With the MLB regular season wrapping up this week, I've named each team's top hitter and pitcher in this week's rankings. So where does your favorite team stand in the final regular season MLB power rankings?
1: Cincinnati Reds (96-63, Previous: 1)
Last Week's Record: 4-2
Top Hitter: 1B Joey Votto (.342/.477/.575, 14 HR, 56 RBI, 58 R)
He's played just 108 games, and has just 365 at-bats under his belt this season, but Votto was good enough in the time he was healthy to earn top honors here. He would have been a shoo-in to capture his second NL MVP award had he played the whole season, but he's healthy once again and should have a big impact on the Reds postseason' fortunes.
Top Pitcher: SP Johnny Cueto (33 GS, 19-9, 2.78 ERA, 170 Ks, 217 IP)
After a strong finish to the 2011 season, Cueto has established himself as the Reds' staff ace and has been one of the NL's top arms this season. The Reds rotation as a whole has been solid this season, due in large part to staying healthy, as their five guys have made all but one start for the team on the year. Of note, Aroldis Chapman (1.53 ERA, 37 SV, 15.4 K/9) is really good.
2: Washington Nationals (96-63, Previous: 2)
Last Week's Record: 3-3
Top Hitter: 3B Ryan Zimmerman (.284/.348/.476, 24 HR, 94 RBI, 92 R)
It was a Zimmerman injury that opened the door for uber-prospect Bryce Harper to be called up, but getting their star third baseman healthy has been a big plus for the Nationals. He's been great after the All-Star break, hitting .323 BA, 16 HR, 54 RBI slotted in the middle of a Nationals lineup that is often overshadowed by their pitching staff but is terrific in its own right.
Top Pitcher: SP Gio Gonzalez (32 GS, 21-8, 2.89 ERA, 207 Ks, 199.1 IP)
The Nationals paid a steep price to acquire Gonzalez from the A's this past offseason, but it has paid immediate dividends for them. The left-hander leads all of baseball with 21 wins, and he's made the shutting down of Stephen Strasburg easier to swallow, as he's essentially a second staff ace.
3: San Francisco Giants (93-66, Previous: 4)
Last Week's Record: 4-2
Top Hitter: C Buster Posey (.337/.410/.546, 23 HR, 100 RBI, 77 R)
The Giants have been a different team with Posey in the lineup, after he missed the bulk of last season with a broken ankle. He's the front-runner for NL MVP, and is in position to win the NL batting title after teammate Melky Cabrera asked to be made ineligible after testing positive for PEDs.
Top Pitcher: SP Matt Cain (31 GS, 16-5, 2.77 ERA, 191 Ks, 214.1 IP)
With Tim Lincecum not himself this season, Cain has emerged as the unquestioned ace of a great Giants rotation. He threw a perfect game earlier this season and got to start the All-Star game for the NL, as it's been a great season for the 28-year-old.
4: Atlanta Braves (93-66, Previous: 5)
Last Week's Record: 5-1
Top Hitter: RF Jason Heyward (.267/.334/.479, 27 HR, 81 RBI, 91 R, 20 SB)
The Braves haven't had a run-away top offensive player this season, but have instead gotten by with getting contributions up and down the lineup. Heyward is my pick here, as he's bounced back from a dismal sophomore campaign and has shown the full range of his tools with a 20/20 season.
Top Pitcher: SP Kris Medlen (50 G, 12 GS, 10-1, 1.57 ERA, 120 Ks, 138 IP)
A reliever to open the season, Medlen didn't make his first start of the year until July 31. Since joining the rotation, he's gone 9-0 with a 0.97 ERA in 12 starts, as he's been the best pitcher in baseball over that span and will be counted on to keep it up in the postseason.
5: Texas Rangers (92-66, Previous: 3)
Last Week's Record: 2-4
Top Hitter: CF Josh Hamilton (.288/.358/.585, 43 HR, 127 RBI, 102 R)
If not for a midseason slump that saw him hit just .177 BA, 4 HR, 17 RBI in the month of July, it's scary to think what Hamilton's numbers might look like. He's been streaky this season, but he's put together enough positive streaks to have the numbers to be their top hitter.
