MLB Power Rankings: Detroit Tigers stay put at No. 19

Aug 23, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Bruce Rondon (43) pitches in the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Despite the media’s best attempts to sell the fact the Detroit Tigers are still alive in the playoff race, the fans have come to the realization that the Tigers are not a playoff bound team. At times, they have shown signs of life this month. For example, they took three straight games this week including two in Chicago against the red hot Cubs.

But then the Tigers drop three out of four at home to the Texas Rangers, who are one of the team Detroit is competing with for the final Wild Card spot.

This last week has really shown what kind of team the Tigers are right now: sometimes good, sometimes awful, which lands them somewhere in the muffled middle in our MLB Power Rankings. Actually, the No. 19 spot to be exact, for the fourth week in a row.

We would like readers to know that these power rankings are based on just one opinion, and the difference of opinion between readers and fans is what makes the power rankings so fun to discuss. Please let us know how we did in the comments section below.

For our list, we took into account record, strength of schedule, run differential and other human elements such as injuries.

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As always just because a team is on 8-2 hot streak, they don’t automatically jump to the highest spots. It’s like my high school coach always used to say, “A team is never as good as its best win, and it’s never as bad as it’s worse loss.”

Lastly, readers should know, the rankings are serious, but the comments for each team are generally not. There are so many baseball articles analyzing the most small details on the web, we wanted to start out the week with a little fun.

Here are MCB’s MLB Power Rankings for Week 21 of the 2015 baseball season.

Aug 23, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon (19) falls to the ground after being hit by a pitch during the sixth inning against the New York Mets at Coors Field. The Mets won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

30. Colorado Rockies (49-73)

Football season cannot come soon enough.

Aug 22, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Andres Blanco (R) reacts by taking off first baseman Darin Ruf (L) helmet after Ruf hit a solo home run during the ninth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

28. Philadelphia Phillies (50-74)

This is probably the highest Philadelphia has been on our MLB Power Rankings all season.

Aug 23, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics catcher Stephen Vogt (21) congratulates infielder Mark Canha (20) after Canha scored a run against the Tampa Bay Rays in the seventh inning at O.co Coliseum. The Athletics defeated the Rays 8-2. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

27. Oakland Athletics (54-71)

At least they are still better than the Raiders.

Aug 23, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Matt Garza (22) talks with Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (20) against the Washington Nationals in the fourth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

26. Milwaukee Brewers (53-72)

On Sunday, did more people watch the Packers preseason game or the Brewers matchup with the Nationals?

Aug 22, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

25. Cincinnati Reds (51-71)

Nine straight losses?? That’s almost as bad as the old Bungals.

Sep 4, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski watches the game from the press box in the ninth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

24. Boston Red Sox (56-68)

Just watch Detroit. Dave Dombrowski turns the Red Sox around and makes them a World Series Champion again.

Aug 23, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Atlanta Braves third baseman Adonis Garcia (24) bobbles an infield single off the bat of Chicago Cubs second baseman Starlin Castro (not pictured) during the seventh inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

23. Atlanta Braves (53-71)

Are the Braves trying to be as bad as the Reds? Atlanta has lost seven in a row.

Aug 21, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Fernando Rodney (56) walks back to the dugout after being relieved from the game against the Chicago White Sox during the eighth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

22. Seattle Mariners (57-67)

Former closer Fernando Rodney getting designated for assignment just about sums up the season for Seattle.

Aug 23, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) celebrates with Michael Brantley (23) after defeating the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The Indians defeated the Yankees 4 – 3. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

21. Cleveland Indians (58-65)

We are officially out of Major League DVDs to watch. Oh, well just watch the first one again.

Aug 23, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher Jake Petricka (52) throws during the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. Seattle won 8-6. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

20. Chicago White Sox (58-64)

Time to bring back these shorts to bring fans to the ball park the last six weeks?

Aug 22, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos (9) makes a play on a ground ball hit by Texas Rangers center fielder Delino DeShields (7) in the first inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

19. Detroit Tigers (59-64)

We all know the Tigers are doing poorly, but a game out of last place in late August was not exactly what Detroit expected heading into the season.

Aug 22, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; The San Diego Padres players celebrate after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 8-0 at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

18. San Diego Padres (61-63)

Wait, this team is 6.5 games back in the NL West!? Let’s put that into perspective, the San Francisco Giants are six games behind the Chicago Cubs for the final Wild Card spot.

