The Times’ MLB power rankings

Last week’s ranking in parentheses, statistics are through Friday’s games:

1. ST. LOUIS: The first ticket to the postseason is booked. Welcome, Cardinals. (1)

2. TORONTO: Josh Donaldson, closing in on 40 home runs, a .300 average and 120 RBIs, is a strong MVP candidate. (2)

3. N.Y. METS: The acquisition of Yoenis Cespedes will go down as one of the best deadline acquisitions in history. (7)

4. DODGERS: This week, Don Mattingly compared Corey Seager to Derek Jeter. (5)

5. CHICAGO CUBS: The Cubs are on the cusp of a guaranteed playoff game at Wrigley Field. (6)

6. PITTSBURGH: The Pirates lost Jung Ho Kang — and are losing hold of the first wild-card spot. (3)

7. KANSAS CITY: Foundation cracks: a lagging pitching staff, a struggling closer, and a second baseman out indefinitely. (4)

8. TEXAS: At trade deadline, Baseball Prospectus calculated the Rangers’ playoff odds at 1%. They now lead the division. (9)

9. N.Y. YANKEES: Barring a sweep next week at Toronto, the Yankees probably will settle for the wild card. (8)

10. ANGELS: The team that won’t die is somehow right in the thick of the wild-card race. (12)

11. HOUSTON: The Astros aren’t in full collapse mode yet, but the ground is rumbling. (10)

12. MINNESOTA: The Twins, right in the middle of the wild-card race, have lost five games in a row. (11)

13. CLEVELAND: On Thursday, the Indians set off fireworks after a home run. Only problem? The Royals hit it. (13)

14. TAMPA BAY: The Rays don’t have a single player with 20 home runs. (14)

15. WASHINGTON: Max Scherzer yelled at Manager Matt Williams and then ignored him in the dugout. (16)

16. SAN FRANCISCO: How good is Madison Bumgarner? He was used to face Aroldis Chapman. And it worked. (15)

17. SEATTLE: Kyle Seager called time three times in the time it took to write this blurb. (17)

18. BALTIMORE: The Orioles rallied from 3-0 deficit in the ninth Thursday, need similar comeback to make playoffs. (18)

19. CHICAGO WHITE SOX: Jose Abreu may get 30 homers/100 RBIs. Albert Pujols is only other to start with that. (19)

20. BOSTON: David Ortiz has 35 home runs and is closing in on 100 RBIs. (20)

21. ARIZONA: Freshly back from Tommy John surgery, Patrick Corbin has a 2.99 earned-run average in 75 innings. (21)

22. SAN DIEGO: After an inconspicuous start, Matt Kemp has salvaged his season. He has 22 home runs and 97 RBIs. (22)

23. DETROIT: The Tigers have a make-up game scheduled for Oct. 5 against the Indians if it affects the playoffs. It won’t. (24)

24. MIAMI: Don’t look now, but the red-hot Marlins have won five series in a row. (26)

26. CINCINNATI: Todd Frazier had a .284 batting average in the first half. It’s more than 60 points lower in the second half. (25)

25. OAKLAND: The last-place Athletics have a better run differential than the first-place Rangers. (28)

27. COLORADO: Unofficial estimates are 34% of Denver’s population played for the Rockies in Tuesday’s game. (27)

28. MILWAUKEE: The Brewers are ending the season as they began it. They haven’t won in a week. (23)

29. ATLANTA: It’s a tight race for the first pick of the draft. The Braves have to give up three games on the Phillies. (29)

30. PHILADELPHIA: Party like it’s 2011. Ryan Howard is leading the Phillies in home runs with 23. (30)