Dodgers just outside top 5 in Power Rankings

The notion that the strength of a starting rotation typically dictates where a team will end up by the end of the season is a nice theory and all, but one particular team in the National League is making a strong case that starting pitching is way overrated.

How else can you explain the Dodgers, with six starting pitchers on the disabled list, firmly holding their grasp onto the top spot in the NL West? They’re without Clayton Kershaw and a whole mess of others, while piecing together a rotation consisting of (for now at least) Rich Hill, Bud Norris, Ross Stripling, Julio Urias, and … well, pick someone.

• Power Rankings

Yet here they are, with 73 wins, a .562 winning percentage and a seemingly mental advantage over the Giants, who, on paper, should not be one of the worst teams in the NL since the All-Star break.

What’s working for the Dodgers? Everything but the rotation, really. They have Corey Seager, who will not only run away with the NL Rookie of the Year honors, but will also garner plenty of MVP votes. And he’s not the only one raking. The Dodgers are slugging over .460 since the All-Star break and are in the top five in the league in batting average and runs per game, and their overall slugging percentage is on pace to be the highest in Los Angeles history after the break.

The bullpen is holding up its end, too, ranking second in the Majors in ERA and first in opponents’ batting average and WHIP.

And it looks like they’re getting Kershaw back soon. Amazingly, the Dodgers played some of their best ball of the season without him.

Biggest jump: The Royals jumped four spots, from 14 to 10, and they may continue climbing. They struggled through four months with a shaky rotation, which has now stabilized. The bullpen has been typically steady of late. Since dropping to a season-high seven games below .500 on Aug. 6 at 51-58, the Royals have won 17 of their past 21 to climb to within 5 1/2 games of the division …

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