The sixth edition of the Cape League Power Rankings comes as the regular season enters its final week. These rankings weigh recent performance, overall consistency and momentum as the race for the postseason reaches its climax. With only a handful of games separating teams from the start of the Cape League playoffs, every game carries deep postseason implications.

1. Brewster Whitecaps (24-9-3) Previously: 2

A storm is brewing in Brewster; for the first time this season, a team not named the Red Sox has taken the top position in the power rankings. With just a few games remaining before the playoffs, the Whitecaps' run of form has been too good to ignore. Although they are still two points behind Yarmouth-Dennis, Brewster has been the hotter team. The 'Caps went 15-4 in July and are peaking at just the right time. Jamie Laskofski is hitting .323, while Dane Harvey and Jacob Lee have combined for 38 RBIs. Brewster also leads the league with 173 walks, with six hitters having drawn 10 or more free passes. Payton Manca and Gaines Estridge have been more than reliable top-end starters, posting 1.48 and 1.50 ERAs, respectively. Zach Kmatz and Sam Hentges have also been exceptional high-leverage bullpen arms. Kmatz earned Player of the Week honors after tossing seven scoreless innings, adding to his team-leading 28 innings while allowing just four earned runs all summer. He has been a constant for Jamie Shevchik, providing a reliable relief option throughout the season. Brewster is only building momentum, and with the playoffs just days away, the 'Caps look ready to wash away the competition.

2. Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox (26-9-1) Previously: 1

Although Brewster finally caught Y-D in the power rankings, the Red Sox haven’t been moved from the top of the standings since the first day of the season. Y-D’s statistical dominance is no surprise to anyone on the Cape. They continue to lead the league in both OPS and ERA, and the talent in Y-D has only grown as the season has gone on. Tommy Goodin has delivered gargantuan results at the plate all season, with 25 RBIs through his team-leading 128 plate appearances. The Red Sox’s 35 home runs and 177 RBIs lead the league, and Scott Pickler has built an impressive squad from the top down. Brock Ketelsen has shown his two-way prowess, posting a 1.08 ERA in 16.2 innings while recording 95 plate appearances this summer. Peyton Rodgers has delivered out of the ‘pen with a 1.14 ERA in a team-leading 23.2 innings. The bats have remained hot, with Luca Franco mashing for an astonishing .383 average, giving Pickler another dangerous option in the lineup. The Red Sox have suffered seven of their nine total losses in July, but after dominating both sides of the ball all summer, expect Pickler’s Sox to do what they do best into the playoffs: win.

3. Bourne Braves (18-14-3) Previously: 3

For Scott Landers, August is the most important month of the season. Bourne has won three of the last four League Championships under Landers, and although the Braves haven’t been as eye-catching as in recent summers, Bourne is always a threat in the postseason. The Braves have won the most home games of anyone in the league and have retained their division lead all summer. Their pitching has been a huge reason for their success, with Ben Dean and Jackson Kircher impressing out of relief with 1.13 and 2.45 ERAs, respectively. Landers has also relied on his big-time bats, who haven’t slumped all summer. Although Bourne’s 11 home runs are tied for the lowest in the league, their bats have been as powerful as anyone on the Cape. Andrew and Luke Costello have combined for 41 RBIs, while Blake Schaaf is hitting .360. With returning shortstop Ryker Waite back in the fold, the experienced Braves will be quite the threat for anyone who comes their way.

4. Hyannis Harbor Hawks (18-17) Previously: 4

Hyannis continues its ascension as Mitch Karraker has turned the season on its head. The Harbor Hawks are 7-3 in their last 10 and are playing better each week. Hyannis’ offense has been powered by spurts of significant power. Their .219 average is the second-lowest on the Cape and their pitching has been less than desired, but their lineup has been one of the most clutch and powerful when needed. The three-headed beast of Jordan Lodise, JP Head and Caden Miller are each tied with three home runs, serving as the brunt of Hyannis’ lineup. Matt Iniech and Jax Giminez have been threats on the bases with 12 swiped bags apiece. Their pitching has been mostly salvaged by monumental efforts from starter Brady St. Pierre and Brayden Sharp out of the bullpen. If the Hawks want to make a move in the postseason, they must take their chances at the plate and provide some power to kickstart their offense. Now just three points behind Bourne, the division is not out of the picture, but the postseason is the real goal for Karraker’s crew.

5. Harwich Mariners (19-17) Previously: 5

Although Harwich is 3-7 in its last 10 and has hit a slow spot in its summer, the Mariners remain the most explosive and energetic offense on the Cape, leading the league in doubles and steals. Colin Larson and Ty Smolinski have been dominant at the plate all summer. Smolinski is batting .298 with six home runs and 19 RBIs, while Larson has 17 steals and 14 RBIs.

Thanks to double-digit efforts from Colin Larson, JP Peltier, Ty Smolinski and Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe, the Mariners have already broken the 100-steal threshold. Harwich has utilized Riley Goodman and Jakob Schulz as inning-eaters, combining for 46.2 innings, while Jackson Peavy has been an efficient addition to the rotation. Now officially clinched for the postseason, Harwich must stick to the guns that have brought them this far and continue playing high-flying small ball to keep the Mariners in the hunt.