MLB power rankings: Brewers sweep Dodgers again, leave big-bucks LA in the dust

The amazing Milwaukee Brewers are the worst thing to happen to major league owners crying poor.

With commissioner Rob Manfred and a chorus of aggrieved billionaires insisting the game needs a salary cap and shutting down the industry to get one is inevitable, the Brewers simply went out and beat the Los Angeles Dodgers six consecutive times in a two-week span. That run was capped by a weekend sweep at Dodger Stadium, which lifted Milwaukee into a first-place tie with Chicago in the NL Central and vaulted them over the Dodgers in overall record.

And it boosted them to a season-best No. 3 position in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings.

They supplanted the Dodgers in that spot, a battle that would seem an unfair fight on paper. After all, the Brewers tote a payroll of around $120 million; that's far less than the mere tax penalty - right now, an estimated $157 million - the Dodgers will pay on top of a payroll exceeding $400 million.

It's a scenario that's not supposed to happen, at least among the ownership side of the looming 2026 labor fight that believes payroll most correlates with success. But rich teams have their problems, too - look at the Dodgers' pitcher IL list - and competence and desire have proven about as important as investment.

And now the Brewers - winners of 10 in a row - are looking like locks for their seventh playoff berth in the past eight seasons.

A look at our updated rankings:

1. Detroit Tigers (-)

• Tarik Skubal singlehandedly keeping their precarious hold on the top spot.

2. Chicago Cubs (-)

• All they do is hit bombs – and that's been more than enough.

3. Milwaukee Brewers (+3)

• A fella named Isaac Collins went 5-for-12 in Dodgers sweep.

4. Toronto Blue Jays (+1)

• Vlad Jr.'s first homer since June 29 powers sweep of Giants, 10th straight home win.

5. Los Angeles Dodgers (-2)

• Freddie Freeman dodges bullet, apparently, after getting struck on wrist by pitch.

6. Houston Astros (-2)

• Isaac Paredes to IL with hamstring injury as five opening-day starters are shelved.

7. Philadelphia Phillies (-)

• Signing David Robertson off the street preferable to burning trade chip on a bullpen arm.

8. New York Mets (-)

• Sure, everyone needs bullpen help, but these guys really do.

9. New York Yankees (-)

• Manage to win two of three at Atlanta without using Carlos Rodón or Max Fried.

10. San Diego Padres (+1)

• Jose Iglesias on a 10-for-21 streak. Yep, it's getting to be his time of year.

11. Boston Red Sox (-1)

• And just like that: Garrett Crochet equals Tarik Skubal in ERA (2.19) and has one more strikeout (165).

12. Seattle Mariners (-)

• After All-Star hubbub, Cal Raleigh has a quiet weekend, with two singles in 13 at-bats.

13. Tampa Bay Rays (+1)

• New owner looks like a far surer bet than new stadium.

14. San Francisco Giants (-1)

• They finally hit – 27 knocks in three games – yet are still swept at Toronto.

15. Cincinnati Reds (+1)

• Noelvi Marte moved to outfield in effort to keep Santiago Espinal's bat in lineup.

16. St. Louis Cardinals (-1)

• Getting swept at Arizona just might put crimp in contention dreams.

17. Texas Rangers (-)

• If they're near .500, would be stunning to see them sell at deadline.

18. Arizona Diamondbacks (-)

• Ketel Marte misses first series after break-in at home.

19. Los Angeles Angels (-)

• Don't look now, but they just won a series at Philly, are a game below .500.

20. Cleveland Guardians (+2)

• You wonder how much they could restock farm system by trading off best bullpen pieces

21. Minnesota Twins (-1)

• Joe Ryan saves them from ignominious sweep at Coors Field.

22. Kansas City Royals (-1)

• Rich Hill, 45, just might emerge as rotation option.

23. Miami Marlins (-)

• Have won six of their last eight series, split another.

24. Baltimore Orioles (-)

• Might be last week as an O for Cedric Mullins, who debuted in August 2018.

25. Atlanta Braves (-)

• "If he's going to be here, he's not going to rot," says Brian Snitker of Marcell Ozuna.

26. Oakland Athletics (+1)

• Their "ballpark construction cam" just shows a few piles of dirt, not unlike the mound back home in Yolo County.

27. Washington Nationals (+1)

• Interim GM says they won't trade pieces acquired from the most recent rebuild.

28. Pittsburgh Pirates (-2)

• Don't look now, but they're just four games better than the White Sox after getting swept.

29. Chicago White Sox (-)

• They're final team to complete a sweep this season.

30. Colorado Rockies (-)

• Ryan McMahon heating up a bit as trade deadline lurks.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: Brewers rise in NL Central standings with LA sweep