Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts For all their star power, the Los Angeles Dodgers can't take another World Series title for granted. At 73-48, the Dodgers no longer brandish MLB's best record. That distinction narrowly belongs to the Milwaukee Brewers, who are 74-47 with baseball's second-best run differential (+130) behind the reigning champions. ESPN reacted accordingly, bumping the Brewers over the Dodgers for the No. 1 spot in its latest power rankings. A seven-game losing streak cost Los Angeles top billing. "Heading into the week, before sweeping the last-place Royals, the Dodgers had lost eight of nine games and were just 14-18 since the start of July," ESPN's Alden Gonzalez wrote. "During that 32-game span, their offense ranked 21st in OPS and their pitching ranked 23rd in ERA."
Looking for the perfect gift for a baseball player in your life? Check out our brand new baseball lifestyle brand! The Dodgers still hold an 8.5-game cushion in the National League West, but the summer swoon could yield significant consequences. They're tied with the Atlanta Braves for the NL's second-best record, putting them at risk of losing a first-round bye and beginning their three-peat quest with a best-of-three Wild Card Round series. Gonzalez added that the Dodgers shouldn't be too worried. After all, they just added ace Tarik Skubal to a rotation that welcomed Blake Snell back from the injured list on Tuesday, and Tyler Glasnow could soon join them. Another Dodgers championship is still far from a fait accompli. Despite getting swept by the San Diego Padres, a potential first-round opponent for the NL division winner that doesn't automatically advance, the Brewers can exceed last year's single-season franchise record of 97 wins behind an athletic lineup and promising young pitching staff. ESPN's change atop the power rankings comes right before the Dodgers and Brewers clash in a seismic series in L.A. The first of four games starts Thursday at 10:10 p.m. ET. More MLB: Slumping Phillies Suddenly In Danger Of Missing Postseason