The Los Angeles Dodgers are dangerously close to achieving certain heights that seemed unreachable after a lackluster winter and the season’s beginning.

like the baseball team with the best record.

The MVP of the National League, perhaps?

even the #1 spot in the power rankings published by USA TODAY Sports.

The superstar Mookie Betts had a triumphant homecoming in Fenway Park, where he previously called home before the Boston Red Sox gifted him to Los Angeles before the 2020 season, as the Dodgers maintained a scorching August in both a team-wide and individual sense.

With 33 games remaining in the season, Betts hit his 35th home run on Sunday, tying his previous high. He recorded back-to-back games with three hits in Boston, and he currently leads the National League with a 1.018 OPS.

Yes, Ronald Acua Jr. has 41 fewer points than you do.

With 59 thefts to go along with his 28 home runs and.977 OPS, the Braves star appeared to have the MVP sewn up, and he may still be the favorite. Betts and fellow Dodger Freddie Freeman, who established a franchise record with his 50th double Sunday and has a.998 OPS, are his teammates, though.

The Dodgers, who are currently 80-49 and have moved up to No. 2 in our power rankings, will visit the 84-44 Braves for a four-game series starting on Thursday. While both teams are guaranteed to win their divisions and receive first-round byes, there now seems to be a lot more on the line.

A glance at the rankings for this week:

As he steps up to the plate in his return to Fenway Park, Mookie Betts tilts his helmet.

1. Reliever Pierce Johnson of the Atlanta Braves (-) has only allowed one earned run in 13 appearances since being acquired from Colorado.

3. San Francisco Giants (+1)

If they were to win four more games, their August winning percentage would be.862 (25-4).

Baltimore Orioles (-1) 3.

Felix Bautista’s probable season-ending injury may make DL Hall and John Means dominate in September and beyond.

4. Tampa Bay Rays (+1) This group’s tenacity should serve them well in the postseason.

5. Justin Verlander extends one more hat to Miguel Cabrera of the Houston Astros (+1).

Texas Rangers (-2) 6.

Was it merely a hiccup, or did they have a throat obstruction?

7. Seattle Mariners (-) The A’s arrive as the Royals depart. That’s a happy life.

8. the place Milwaukee Brewers (+2)

Their eight-game winning streak and.562 win percentage demonstrate that they are better than just “NL Central-good.”

9.Ninth-place Philadelphia Phillies (-)

It appears likely that this year’s playoff journey will begin at home.

10.Toronto Blue Jays (-2) 10.

After 10 losses against the Orioles, they are thankfully done with them.

15. Casey Schmitt snaps a home run slump of 201 at-bats for the San Francisco Giants (-2).

16. Miami Marlins (-) Since optioning Eury Perez to limit his innings, they are 15-27.

Minnesota Twins (17) (-3)

I’m presently 30-34 against winning clubs after a good series victory over the Rangers.

18. Cleveland Guardians (+2) This is the fourth team to bid Noah Syndergaard adieu in the past two years.

19.Los Angeles Angels (19) (-1)

I fail to understand the reasoning behind how an organizational failure and a crippling injury would increase Shohei Ohtani’s chances of staying.

20.San Diego Padres (20) (+1)

Yes, you can ignore them if you haven’t previously.

21.Twenty-one. New York Yankees (-2)

Whether with or without malice, hitting four batters in a single game while playing out the string is unacceptable.

22. New York Mets (+1) Mets supporters may want to cherish what could be Pete Alonso’s final few weeks with the team.

23. Stone Garrett, a second-year outfielder for the Washington Nationals (+1), shattered his leg, ending a quietly good season (.801 OPS).

The grand debut of Parker Meadows with the Detroit Tigers (+2) was a plus.

Paul Skenes is unlikely to pitch in the majors this season for the Pittsburgh Pirates (-).

Saint Louis Cardinals (26)

Defeated 22-3 as the Phillies swept them at Citizens Bank Park for the first time ever.

27. Chicago White Sox (-) Maybe you shouldn’t promote from within if you’re going to blow it up?

Colorado Rockies (-) Leaky bullpen gives up three leads to the Rays, who are highly regarded.

29. The Kansas City Royals (-) are projected to lose 112 games, which would be by far the worst record in franchise history.

Oakland Athletics (30) (-)

The score is 38–93. Run-to-run difference: -302. There is only one owner with a $57 million payroll who predicts a $40 million loss this year.