MLB rankings: Phillies easily lead the pack, Astros stay in basement

The pennant races are all but decided, so staff writer Kevin Baxter takes one final look at how Major League Baseball stacks up heading into the postseason. Records and statistics are through Friday’s games:

Last team standing?

1. PHILADELPHIA (97-52): First team to clinch a playoff berth is nearing a franchise record for wins.

2. MILWAUKEE (88-63): Only contender with a losing record on the road. Good thing the NL has home-field advantage in the World Series.

3. DETROIT (88-63): 12-game winning streak pushes Tigers to first division title in 24 years.

4. NEW YORK YANKEES (90-59): Injuries have limited Alex Rodriguez to 36 second-half at-bats. Now Cameron Diaz is gone too.

5. ATLANTA (86-65): Bullpen trio of Jonny Vetters, Craig Kimbrel, Eric O’Flaherty has 1.45 ERA, 277 strikeouts in 224 innings.

6. ARIZONA (87-64): Justin Upton, Chris Young only NL teammates with 20 steals and 20 home runs.

A little help please?

7. TEXAS (86-65): Rangers top majors in five offensive categories in September, including hitting (.328), home runs (27).

8. BOSTON (87-63): Only Minnesota has a worse record this month than Red Sox’s 4-11.

9. ANGELS: (82-68): 19 players on the roster have less than two years in the majors.

10. TAMPA BAY (83-67): Slumping Boston, streaking James Shields (4-1, 1.52 ERA last five starts) have Rays still hoping.

11. ST. LOUIS (82-68): League’s best September record, 10-4, has Cardinals closing ground.

12. SAN FRANCISCO (81-70): Defending champions refuse to give up, have six-game winning streak.

Best of the rest

13. CLEVELAND (73-75): Indians spent 96 days in first place but are 22-31 since dropping out of the lead.

14. TORONTO (76-74): Jose Bautista is AL MVP candidate with MLB-best 42 home runs, 121 walks, .449 on-base and .629 slugging.

15. CHICAGO WHITE SOX (73-77): Were 62-49 May 6-Sept. 10 and still lost ground to Detroit.

16. CINCINNATI (74-77): Defending division champions on track for 10th losing season in 11 years.

Wait till next year

17. DODGERS (74-76): Cy Young Award candidate Clayton Kershaw leads NL in triple crown categories: wins (19), strikeouts (236), ERA (2.30).

18. COLORADO (70-80): Year of the pitcher? Not in Colorado. Only two NL teams have higher ERAs than Rockies’ 4.36.

19. WASHINGTON (71-78): The future is back: Stephen Strasburg has given up a run and five hits in eight innings since returning from DL.

20. NEW YORK METS (72-79): Even Manager Terry Collins says the Mets quit on this season.

21. PITTSBURGH (68-83): After strong first half, Pirates extend string of losing seasons to 19.

22. SAN DIEGO (64-87): Padres top majors with 163 stolen bases and 1,224 strikeouts, but rank last in homers with 83.

Happy it’s almost over

23. FLORIDA (68-83): Many players are happy to leave Florida, but Logan Morrison filed grievance over his demotion to minors.

24. OAKLAND (68-83): Athletics’ 119 errors are most in the AL.

25. KANSAS CITY (66-86): On pace for second winning month since September 2009.

26. SEATTLE (63-87): Averaging 3.4 runs per game, Mariners are last in the majors in every significant offensive category.

27. MINNESOTA (59-90): En route to first last-place finish in 11 years, Twins are 9-34 since July 30.

28. CHICAGO CUBS (66-85): Starting rotation’s 4.94 ERA is worst in the NL by nearly half a run.

29. BALTIMORE (61-88): Team’s 4.77 ERA is the worst in the majors.

30. HOUSTON (51-99): Will be only team in NL, and perhaps in the majors, to lose 100 games.