Top Pitcher: SP Matt Harrison (31 GS, 18-10, 3.26 ERA, 128 Ks, 207.1 IP)
While Japanese import Yu Darvish has been great (16-9, 3.90 ERA, 221 Ks), it is Harrison who has been the team's most reliable starter this season. One of a handful of key players acquired from the Braves in the Mark Teixeira trade a few years back, he'll be relied upon to make some big starts this postseason.
6: Baltimore Orioles (92-67, Previous: 7)
Last Week's Record: 5-2
Top Hitter: CF Adam Jones (.288/.337/.509, 32 HR, 81 RBI, 103 R)
Jones has gotten better every year since joining the Orioles, and he has emerged as a bona fide star this season. He's proven clutch time and again, and while the Orioles have used contributions from up and down the lineup to get where they are, Jones has to be viewed as the team's MVP.
Top Pitcher: RP Jim Johnson (70 G, 50-of-53 SV, 2.53 ERA, 5.5 K/9)
The Orioles starting rotation has been in a state of flux all season long, but the bullpen has been there to back them all season led by Johnson. The 29-year-old entered the season with just 21 career saves, but he has been a rock at the back of a terrific 'pen all season.
7: New York Yankees (92-67, Previous: 6)
Last Week's Record: 4-3
Top Hitter: 2B Robinson Cano (.306/.373/.531, 30 HR, 85 RBI, 100 R)
There is no question that Cano is the biggest offensive weapon at second base in all of baseball, and with the Yankees' other stars starting to decline, he's the most dangerous hitter in their still-potent lineup. A nod to Derek Jeter, who leads all of baseball with 213 hits.
Top Pitcher: SP Hiroki Kuroda (32 GS, 15-11, 3.34 ERA, 163 Ks, 212.2 IP)
Signed to a one-year, $10 million contract this past winter, Kuroda has been a stabilizing force slotted behind CC Sabathia in an inconsistent Yankees rotation. He'll be as important as anyone come October, as the Yankees will need him to keep pitching like he has all season.
8: Oakland Athletics (91-68, Previous: 8)
Last Week's Record: 5-2
Top Hitter: CF Yoenis Cespedes (.291/.353/.509, 23 HR, 82 RBI, 69 R)
Though he dominated the Cuban League, there were questions as to how quickly Cespedes would be able to make the transition to the big leagues when the A's signed him to a four-year, $36 million contract this offseason. It's safe to say he's adjusted, with a .305 BA, 13 HR, 44 RBI second half.
Top Pitcher: SP Jarrod Parker (28 GS, 12-8, 3.44 ERA, 134 Ks, 175.1 IP)
If not for the fact that he plays in the same league as Mike Trout, Parker would have a real shot at Rookie of the Year with the season he's had. Acquired in the offseason from the Diamondbacks in the Trevor Cahill deal, the right-hander has gone 7-4 with a 3.89 ERA in the second half, and with Bartolo Colon and Brandon McCarthy gone, he's the staff ace heading into the postseason.
9: Los Angeles Angels (88-70, Previous: 9)
Last Week's Record: 4-1
Top Hitter: CF Mike Trout (.321/.395/.557, 30 HR, 80 RBI, 127 R, 48 SB)
Trout has turned in one of the best rookie seasons in baseball history, and the fact that his call-up coincided with the team getting their season on track was no coincidence. He should win Rookie of the Year honors unanimously, and has a shot at the AL MVP if Miguel Cabrera doesn't win the Triple Crown.
Top Pitcher: SP Jered Weaver (29 GS, 20-4, 2.73 ERA, 141 Ks, 187.2 IP)
After finishing second in AL Cy Young voting last season, Weaver has continued to rank among the best starters in all of baseball this year. His 20 wins are tied for the most in the AL, and his 1.002 WHIP leads all of baseball.
10: Tampa Bay Rays (88-71, Previous: 11)
Last Week's Record: 5-1
Top Hitter: UT Ben Zobrist (.271/.378/.471, 19 HR, 73 RBI, 87 R)
Once again, Zobrist has played all over the field, and once again he has produced impressive numbers given the fact that he is constantly shuffled. With Evan Longoria hurt for a good chunk of the season, Zobrist has been the team's biggest offensive catalyst.
