Once-dismal Dodgers continue climb toward top

They’re just barely a .500 team, far from a prohibitive choice to win their division and still have damaged or misfiring parts.

Yet, the Los Angeles Dodgers are very much alive, a status that amazingly seemed in doubt just one month ago.

The Dodgers climbed two spots to 14th our latest baseball power rankings, and while a modest gain and position might seem insignificant, it belies where they are now – and where they were not long ago.

Six wins in their past nine games have pulled LA within 2 games of first place in the National League West, and at 30-30, they have reached the .500 mark for the first time since April 23.

From 1 to 30, how they stack up based on voting from our nine-person panel:

1. Boston Red Sox

• Andrew Benintendi on pace for 24 homers, 24 steals, .918 OPS — and still just 23.

2. New York Yankees

• Erstwhile talking head Aaron Boone begging MLB/ESPN for mercy with double-headers on the horizon.

3. Houston Astros

• Charlie Morton getting ding-ed by home run ball a bit more this year.

4. Milwaukee Brewers

• Jesus Aguilar posting a .942 OPS in 149 at-bats.

5. Atlanta Braves

• 7-7 in key stretch against Phil-lies, Red Sox, Mets, Nationals.

6. Seattle Mariners

• 18-9 in one run games.

7 Chicago Cubs

• He may never have MVP numbers, but Javier Baez is El Mago, indeed.

8. Washington Nationals

• Max Scherzer's bat/leg ward off potential four-game sweep in Atlanta.

9. St. Louis Cardinals

• Yadier Molina almost back. 10. Philadelphia Phillies

• Was Jake Arrieta's tirade galva-nizing or distracting?

11. Los Angeks Angels

• Garrett Richards has nearly exceeded combined innings total from past two seasons.

12. Cleveland Indians

• Trying to outslug a leaky bull-pen is exhausting.

13. Arizona Diamondbacks

• Back in first after some house-warming gifts from Reds, Marlins.

14. Los Angeles Dodgers

• Reports of their demise....well, they seemed pretty reasonable at the time.

15. Pittsburgh Pirates

• Renew acquaintances with Cubs again this week.

16. Oakland Athktks

• Frankie Months delivers best start of his career.

17. Colorado Rockies

• After spending $106 million on relievers, they may need, ahem, bullpen help. T-18. San Francisco Giants

• Nearly .500 with Madison Bumgarner nearly back. Not bad. T-18. Tampa Bay Rays

• If they find an offensive equiv-alent for bullpenning, they may be unstoppable.

20. New York Mets

• Held scoreless in 29 of 32 innings against Cubs.

21. Detroit Tigers

• Downside of pleasantly sur-prising start: Virtually no chance for back-to-back No. 1 picks.

22. Minnesota Twins

• Eddie Rosario's three-homer game seems like a potential turn-ing point.

23. Toronto Blue lays

•.228 batting average worst in AL

24. San Diego Padres

• Tough sledding for Manuel Margot (.2131.2781397). 25. Texas Rangers

• Wonder how long they'll roll with Bartolo Colon.

26. Kansas City Royals

• Five of first 58 picks in draft.

27 Cincinnati Reds

• Pitcher Anthony DeSclafani set for first appearance since Sep-tember 2016.

28. Miami Marlins

• Gave up eight homers in one 11-inning span at Arizona.

29. Chicago White Sox

• Carlos Rodon on his way back.

30. Baltimore Orioles

• Eventually, they'll have to make up all those rainouts against the Yankees.