Aug 15, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) speaks to the media after the preseason NFL football game with the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 26-16. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

17. Tampa Bay Rays (62-62)

Can Jameis Winstron also play for the Rays?

Aug 22, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (L) bats as Cincinnati Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart (R) watches at Great American Ball Park. The Diamondbacks won 11-7. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

16. Arizona Diamondbacks (62-61)

The Diamondbacks aren’t out of the NL West either. They are just five games back of the Dodgers.

May 7, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Huston Street (16) is relieved by manager Mike Scioscia (14) in the ninth inning against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

15. Los Angeles Angels (63-61)

The Angels bullpen allowed 36 runs in three games against the Blue Jays. As a courtesy, I’ll spare the Los Angeles fans from the bullpen’s ERA for the weekend.

Aug 15, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; Washington Nationals manager Matt Williams (9) looks on during the third inning against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

14. Washington Nationals (62-61)

Yea, blame Matt Williams for guys underperforming like Jayson Werth, who is hitting .186 in August.

Aug 23, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones (10) reacts after striking out in the eleventh inning against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Minnesota Twins defeated the Baltimore Orioles 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

13. Baltimore Orioles (62-61)

Tough series for the Orioles against the Twins, losing three games by a run. At least the Ravens did the courtesy of letting themselves get blown out in their preseason game over the weekend.

Aug 23, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Minnesota Twins celebrate on the field after defeating the Baltimore Orioles 4-3 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

12. Minnesota Twins (63-61)

That line from Monty Python “I’m not dead yet” seems to apply well here.

Aug 22, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Texas Rangers designated hitter Prince Fielder (84) hits an RBI single in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

11. Texas Rangers (64-59)

It’s nice to see the Detroit faithful still likes Prince Fielder.

Aug 23, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Logan Verrett (35) prepares to take the field during the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The Mets won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

10. New York Mets (67-56)

The Mets skip Matt Harvey’s start and give the ball to 25-year-old Logan Verrett, and he wins the ball game. Do the Mets just grow pitchers on trees?

Aug 23, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Nori Aoki (23) attempts to bunt for a hit against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the eighth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

9. San Francisco Giants (66-58)

The Giants went 2-5 this week against the Cardinals and Pirates. Too bad it doesn’t get any easier with the Cubs and Cardinals on the schedule this week.

Aug 23, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Chris Hatcher (41) pitches during the tenth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. The Astros defeated the Dodgers 3-2 in 10 innings. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

8. Los Angeles Dodgers (67-56)

Los Angeles should be embarrassed that the team is letting the Giants … and Diamondbacks … and Padres stick around in the division race. At least they have eliminated the Rockies.

Aug 23, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros catcher Jason Castro (15) celebrates with teammates after hitting a game winning walk off home run during the tenth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Minute Maid Park. The Astros defeated the Dodgers 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

7. Houston Astros (69-56)

For those of you who predicted that the Astros and Rangers would be first and second in the AL West on Aug. 24, give yourselves a pat on the back.

Aug 23, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia (52) is checked on by a team trainer before being removed from the game against the Cleveland Indians during the third inning with a sore knee at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

6. New York Yankees (68-55)

Is the C.C. Sabathia injury addition by subtraction?

Aug 23, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) hits a ball into a double play which a run scored against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The Toronto Blue Jays won 12-5. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

5. Toronto Blue Jays (69-55)

And you thought the Blue Jays offense was good, remember when the Cleveland Indians scored 1,000 runs in 1999?

Aug 19, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Detroit Tigers during the third inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

4. Chicago Cubs (71-51)

All jokes aside, this team will go as far as Kris Bryant can take them.

Aug 13, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez (24) drops a line drive hit by St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jason Heyward (not pictured) at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

3. Pittsburgh Pirates (74-48)

For every home run Pedro Alvarez has, he has an error in the field. Pirates fans wish that was a joke.

Aug 23, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer (35) and his teammates celebrate after scoring two runs against the Boston Red Sox in the ninth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

2. Kansas City Royals (75-48)

Is the least talked about good team in the league right now the defending American League champions?

Aug 23, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta (27) slides in safely to score on a triple by right fielder Jason Heyward (not pictured) during the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

1. St. Louis Cardinals (78-45)

Just 5-5 in the last 10 games? Don’t look now, but the NL Central is beginning to heat up.