Top Pitcher: SP David Price (31 GS, 20-5, 2.56 ERA, 205 Ks, 211 IP)
With the best ERA in the majors and tied for the AL lead with 20 wins, Price has to be viewed as the Cy Young front-runner right now. He's officially established himself as the Rays' ace this season and is without question one of the best pitchers in the game today.
11: St. Louis Cardinals (86-73, Previous: 10)
Last Week's Record: 4-2
Top Hitter: C Yadier Molina (.317/.377/.506, 22 HR, 75 RBI, 64 R)
It was not all that long ago that Molina was an elite defensive catcher whose offense was viewed as simply icing on the cake. In the past two years, he's emerged as the best all-around catcher in the game and a legitimate asset offensively, and he's set career highs across the board this season.
Top Pitcher: SP Kyle Lohse (33 GS, 16-3, 2.86 ERA, 143 Ks, 211 IP)
With Chris Carpenter shelved to start the season and Adam Wainwright returning from injury, Lohse was forced into the role of staff ace to open the year and he's certainly looked the part with the best season of his career. In the final year of a four-year, $41 million deal, he's in for a big payday this offseason.
12: Detroit Tigers (86-73, Previous: 14)
Last Week's Record: 6-1
Top Hitter: 3B Miguel Cabrera (.325/.390/.601, 43 HR, 136 RBI, 108 R)
Cabrera is currently in position to win baseball's first Triple Crown since Carl Yastrzemski did it back in 1967. He is tied with Josh Hamilton for the AL lead in home runs and is currently .002 ahead of Joe Mauer for the batting title.
Top Pitcher: SP Justin Verlander (33 GS, 17-8, 2.64 ERA, 239 Ks, 238.1 IP)
Verlander set the bar incredibly high with his MVP performance last season, and while his numbers aren't quite as eye-popping this season they may very well be good enough to earn him a second straight Cy Young. The 29-year-old has to be considered the consensus best pitcher in baseball right now.
13: Los Angeles Dodgers (84-75, Previous: 15)
Last Week's Record: 5-1
Top Hitter: CF Matt Kemp (.310/.376/.552, 23 HR, 69 RBI, 74 R)
Kemp entered the season with MVP aspirations, and got off to as good a start as anyone in baseball, but injuries have limited him to just 393 at-bats on the season and as a result, he's fallen well short of expectations. Still, when healthy, he's been without a doubt the best hitter the Dodgers have.
Top Pitcher: SP Clayton Kershaw (32 GS, 13-9, 2.58 ERA, 221 Ks, 219.2 IP)
The reigning NL Cy Young winner, Kershaw has been dominant once again this season atop the Dodgers rotation. It's scary to realize he is only 24 years old, and could conceivably get better. For the Dodgers' sake, he'll at least need to maintain his current level of play, as they don't have much they can rely on behind him in the rotation.
14: Milwaukee Brewers (81-78, Previous: 12)
Last Week's Record: 2-4
Top Hitter: LF Ryan Braun (.320/.392/.600, 41 HR, 112 RBI, 105 R, 30 SB)
Braun has registered his second straight 30/30 season, while setting a new career high with 41 HR to lead the NL. Even following the offseason controversy of his overturned PED suspension and without Prince Fielder hitting behind him in the lineup, he's thrived.
Top Pitcher: SP Yovani Gallardo (33 GS, 16-9, 3.66 ERA, 204 Ks, 204 IP)
Gallardo got off to a rough start to the 2012 season, going 1-2 with a 6.08 ERA through his first five starts, but he's turned things around since. With Zack Greinke gone, he is once again the staff ace and signed through 2015, he'll be in that role for the foreseeable future.
15: Chicago White Sox (83-76, Previous: 13)
Last Week's Record: 2-5
Top Hitter: CF Alex Rios (.303/.334/.517, 25 HR, 90 RBI, 92 R, 23 SB)
Rios was among the worst everyday players in baseball last season (.227 BA, 13 HR, 44 RBI, 537 AB), but he has bounced back in a big way this season. The team's offense has been solid from top to bottom, but catcher A.J. Pierzynski also deserves a mention, as he's hit a career highs with 27 HR at the age of 35.
