playoff Berth: 40
Magic # To Clinch Division: 40

9 (tie) Washington DC Old School Warriors

Record (Since Last Rankings): 57-62 (7-13)
Last Week: #10
Playoff Prognosis: Struggling to get back above .500. However, the good news is that .500 might win the AL East this year. Currently sitting just four games back of division-leading Boston. Only three games remain against Boston, all on the road during the final week of the season.

9 (tie) Charlotte Winstons

Record (Since Last Rankings): 57-62 (9-11)
Last Week: #8
Playoff Prognosis: Posterboys for "sometimes life's not fair." If they were in the East, they'd be four games out of first. Since they're in the south, they're 29 games back. They sit seven games out of the last wild card slot and would have to leap-frog three teams to get in. They're not dead, but they will probably need something like a 15-5 week to stay in the picture.

11 (tie) St. Louis Stampede

Record (Since Last Rankings): 52-67 (8-12)
Last Week: #11
Playoff Prognosis: Effectively done. They're 34 games out in the division and 12 games out of the last wild card spot.

11 (tie) Cleveland Indians

Record (Since Last Rankings): 52-67 (14-6)
Last Week: #14
Playoff Prognosis: Effectively done. They're 35 games out in the division and 12 games out of the last wild card spot. Still, following up a 2-21 week with a 14-6 one merits some applause.

13 Arizona Rattlesnakes

Record (Since Last Rankings): 49-70 (8-12)
Last Week: #13
Playoff Prognosis: Effectively done: 28 out in the division and 15 back of the wild card.

14 Las Vegas Gamble

Record (Since Last Rankings): 47-72 (5-15)
Last Week: #12
Playoff Prognosis: Effectively done: 30 out in the division and 17 back of the wild card.

15 Durham Bulls

Record (Since Last Rankings): 30-69 (10-10)
Last Week: #15
Playoff Prognosis: Effectively done: 21 out in the division and 24 back of the wild card.

16 Baltimore Wiretappers

Record (Since Last Rankings): 24-75 (5-15)
Last Week: #16
Playoff Prognosis: Effectively done: 32 out in the division and 35 back of the wild card.