Top Pitcher: SP Chris Sale (29 GS, 17-8, 3.05 ERA, 192 Ks, 192 IP)
Sale has made the transition from setup man to staff ace look easy this season, as he's emerged as the present and future ace of the White Sox staff at the age of 23. Comeback Player of the Year candidate Jake Peavy (11-12, 3.37 ERA, 186 Ks) has earned a mention here as well.
16: Philadelphia Phillies (80-79, Previous: 16)
Last Week's Record: 3-3
Top Hitter: C Carlos Ruiz (.330/.398/.547, 16 HR, 68 RBI, 54 R)
With Ryan Howard and Chase Utley both sidelined to begin the season, Ruiz emerged as the team's top offensive threat in the first half (.350 BA, 14 HR, 36 RBI). His power has tailed off in the second half, but he has still had the best offensive season of his career by far, and has been the team's most consistent threat.
Top Pitcher: SP Cole Hamels (31 GS, 17-6, 3.05 ERA, 216 Ks, 215.1 IP)
Due to hit free agency at season's end, the Phillies opened up their wallets to keep Hamels around with a six-year, $144 million extension. He's been the team's best starter all season, and one of the few things that has gone right for the team this year.
17: Arizona Diamondbacks (80-79, Previous: 17)
Last Week's Record: 3-4
Top Hitter: C Miguel Montero (.288/.394/.444, 15 HR, 88 RBI, 65 R)
The Diamondbacks re-upped with Montero on a five-year, $60 million deal, and he has once again ranked among the best offensive catchers in all of baseball this season. Second baseman Aaron Hill (.304 BA, 24 HR, 81 RBI) is certainly deserving of a mention as well.
Top Pitcher: SP Wade Miley (31 G, 28 GS, 16-11, 3.32 ERA, 134 Ks, 187 IP)
Miley opened the season in the Diamondbacks bullpen, moving to the rotation after Josh Collmenter struggled mightily through his first three seasons. From there, he managed to make the All-Star team and has to be viewed as the front-runner for NL Rookie of the Year, as the 25-year-old has anchored the Diamondbacks staff.
18: Pittsburgh Pirates (77-82, Previous: 18)
Last Week's Record: 2-5
Top Hitter: CF Andrew McCutchen (.329/.402/.557, 31 HR, 95 RBI, 107 R)
The best player in the NL during the first half of the season (.352 BA, 18 HR, 60 RBI, 1.039 OPS), McCutchen has come back down to Earth a bit in the second half but remains the best hitter on the Pirates and one of the most exciting young players in all of baseball.
Top Pitcher: SP A.J. Burnett (30 GS, 16-9, 3.43 ERA, 177 Ks, 196.2 IP)
Coming off of a terrible 2011 season and due $33 million over the next two years, the Yankees cut their losses on Burnett and dealt him to the Pirates along with $20 million for essentially nothing. A return to the NL has been exactly what the former Marlin's career has needed, as he's fronted the Pirates staff all season and is a steal at the $5 million the team is actually paying him this season.
19: San Diego Padres (75-84, Previous: 19)
Last Week's Record: 2-4
Top Hitter: 3B Chase Headley (.285/.372/.495, 31 HR, 113 RBI, 92 R)
The Padres received considerable interest in Headley at the trade deadline, but instead opted to hold onto the 28-year-old budding star. He's led all of baseball with 71 RBI in the second half, and leads the NL with 23 home runs since the break. His 113 RBI on the season are also tops in the NL, as he's legitimately emerged as one of baseball's premier third basemen.
Top Pitcher: SP Clayton Richard (32 GS, 14-13, 3.91 ERA, 104 Ks, 211.2 IP)
Richard has quietly been one of the NL's most consistent starters since coming to the Padres, going 38-33 with a 3.87 ERA in 95 starts in San Diego. He's posted identical 3.91 ERAs in the first and second half, but has had much better luck in recording nine wins since the break.
20: New York Mets (73-86, Previous: 23)
Last Week's Record: 4-3
Top Hitter: 3B David Wright (.306/.391/.496, 21 HR, 91 RBI, 90 R)
Wright was arguably the best hitter in the National League in the first half (.351 BA, 11 HR, 59 RBI), and while he has fallen off in the second half, really who hasn't on the Mets after they played way over their heads in the first half? Re-signing him should be priority No. 1 for the team moving forward.
Top Pitcher: SP R.A. Dickey (32 GS, 20-6, 2.69 ERA, 222 Ks, 227.2 IP)
One of the best stories of the 2012 season, Dickey has gone from failed prospect to solid comeback story to Cy Young candidate in a matter of four years. He is the first knuckleballer to win 20 games since Joe Niekro did so back in 1980.
21: Seattle Mariners (73-86, Previous: 21)
Last Week's Record: 1-5
Top Hitter: 3B Kyle Seager (.258/.315/.417, 19 HR, 84 RBI, 58 R)
It's been a rough year for the Mariners offense, as Seager is the only player on the roster with more than 60 RBI and one of just three starters with an average over .300. Their best hitter has actually been catcher John Jaso (.275/.393/.456), but it took them a while to realize that, and he has just 287 at-bats on the season.
Top Pitcher: SP Felix Hernandez (32 GS, 13-8, 2.86 ERA, 216 Ks, 226.2 IP)
Another season, another fantastic year across the board for Hernandez who continues to rank among the best pitchers in baseball despite a less-than-stellar supporting cast. Still only 26 years old, he should continue to pitch at a top-tier level for the next several years, and will be in the middle of what should be an impressive youth movement in Seattle very soon.
22: Toronto Blue Jays (70-89, Previous: 26)
Last Week's Record: 4-4
Top Hitter: 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion (.280/.384/.557, 42 HR, 110 RBI, 93 R)
Once a top prospect of the Reds, Encarnacion has finally tapped into his vast potential this season as he ranks as the breakout offensive star of 2012. The three-year, $27 million extension the Blue Jays signed him to midseason now looks like an absolute steal.
Top Pitcher: SP Brandon Morrow (20 GS, 9-7, 3.09 ERA, 97 Ks, 116.2 IP)
Morrow was enjoying a breakout season when he, like most players on the Blue Jays roster this season, was shelved with an injury. He's returned strong and has put up solid numbers across the board in 20 starts, and with Ricky Romero struggling, he should be viewed as the ace of the staff moving forward.
23: Kansas City Royals (71-88, Previous: 20)
Last Week's Record: 1-6
Top Hitter: DH Billy Butler (.312/.370/.511, 29 HR, 107 RBI, 71 R)
Butler has always hit for a high average since breaking into the league as a 21-year-old back in 2007, but he entered the season with career highs of just 21 HR and 95 RBI. At 26, he's enjoyed a breakout season and given the Royals a legitimate top-tier run producer in the middle of their lineup for the first time since Mike Sweeney.
Top Pitcher: RP Greg Holland (66 G, 7-4, 15-of-19 SV, 3.00 ERA, 12.3 K/9)
Holland opened the season as the Royals' primary setup man but slid into the closer's role after Jonathan Broxton was traded at the deadline. He's gone 15-of-17 on save chances since moving to the ninth inning, and he continues to post some of the best strikeout rates in all of baseball.
24: Cleveland Indians (67-92, Previous: 27)
Last Week's Record: 4-2
Top Hitter: RF Shin-Soo Choo (.283/.375/.440, 15 HR, 66 RBI, 87 R, 21 SB)
The Indians have gotten sporadic contributions from a number of players this season, but Choo has remained a consistent threat as he once again approaches 20/20 this season. He's been asked to hit leadoff for much of the season as well, and has put up a solid OBP while doing so.
Top Pitcher: RP Chris Perez (60 G, 39-of-43 SV, 3.34 ERA, 9.4 K/9)
The Indians starting rotation has been a mess from top to bottom this season, but when they have managed to carry a lead into the late innings, All-Star closer Perez has slammed the door more times than not. He could wind up on the trading block this offseason, and should draw a ton of interest if he does.
25: Minnesota Twins (66-93, Previous: 24)
Last Week's Record: 2-4
Top Hitter: LF Josh Willingham (.260/.366/.524, 35 HR, 110 RBI, 85 R)
Signed to a three-year, $27 million deal in the offseason to replace the departed Michael Cuddyer, Willingham has proven to be perhaps the biggest steal of the free agent class. Catcher Joe Mauer (.323/.418/.452) deserves mention for his bounce-back season as well.
Top Pitcher: SP Scott Diamond (26 GS, 12-8, 3.54 ERA, 87 Ks, 168 IP)
After making his big-league debut last season and posting a 5.08 ERA over seven starts, no one expected much if anything from Diamond this season. Instead, he's been one of the biggest out-of-nowhere breakout players of the year, and at 25 looks like he'll a starting point around which the Twins will rebuild their rotation.
26: Boston Red Sox (69-90, Previous: 22)
Last Week's Record: 0-5
Top Hitter: RF Cody Ross (.269/.330/.488, 22 HR, 79 RBI, 70 R)
Signed to a one-year, $3 million deal last offseason, Ross has been the Red Sox most consistent hitter all season long and has set himself up for a multi-year deal this coming winter. David Ortiz (.318 BA, 23 HR, 60 RBI) was having a terrific season when an Achilles injury cut things short on July 16.
Top Pitcher: SP Clay Buchholz (28 GS, 11-7, 4.22 ERA, 127 Ks, 187.2 IP)
The Red Sox starting rotation has been a mess all season long, and is certainly among the biggest reasons for the team's massive underperformance this season. Buchholz has turned things around with a good second half, going 3-4 with a 2.94 ERA in 13 starts to post passable numbers across the board.
27: Miami Marlins (67-92, Previous: 25)
Last Week's Record: 1-5
Top Hitter: RF Giancarlo Stanton (.290/.361/.610, 36 HR, 85 RBI, 74 R)
Injury has limited him to just 438 at bats on the season, but Stanton has already hit two more home runs in 82 fewer at bats this season. His .610 slugging percentage is tops in the National League, and he remains the best pure power hitter in all of baseball.
Top Pitcher: SP Mark Buehrle (31 GS, 13-13, 3.74 ERA, 125 Ks, 202.1 IP)
After spending big this past offseason, the Marlins have fallen well short of expectations, but the signing of Buehrle to a four-year, $58 million deal has proven to be a good one, as he has been as durable and consistent as any starter in baseball the past decade-plus.
28: Colorado Rockies (62-97, Previous: 29)
Last Week's Record: 4-3
Top Hitter: LF Carlos Gonzalez (.303/.371/.510, 22 HR, 85 RBI, 89 R)
After a down 2011 season, CarGo has come back strong this year and the seven-year, $90 million deal he signed prior to last season now looks to be a relative bargain.
Top Pitcher: RP Rafael Betancourt (58 G, 31-of-36 SV, 2.25 ERA, 9.0 K/9)
Long one of the league's best setup men, Betancourt has pitched well in his first season as closer, as the 37-year-old has been one of the lone bright spots on a staff that has posted an MLB-worst 5.26 ERA.
29: Chicago Cubs (60-99, Previous: 28)
Last Week's Record: 1-5
Top Hitter: LF Alfonso Soriano (.263/.322/.503, 32 HR, 108 RBI, 68 R)
Soriano has posted his best numbers in years, and as a result the team no doubt has a better chance at moving the two years and $36 million remaining on his contract this offseason. He's been a valuable veteran leader for the team as well, and has finally earned some of his hefty salary.
Top Pitcher: SP Jeff Samardzija (28 GS, 9-13, 3.81 ERA, 180 Ks, 174.2 IP)
While he's been shut down since Sept. 8 after reaching what the team felt was a realistic innings limit, Samardzija remains the Cubs best pitcher of 2012. After bounding between the rotation and bullpen as well as the majors and minors, he has shown he has the stuff and ceiling to be a staff ace.
30: Houston Astros (53-106, Previous: 30)
Last Week's Record: 3-3
Top Hitter: 2B Jose Altuve (.291/.341/.402, 7 HR, 37 RBI, 80 R)
The only player on the Astros roster with over 100 hits on the season, Altuve has cooled a bit after an All-Star first half, but he still looks like he will be a key building block moving forward.
Top Pitcher: SP Lucas Harrell (31 GS, 10-11, 3.88 ERA, 133 Ks, 187.2 IP)
The 27-year-old Harrell was selected off waivers from the White Sox last July, and he's been by far the Astros best pitcher this season, stepping into the role of staff ace following the trade of Wandy Rodriguez.